That's it for Tech Class!!

I can't believe it, but we had our last tech class today!! The year has just flown by! We managed to fit all the presentations in and the groups did a better job of following the instructions this time around.

There's still some work to be done, though, especially by Mrs. Stuckey's class but also by a few groups in Mr. Forsey's class too. I've asked them to have this work completed by Wednesday so I can get it graded and submitted for report cards. They need to follow the directions on the "Sample 7 Tech wiki" (as they've been told every class since we started these design projects) and have journal entries for every class on the blog.

Thanks for a great year!
Ms. Chaulk

Final Tech Classes

Our final tech classes will be Friday for Mrs. Stuckey's class and Monday for Mr. Forsey's class. During this class they will be giving their final presentations for their design project. Students have been told this and reminded about this for the last 3 weeks. However, some of their wikis still aren't complete. There is a detailed description with examples of what is expected of them on the "Sample7Tech" wiki. They have been told this, and reminded to check it frequently EVERY class since Easter. There is no extra time to give them for presentations. They have to go ahead Friday and Monday. Any other unfinished work must be passed in by Friday, June 15 in order for me to mark them and include them in final reports.

Thanks!

Final Tech Project

Our final tech project has begun, well, it will begin for 7F on Wednesday, 7S started it on Friday. We only have about 9 classes left to get it finished, so rather than letting them choose their own problem to solve as I originally planned, I'm giving them one. They have been assigned groups. Those students who wrote a blog post about whether they wanted to keep their old group or not got what they wanted. Everyone else has been assigned a new group.


They will go through the entire design process, as they did for the last project. Their work will be presented on their group wiki and they are expected to write a personal journal on Kidblog about how their group worked and what they accomplished after each class. A sample wiki has been posted that gives a clear description of what their wiki should look like and outlines the content they should have on each page.


There is no time to waste! Hopefully we won't lose too many classes due to unforseen circumstances, but even if we get all the classes I am expecting, students are going to have to stay on task every class in order to do the best job they can. They've been through this process once now. This time should be easier and faster for them!

Homework - Group Requests

At our last tech class the Grade 7's were all asked to write a blog post stating whether they wish to keep the group they worked on the composter project with or take their chances on being assigned a new group. I sat down today to put groups together for next week's class only to discover that only 5 students from Mrs. Stuckey's class and 3 students from Mr. Forsey's class have done their homework. This is very disappointing. I need to have these groups organized for Monday and with no input from the students, I'm going to have to pick the groups for them.

If they want to have a say in their groups for the design activity that they will be working on for the rest of the year, they need to have a blog post submitted by 8:30 Sunday morning!

End of the Design Activity

We are reaching the end of the first Design Activity.We will be starting the second one after Easter. All the group work is represented on their wikis at www.wikispaces.com. Each student is also a member of the Sample7Tech Wiki which gives them explicit instructions on what they are supposed to do on each page of their own wiki.


They should now be working on page 5. Best Solution. They were told to bring materials to their last class to work on their prototype. They have been told (and they were told to write it on the homework board of their classrooms) that they have to have their prototype finished by next class. If they are able to take photographs during construction, that would be great, but they only have to have a picture of their completed prototype for their wiki page. Anything else is gravy! If they are unable to do that outside of class, we will take the picture and post it to the wiki first thing next class.


Their next tech class will be presentation preparation. Each group will have to present their wiki and their final solution (prototype) to the class. Here are the instructions as they appear on page 6. Evaluation & Presentation on the Sample7Tech Wiki:

We will not have time to do a proper evaluation of your prototype and finish this project by the Easter break, so you will not have to write an essay for this project (you will for your next one!!). Use this page to plan your presentation. Make jot notes about who will cover each part of the presentation. If you want to use actual notes for your presentation, you will have to write them out, because you must not show us this page during your presentation.

Your presentation to the class must take them through your wiki to your best solution. Do not read your wiki to the class!Summarize what you did for each step and how you decided on your best solution. Show the class your prototype and how it works. Then, evaluate your prototype for the class using the questions below as a guide. Tell them what you would do differently if you had more time.

1. How well does it meet the criteria outlined in the design brief?
2. What does it do well?
3. How could it be improved?
4. What would you do differently if you had more time and unlimited access to the ideal materials.

Be honest and forthcoming with both the good points and the flaws. A good designer admits the shortcomings of their design and, if they have time, would work on overcoming them.

Your presentation should be about 3-4 minutes long.
Mr. Forsey's class will prepare on Monday, March 26 and present on Friday, March 30.
Mrs. Stuckey's class will prepare on Monday, April 2 and present on Wednesday, April 4. 

Report Card #2

Preparations for the second report card are underway. Here is a list of assignments – blog posts and wikis – that we have completed since the first report card:

On the 7F and 7S blog

1. An example of a communication system
2. A design brief for the compost bin lid problem
3. A list of questions they need to find answers to in order to design a new compost bin lid
4. Answers to those questions and the sources of those answers
5. An isometric drawing of the tub with the lid including all the lines they learned about - visible lines, hidden lines, and dimension lines
6. 4 journal entries describing what work their group did during that class and an evaluation of how their group is working

On the wiki

1. An introduction page telling the reader a little about their group and a little about the problem they are working on.
2. A Possible Solutions page (or they may have broken it down into several pages with a possible solution on each page) that includes a drawing of the possible solution and a brief written description of it. There must be at least 3 sensible possible solutions
3. A Criteria List page complete with a design brief and a list of 8-10 questions/statements that they will use to rank their possible solutions.

All of this work should be complete by now. If they have some work to do to catch up and would like a grade other than 0 to show up on their report card for that work, make sure it is posted to the blog or the wiki NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, MARCH 10. Any work not submitted by then will receive a score of 0. They may submit it later than that, and it will be graded and included on their final report card, but if they don’t want a 0 dragging down their average on this one, they must submit all late work by MARCH 10th.

Possible Solutions

We've been working on the Possible Solutions step of the design process for the last few classes. From this point on, students are working in groups of 2 or 3 and their work is being recorded on a wiki. Wikis are webpages that multiple students can edit. Our wikis can be found at www.wikispaces.com.


We have been using these for the past 2 (7F) or 3 (7S) classes. These can be accessed from anywhere. Ask your child to go to www.wikispaces.com and log in. As passwords are generated by the computer, some of them have been having trouble remembering them. They should have a slip of paper in their agenda with their usernames and passwords listed on them.


At this point they should have a description of their group and their problem (lid blowing off my composter in high winds) on the home page of their wiki. The second page should be a drawing and a written description of 3 possible solutions to my problem. Some of them are using a new wiki page for each of the 3 possible solutions. If any of their solutions are silly (i.e. an elephant sitting on the composter) they don't count as part of the required 3.


We are still using the blog, but now it has become a journal. At the end of every class they are supposed to write a journal entry describing what they did that class and any problems they ran into. This is also where they describe any issues with group members. Only I can see all student entries. Students can only see my entries and their own.


This is the blog post I left for them in the middle of January:

Check your posts!

January 14, 2012 @ 1:40 PM 1 Comment       Edit this Post

Since your report cards came out, you should have completed 3 blog posts and have 1 in progress.

The 3 completed blog posts are:

1. An example of a communication system (encode, store, transmit/receive, decode)
2. A Design Brief for my problem about the composter lid
3. A list of what you already know about my problem and a list of questions of what you need to find out.

Last class, you should have started a blog post answering those questions.

Please click on your name on the right side of the main blog screen and check to make sure each of those posts are there.

At this point, the questions they listed in this blog post should all be answered in another blog post. My most recent blog post with instructions for them is below:

Possible Solutions and the Rest of the Design Process

February 8, 2012 @ 9:06 AM 0 Comments       Edit this Post

We are ready to embark on the biggest part of the design process. From here on until the end of the year, you will be working with a group. I am really hoping that the groups you have chosen work well and you can stick with them until June, but I reserve the right to shake things up a bit if they’re not working.

Because the rest of the year is group work, we need a workspace that you all have access to and that you all can contribute to, and that represents the work you do as a team. I have set up wikis for each of the groups. A wiki is a webpage than multiple people can edit. Each group has their own wiki. Put EVERYTHING you do on the wiki – all your possible solutions, your criteria list, your final solution, and your evaluation (you will get more information on each of these steps). You may also add video and audio to your wiki if you wish.

We will continue to use the blog as your digital journal. In the last 5-10 minutes of every class, you will log in to the blog and write a short paragraph of what you accomplished in that class along with what problems you’ve encountered. These could be problems with your teammates or problems with the project. Your group members will not be able to see your blog posts – they will remain between you and me.

To get started, go to www.wikispaces.com. Login using the username and password I’ve given you. Do not lose this information.

At this point, both classes should have a home page completed and a possible solutions page. They will be given 10 minutes to tidy up at the beginning of next class and then we're moving on to criteria lists and choosing the best solution.

Take care!

Research and Investigation

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing holiday.

Mrs. Stuckey's class just finished their first tech class since December 14 and it seems most of them "forgot" they had tech homework to finish. Only 3 of them had the blog post finished that they were required to do, so most of them had some catching up to do.

Today we continued working on the Research and Investigation step of the Design Process. Before Christmas they were supposed to have completed a blog post with a Design Brief and a blog post with a list of what they already knew about composters and lids and a list of questions of what they needed to find out. Today, after giving them 10 minutes to finish up the post of what they already knew and what they needed to find out, we started researching the answers to the questions they had come up with. It was emphasized that they needed to include the web address (URL) of the website on which they found the answers. They were reminded that Google must not be one of those websites. Google leads you to the information, but doesn't contain the information itself.

Below is a copy of the blog post I left for them summarizing today's class. Remember, you can ask them to log in to our Kidblog site at any time.  You will only be able to read my posts and the posts of the student who's logged in.

Take care!


From the 7S Kidblog site:
As of the end of this class you should have 2 completed blog posts and one in progress. You should have a Design Brief in one post and a list of what you already know about lids and a list of questions of what you need to find out in the second post. A third post with the answers to the questions you came up with and the websites where you found the information should be started. We will finish this third blog post next class.

Here is the list of questions we came up with as a class:

Communication Systems, File Extensions, and the Design Process

Over the last few classes we have been learning about processes and terminology that we will be using and referring to for the remainder of the course. We spent a couple of classes talking about Communication Systems, one class discussing File Extensions, and have spent the last couple of classes talking about the Design Process.

They were told to take notes of these classes and to keep them in a technology folder for future reference. Notes can also be found on their Kidblog site. All of their work is kept on their Kidblog blog, so at any time you can go there and see what they've submitted, just ask them to log in for you. You will be able to see your student's work and my posts, but no one else's. To get to their blog, go to the Links page on www.lakeacademy.ca. On the right side of the screen you will see links to Class Blogs.

The Design Process is going to occupy all of our remaining class time with brief interruptions for learning some more basic skills. They will have to carry a project (hopefully 2) through the entire process and document each step as they do. This will be group work. It will be worth 60% of the course.

Right now, we are going through each step as a class. We talk about what each step is and what it involves as a class, and then they document that step. Mr. Forsey's class has just completed the first two steps: Identify the Problem and the Design Brief. They have to have a Design Brief written for next class. The problem and many of the notes are at Kidblog.

Monthly Reports - October/November

I did get the monthly reports done up on our first snow day of the year. They were sent home last Friday. A couple of students only received them this week. Your child was asked to show them to you and have you sign them as confirmation that you know what's going on.

There are 4 assignments that should have been completed:

1. A set of questions that can be found on our Kidblog.
2. A poster describing the evolution of a certain piece of communication technology (they were given a list to choose from).
3. A Scholastic book fair poster
4. and a PhotoStory about mysteries, using the pictures they used in Language Arts

All assignments have been described in blog posts by me on Kidblog. All assignments should have been posted there. I took time in several classes showing them how to do that. 

They have had more than enough time to finish all these assignments in class. They should have been completed by the first week of November. Many still have not been submitted.

First term report cards come out next week. The mark on their report card is based on the marks on their monthly report. There should be no surprises. Assignments that were not passed in received a mark of 0%. I will still accept these assignments but no more class time will be given (we've spent way too long on them as it is).

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call met the school or email me at heatherchaulk@esdnl.ca.

Apologies

I've done a terrible job of keeping this going! I apologize! Having only 2 classes a cycle makes it hard to keep any momentum going. It feels like we've been working on the same projects forever. We have been spending the last few classes making sure that the required assignments are in and I'm still chasing down some assignments that have not been posted to the blog.

Nearly all the assignments that have been passed in have been graded. I am finishing up the last few now. I haven't had a chance to get monthly reports together with report cards looming. If you want to know how they've been doing, have them log in to the class blog. The link is on the "Links" page at www.lakeacademy.ca. You should be able to see their marks and comments from there.

They should have 4 posts: 1) the answers to 5 questions; 2) their poster tracing the evolution of a particular piece of communication technology; 3) a poster advertising the Scholastic Book Fair; and 4) a photostory related to their Language Arts mysteries unit. We spent today's class uploading photostories. They are all supposed to be there but they are probably not marked yet. They will be finished in the next couple of days. If you have any questions or concerns either call me at the school or email me at heatherchaulk@esdnl.ca.

Take care!

Monthly Report - September

Hello!
Today (Thursday, October 13), Mr. Forsey's class received their monthly report for September. Mrs. Stuckey's class will receive theirs either tomorrow (Friday, October 14) or Monday (October 17).

There are 2 assignments that the students should have completed. The first is simply answering five questions based on extensive discussions we've had in class and information from a website that they were directed to use. Each question is marked and their grades with descriptive feedback has been added to their blog post in red italics. They are also given the option of revising their answers and re-submitting them if they wish.

The second assignment is a poster or a 500 word report tracing the evolution of a particular piece of communication technology. Several options were given to them and they had to use Microsoft Publisher to trace how the technology in that piece has changed over time. Many of them have not been submitted yet and most that have been submitted have not included information about the technology behind the equipment. For example, they tell me that telephones have become smaller over time or that televisions now have flat screens, but have not told me about the changes in technology that have been behind these changes. The few that have been submitted have been published with private comments containing their grade and descriptive feedback.

By the end of October, students have to create a poster advertising the upcoming Scholastic Book Fair and a Photo Story based on their Mysteries unit in Language Arts. Before starting the poster we discussed the basic elements of Graphic Design, such as not using too much text, choosing an appropriate font, choosing colours that attract and stand out, and the use of "white space". These posters will be printed and displayed around town to advertise the upcoming Book Fair.

The Photo Story project is simply taking their photographs from their photo essay, importing them into PhotoStory3, adding titles and narration, choosing appropriate background music, and creating a video. As most of them are already familiary with the PhotoStory software and have their photographs from their photo essay, I don't expect this one to take very long.

Please make sure your child gives you their monthly report. If you have any questions, please email me at heatherchaulk@esdnl.ca or call me at the school.

Thanks!

Welcome to the Grade 7 Tech Blog!

Welcome to Grade 7 Tech!

I hope you will find this blog useful as I tell you about what's going on in tech class. We're just getting warmed up, so there's not a lot of exciting stuff to put here yet, but hopefully that will change.

So far in tech, the students have received 2 assignments, both posted on our kidblog classes. The first one involved answering 5 questions by following very specific instructions given in the blog post. You can find links to these blogs on the Links page at www.lakeacademy.ca. Right now, the blog is set up so that the students can't see each others' work, they can only see their own, so if you want to know what your kid has been up to, get them to log on at home and show you. If I have graded the first assignment (I'm working on it) the mark will be there too along with suggestions as to how they can improve their answers.

The second assignment involves researching the evolution of a particular piece of communication technology and creating a poster illustrating it. They are still working on this one. When they're finished, their poster should be put up on a blog post.

Upcoming assignments include a photostory to go along with their language arts unit and a poster advertising a specific school event!! We might even post  some to this blog.....

'Til next time!

Thanks for the Memories

It's hard to believe that the school year is over!! The year just flew by! Thanks so much for a great year!

Headphones - I forgot to remind the kids to take their headphones. I will leave them in the basket in my classroom and bring them to their class next year.

Train set - the Ticket to Curlew group left their train set (even though they were reminded to take it on Tuesday).  I will keep that in the classroom as well and they can get it next year (unless you're reading this today - June 24 - and want to come get it)

Have a safe summer and encourage your kids to keep reading!!

Heather.

Happy Birthday, Ms. Chaulk!!

Well, they got me good today! Mrs. Penney stopped by the classroom to ask me if I would come and watch some Social Studies presentations in the cafeteria. I said, "Sure! I'll be there in a few minutes." When I got there, the lights were all off. I thought that was strange, but then the door opened and they all yelled, "Surprise!" They had decorated the cafeteria with balloons and banners and had laid out a table full of food - brownies, cakes, cookies, cupcakes, candy, and juice! What a spread!!! I had to blow out birthday candles on two cakes and got to make two whole wishes (I wonder which one will come true?)! I'd never had a surprise party before. It was lots of fun!!!

Thank-you so much to all you parents who helped the kids pull this off. The food and the gifts were lovely and I will cherish this memory!!

Thank-you!
Ms. Chaulk

Ms. Chaulk KO'd in the final round....

I had some work to do in the library last period today. Honest, I did. But it didn't get done. When I walked in who should be there but my Grade 5's. They were playing checkers, DDR, and Wii sports. Who can work when all that is going on? I don't say I was there 10 minutes before Cameron challenged me to a boxing match (that's what I get for saying I could take him out, I suppose). Shortly after we got started he said that if he wins we shouldn't get any more homework for the rest of the year. I, of course, agreed, knowing full well I would win anyway. Alas, that wasn't the case. He knocked me out in the first round of our our first match, but I lasted until the final round of our second match before he knocked me out. He wasted no time reminding him of our deal but  I made one clarification that if it was work they had time to do in class and just didn't get it done, they would have to finish that for homework.

So that's why they don't have to finish their literature circle role sheets (but they do still have to read the novel). They did, however, have time to do the math in class today, so that has to be finished for tomorrow.

Thanks for Coming!!

To those parents who came out to our poetry recital yesterday - Thanks for Coming!!!

I know it meant a lot to the kids to have you come out and support them.

I am in the process of putting the videos of their recital on our Favourite Books Wiki. You can have your child log in at WikiSpaces.com to see them. I should have them all up there by the end of the day.

Thanks again!

Poetry Recital Tomorrow!!!

Our poetry recital is tomorrow! I can't wait!!! They haven't practiced at all in the classroom but some of them have been telling me about what they plan to do. Mrs. Penney's class will be coming out to watch and our families are welcome too! We'll be starting at 9:50 in the library!

Grade 5 Chaulk First Annual Poetry Recital (Take 2)

Our class will be performing a variety of poetry - including songs and raps (perhaps) - on Tuesday, June 7th in the library starting at 9:50. Parents are welcome to join Mrs. Penney's class in the audience.

Extended Division

Today we started extended division and, as with extended multiplication, I told the class "DO NOT ASK YOUR PARENTS FOR HELP!" We learn long division differently in Grade 5 now than we learned it when we were in school. The new way may seem more confusing to us, but it's much more forgiving than the way we learned.

Here is an example of what we do:

The first step, Estimate, requires them to 

write down how many times they KNOW 4 will go into 212 to the right of the problem. They do not need to have the best estimate - any estimate will work.

In this example, we know that 4 x 50 is 200. We do the multiplication and then subtract to see how many are left over. Then, we repeat.
When we get to 0 we know we are done (we haven't introduced remainders yet) and we add up our estimates that are properly lined up on the right. That gives us our answer.

Here is another example we did today. Even though we have picked the best estimate each time, this process would still work even if we didn't - it would just take longer to solve.

As I've been emphasizing with the students, memorizing multiplication facts is not a math outcome. They have to be able to solve them "with confidence" and it is perfectly acceptable to use the strategies we have discussed (halving and doubling, skip counting up and down, etc...) however, division will be a lot easier, and a lot quicker, if they know their facts.