G7 Tech Class #15

Today, following our G7 Due Dates webpage we are going to be working on Evaluate stage.

At the end of Project 1, you should be able to:

Evaluate the product you created: Tower

• carry out tests to see if the tower met the design specifications
• reflect on the success (and/or failure) of the tower in an objective manner based on testing
• reflect on the impact of building the tower on individuals and on society
• explain how the tower could be improved.

Evaluate your use of the design cycle: 

• reflect on your performance at each stage of the design cycle (reflect about strengths and weaknesses/areas of improvements of each stage)
• compare your planned timeline with the actual use of time
• explain the changes you made (if any) 
• identify the parts that you found difficult and suggest ways in which your work during Project 1 could be improved. 

To submit your Evaluate stage today, please make sure you follow the Steps to submit your assignments posted in the MYP Technology website.
You can always use the Design Folder Checklist to make sure your Evaluate stage is complete.

G7 Tech Class #14

Following our G7 Due Dates webpage today we will work on presenting your products: the Spaghetti Towers!

You will have some time to fine tune details and retouches to your tower before we start with the presentations.

Each group will have 7 minutes to explain to the audience:

• present your Tower
• explain the process behind it
• What design specifications does the Tower comply with? Essential? Desirable?
• Budget? Did you manage to stay under $10?
• issues you had to overcome: Why? How?
• Group work/collaboration

- . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . 

What inspires you to achieve success?

Raise your Hand Texas is organizing a state-wide Photo Contest where we can submit a photo that we think answers the Pick the Pic Contest: 

What two things inspire you to achieve success?

PICK THE PIC Photo Contest - Submit your photo for a chance to win an iPad 2 and $500 for your school!
Criteria:  Must be a Texas public school student.
Award:   IPad 2 along with $500 for your school
How to Participate:  Your parent or teacher must submit a photo of you answering the question, "What two things inspire you to achieve success?"  The question must be answered by the student in the photo and can be written on card stock, cardboard, or any other form of paper available.  RYHT will post entries to their Facebook page.  As soon as you see it, encourage your friends to "Like" the photo.  Every "Like" counts as a vote.
***Deadline:  Photo must be submitted on the contest entry webpage,http://www.raiseyourhandtexas.org/index.php/act/contest, no later than midnight on Friday, October 7, 2011. 

G7 Tech Class #13

Today we will finish working on Create stage. Please visit the G7 Due Dates webpage to stay on task. You Create stage needs to be submitted by the end of the day today!

Remember to include the following in this stage:

1. Your complete Process Journal

2. Explain what tools and techniques you used to build your tower

3. How was your time management: Have you followed your original time plan? How?

4. Have you made any changes to your chosen design? Why? How?

For more details you can visit last class' blog post.

To submit your assignment today please make sure you follow the Steps to submit your assignments.

Mrs Linan's daughter had a baby girl!!!! Micaela :-)

  

G7 Tech Class #12

Today we will start working on Create stage: Building the tower!!!! :-) . Please visit the G7 Due Dates webpage to plan your time wisely.

For this stage it is super important to look into these:

1. Your complete Process Journal with :

• dated journal entries including Visual Evidence (designs, sketches, screen shots, pictures, etc that show how the steps you took to build the tower)
• notes regarding any changes made: e.g. added a step, changed the order of tasks, changed the tools, used another resource, didn't need a resource, didn't finish what was planned etc.
• how did the group work? Did you have any issues? how did you overcome them, if any?

2. Explain what tools and techniques you used to build your tower

3. How was your time management: Have you followed your original time plan? How?

4. Have you made any changes to your chosen tower design? Why? How?

You can always use the Design Folder Checklist to make sure your Create stage is complete.

Have fun building your tower, but manage your time to stay on task! :-)

G7 TechClass #4

I have received your Mind Map Assignments on the Design Cycle, Thank you! I will send you my feedback and grading shortly to the email from where you submitted it. So, please be sure to check it :-)

If you have not turned in the AUP, you can do so till the end of this week (Sept 2). You can download it from the MYP Technology Docs webpage.

Today we will talk about collaborative tools for you to work together in your projects. Let's start by watching these You Tube videos in my You Tube Channel: Google Docs Playlist.

• Google Docs Intro:

• Google Docs in Plain English
• Google Apps new look
• Using Google Docs
• Intro to Google Docs
• Google Docs 2011 Beginner Tutorial
• Google Docs Sharing and Collaboration Tutorial.

In your class' shared doc (select your group below) please write main ideas / advantages / options of Documents Sharing as well as reflections on Digital Citizenship.

• G7 A4 Shared Document
• G7 B1 Shared Document
• G7 B2 Shared Document

You can create your own Shared document to start working on Investigation!

G7 TechClass #3

Welcome to the second week of school!
Please review the mind map assignment on the Design Cycle you were scheduled to finish and submit last class.

Let's take some time from this class to look into your assignments and make sure that the Assignments standards are included in your mind map as well as follow the instructions on how to submit your Assignments.

Assignments standards:

• Group Members Names
• Grade (eg: Ms Maru, G7 A4 ~> Grade 7 A day Period 4)
• Assignment title / stage
• Date
• Cite your sources
• Create a Crocodoc account (so I have a reply to email address where to send you my feedback)
• etc

For our first project, I would like you to work collaboratively in groups (max 4 students). You will Design and Build a spaghetti tower. The design specifications are:

• made of raw spaghetti and rubber bands
• hold a Marshmallow at the top for over 5 seconds
• at least 1 ft tall
• make it as cost efficient as possible based on these specifications:

• 1 spaghetti = $0.10
• 1 rubber band = $0.05

Let's begin with Investigation Stage:

• State the problem you are going to solve
• Describe in detail and explain the importance of the problem
• Explain the relevance of the problem (who is effected by this problem and why)
• Define what you need to find out to make the product (which questions will guide your investigation). 
• Research to find answers and information.
• Gather information from a varied range of acknowledged resources.
• Cite your sources via a bibliography in MLA format (examples listed in the Assignments Standards)
• Explain how you will test your tower once it is made to evaluate it against the design specifications.

Don't forget to keep your Process Journal!!!