December 18

Lisbon

Year 11 - Time's up. Please hand in your project today!

Have a wonderful holiday and good luck next term!

Google Earth visits Ancient Rome

Google Earth now has an Ancient Rome 3D Level:


In the Ancient Rome 3D layer, you can:
-Fly into Rome as it looked in 320 A.D.
-Tour the interior of famous buildings.
-Visit the sites in 3D such as the Roman Forum, Colosseum and the Forum of Julius Caesar.
-Learn about how the Romans lived.


http://earth.google.com/rome/

December 11, 12

Year 11 - It's almost over.

Let's change the due date for the Create until Tuesday. Then start the Evaluate.

Consult the Assessment Rubric for details on exactly what you need to do to be successful. Look at the descriptors and make sure your documentation includes that information.

FYI

Dear Year 11,

On Friday someone mentioned that they did not think it was "fair" that the work you are handing in is NOT a draft.

Remember that this work that you are doing is one of the final IT projects that you will do. This is your 5th year in the MYP and each of you has a lot of CT (Computer Technology) experience. This project is meant to be student driven and should allow the student to put to use all that he/she has learned.

Having said that as your instructor I have made myself wholly available to you. This is my job and I take it seriously. I have provided guidance, links, material, suggestions and am available throughout the week to help you document(but not write)your learning. You can bring your work to me at any time and I will happily provide feedback.

Use all the documents that you have at your disposal (checklist, assessment rubric, class blog) and you will be successful.

Please contact me if you need some assistance.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Ms. Dietrich

December 6

Here is the Assessment Criteria for Plan (Criterion C)

Maximum 6

Students are expected to construct a plan to create their chosen product/solution that has a series of logicl steps, and that makes effective use of resources and time.

Students are expected to evaluate the plan and justify any modifications to the design.

Level of Achievement
Descriptor

0
The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors given below.

1 - 2
The student produces a plan that contains some details of the steps and/or the resources required.

3 - 4
The student produces a plan that contains a number of logical steps that include resources and time. The student makes some attempt to evaluate the plan.

5 - 6
The student produces a plan that contains a number of detailed, logical steps that describe the use of resources and time. The student critically evaluates the plan and justifies any modifications to the design.

Now, what does this mean????
Look at the Check list: (located in the sidebar of this blog)

• I have included a timeline
• I have included a step-by-step plan
• I have included evidence about my planning for materials, tools, resources, etc
• I have critically evaluated my time plan and have tried to answer the following questions: Was the plan sufficiently detailed and why was this the case? Could my plan be followed by somebody else and why? Have I used all of the resources available to me?
• I have justified any modifications to my design
  

help is just a click away

Year 11,

If you have any questions over this long weekend, please feel free to email me and I will try to answer your questions.

My email address is: rddietrich@yahoo.com

Have a great weekend

December 4, 5

Design due today - December 4

Plan due tomorrow - December 5

November 27, 28

Please complete the Design portion of your project.

Design is due tomorrow

November 20, 21

Year 11 - Remember that the Investigate is due today

Then continue on with the Design. You are to think about 3 different ways you could make the teaching aid OR 3 different programs/tools that you could use. Look at the Assessment Rubric here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dgg4pbx8_47fqr73nhh&hl=en

I won't be here on November 21. I will be attending a conference in Lisbon. Please use your time wisely.

TEACHING AID PROJECT DUE DATES

November 20 - Investigate
November 28 - Design
December 4 - Plan
December 12 - Create
December 18 - Evaluate

November 14

for those of you working with a music teacher here is an awesome resource:

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/10/01/the-best-online-sites-for-creating-music/

November 13, 14

Year 11, check this out. This would make a perfect: tutorial or even webquest

http://www.usalearns.org/index/intro/index.html

In case you'd like to check out some sites/activities that are currently online in the subject area that you are working with:

Social Studies sites: http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/11/02/the-best-social-studies-websites-2008/

EAL sites: Internet sites for English Language Learners http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/08/28/the-best-internet-sites-for-english-language-learners-2008/

Online Learning Games http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/07/09/the-best-online-learning-games-2008/

November 6, 7

Welcome Back Year 11

Continue working on your Investigation

Remember, we have examples to help us maximize our potential.

October 30, 31

Mid-Term Break - No Classes

Have a great week

October 23, 24

Teaching Aid Project

Some teachers and departments who have already identified a need and would like to be part of our project are:

Ms. Odelson,Librarian,
Ms. Tsonis, English
Ms. Rublee, Art;
Ms. Bouvet, French;
Ms. Dietrich, EAL;
Ms. Dietrich, IT;
Ms. Castro, Music;
Mr. Blackburn, PE.
Also, approach your favourite teacher and ask if he/she has a need.

October 17

Test day - no IT classes

October 16

Year 11 - We are soooo lucky! We will be spending extra time together. That is my Christmas present from the Universe (hahahaha).

Period 1 - PowerPoint presented by Mr. Chestnut

Period 2 - Introduction to new unit

Tech News

Year 11 - check this out!

http://tech.uk.msn.com/features/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=9985904

Your project is important!

Year 11, Your project is important to you but it is also important to me! I want you to be successful.

As previously stated, if you need help - I'm available. Talk to me and I will help you. We can also arrange to work during lunchtime and afterschool if that is more convenient.

Let me know what I can do to help you be successful.

Criterion B - Design Assessment Guild (Official)

October 9, 10

Year 11 - Now it's on to Design (Criterion B)

Students are expected to generate several feasible designs that meet the design specification and to evaluate these against the design specification.

Students are then expected to select one design, justify their choice and evaluate this in detail against the design specification.

I would "design" an e-portfolio using three different tools, screen shot the page, save it as a jpeg, insert it into your document and evaluate each against the design specification.

Next, I would choose one of the tools and JUSTIFY my choice and evaluate it fully and critically aginst the design specification.

Design and Plan Due October 24

October 2, 3

Continue working on the research part of your project.

Projects are due October 3 at the end of the period.

E-Portfolio Evaluation Sites:
http://www.wikieducator.org/E-portfolio_evaluation_criteria_and_indicators
http://portfolio.psu.edu/files/eportfolio/Self-Evaluate.pdf
http://portfolio.psu.edu/evaluating

September 25, 26

Year 11 -

September 25 - Activity Day - Enjoy yourselves

September 26 - Period 3 Whole School Assembly


Sorry Year 11 - we were unlucky this week. Only 1 class period together. As a result our Investigations will be due on October 6

Investigate Structure

Click here to look at the Criterion A (Investigate) Assessment Rubric (originally posted on September 12, also posted in sidebar)

Create a Design Brief:
- Identify the problem to be solved (explain/restate the problem in your own words)
- Evaluate the importance of the problem for life, society, and the environment

(In other words discuss the importance and significance of the problem/solution. Discuss it's impact and role in society. Define e-portfolio, talk about how this is now a useful tool to showcase learning/achievements. Emphasise the fact that e-portfolios are being used by students to supplement their university applications because they provide a more in-depth and personal view of the candidate. You could also mention that more and more professions are moving toward professional e-portfolios. Remember that e-portfolios provide evidence of learning. They can include works that the person has produced but also include reflections on that work. Develop these ideas. Use words like: multi-dimensional, digital identity.)

Develop the Design Brief:
- Formulate and discuss appropriate questions that guide the investigation
- Collect, analyse, organize and evaluate information (What tool would best serve your purpose and why? Look at a broad range of tools (wiki, blog, protopage, iweb, frontpage) that you could possibly use.)

Formulate a Design Specification:
- Research other secondary school student e-portfolios. What do you like and dislike about their e-portfolios? Give examples.
-What will you include in your e-portfolio? Give a detailed list. This is a precise and accurate list of facts (how many pages it will be, exactly which subjects it will include, community and service, etc)
-Design test to evaluate the product/solution. (In other words create a detailed questionnaire or survey that you will distribute to people to obtain feedback).

REMEMBER to REFERENCE all your work. This is research, please document your work! (Don't try to rely on the knowledge you already have.)

September 18, 19

Year 11 You should have enough background information on various web tools and student e-portfolios to begin to focus on your investigation. Remember that the Year 11 investigation is "student oriented". I will be here to give advice.

Our guiding question is "How can I best showcase my achievements electronically?

Investigate tasks:
-Identify the Problem
-Develop a Design Brief
-Formulate a Design Specification
-Product Analysis of final product
-Acknowledge sources and document apprpriately

FYI - According to the IBO these features in moderation samples are to be commended, "Documented investigation on the product, the process, the tools and skills with students' personal comments, clear list of design specifications resulting from their research, possible tests to evaluate the product/solution against the design specification and proper acknowledgement of sources."

The due date for the Investigate is September 27 - end of class.

Criterion A

Year 11 this is the official rubric for Criterion A. Let's review this together so you understand exactly what is expected of you.

September 12

Year 11 - Check this out: http://www.wix.com/

http://www.wix.com

September 11, 12

Year 11, you are spoiled for choice (hahaha). When creating an online portfolio there are many options to choose from.

Dr. Helen Barrett (the e-portfolio guru!) has conducted an experiment where she has created (and re-created) and e-portfolio using many different tools. It's all basically the same information - it's just organized differently. Let's see what she has to say about creating an e-portfolio. http://newali.apple.com/ali_sites/ali/exhibits/1000156/

I'm including some of her other links that I think may be of interest to you:
http://helenbarrett.com/
http://hbarrett.pbwiki.com/
http://hbarrett.wordpress.com/how-to/ (how to create an e-portfolio with wordpress)
http://eportfolios.googlepages.com/home
http://edfolio.fdu.edu/BarrettH/ (good ideas of what to include in your e-portfolio)

This is an impressive link list that Dr. Barrett has compiled! http://electronicportfolios.com/portfolios/bookmarks.html

Check these option out too!
http://www.carbonmade.com/ Free e-portfolio site
http://www.pageflakes.com/ Page Flakes
http://protopage.com/ Protopage

What else can you come up with? There are merit points just waiting to happen . . .

In addition, when making your process journal posting follow this template to keep the posting relevant:

-From my research I found out . .
-I have discovered that . . .
-My conclusions are that . . .
-I have kept my research relevant by . . .
-I found ICT helpful when . . .

September 5

Year 11 - We've had a great start.

While our Unit is still in progress we will be trying to solve this problem: How can technology be used to showcase learning/achievements and make it readily accessible to university admissions office?

Remember the Design Cycle: Investigate, Design, Plan, Create, Evaluate

Investigate tasks:

• Identify the Problem
• Develop a Design Brief
• Brainstorm ideas
• Formulate a Design Specification
• Product Analysis of final product
• Research into available free web-tools

1) Today I would like to INVESTIGATE e-portfolios/online portfolios/digital portfolios. Gather ideas to help you plan your product.

Here are some links that I would like to visit:
http://dp1.ips.k12.in.us:16080/~wyork/Kaijah%20BlackWell/Welcome.html
http://dp1.ips.k12.in.us:16080/~wyork/Frank%20Tardy/Welcome.html
http://dp1.ips.k12.in.us:16080/~wyork/Keshia%20Smith/Welcome.html
http://dp1.ips.k12.in.us:16080/~wyork/Lonald%20Key%20Senior%2008/Me,%20Myself%20and%20Maybe%20I.html

These students completed the above online portfolios as part of their senior year classwork;-) They attend a public school in Indianapolis, Indiana (USA). http://www.616.ips.k12.in.us/

two more great examples:
http://www.newtechhigh.org/gallery/samples/2002/cbaldomero/default.htm
http://www.newtechhigh.org/gallery/samples/2002/eboulier/default.html

Some more to look at - not great - but you might get some ideas:
http://www.pupilpages.com/Students/Default.aspx?studentId=173

2)Keep track of ALL sites you visit!

3) Begin to Formulate a DESIGN SPECIFICATION. What do you plan to include in your portfolio and WHY?????

September 4

Year 11 - Welcome back! It's great to see you all again.

1. Let's view the Welcome to IT ppt.


Let's take a few minutes and dust off our process journals/blogs (hahaha).

2.Blogs are primarily a communication tool. People are more motivated when their blogs are visited and comments are made. I love visiting your blogs. However, I have more than 115 blogs to visit and, unfortunately, am unable to make it to all of your blogs on a timely basis. Therefore, we will organize groups whereby students within that group will visit and comment on each other's blogs and actively participate in each other's learning. Also, invite your friends and family to visit your process journal/blog.

Create a link list in the side bar to add links to the other members of your group.


3.Then check out this blog template site. Look carefully at the templates on this site. What are the differences between the templates provided by Blogger.com and these templates? What possible purpose could this serve? Answer these questions in your blog.

If you would like to change your template, please feel free to.

Remember, effective learners are punctual and meet deadlines!

June 24

Year 11 - You are finished! Take a minute to enjoy the feeling!

Have a great summer! Send me a postcard!

Good Luck Year 11

June 16, 19/20

Tick Tock - Time is up Year 11. Grades are due on Friday.





I bid you farewell and wish you health and happiness as you move through to the next stage of your educational journey.

June 13

Happy St. António Day Year 11

June 10

Happy Holiday Year 11

June 6

Year 11 - No Classes - Personal Project Exhibition

Have a great weekend - See you Tuesday

June 5

Happy "Environment Day - 2008" Year 11

According to Wikipedia, "World Environment Day (WED) was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. WED is hosted every year by a different city and commemorated with an international exposition through the week of June 5."

Here is a link to the UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) which offers a wealth of info: http://www.unep.org/wed/2008/english/

Then continue with your projects!

I hope you enjoyed the Activity Day yesterday. We learned a lot about Portuguese traditions. I would like you to think about the fact that due to EU regulations that many small businesses were forced to close. What do you think about that? We'll talk about that next week.

You are almost there Year 11. Keep working hard for a few more weeks. The end is drawing near. . .

June 3

Year 11, we are almost there. Keep workin'!

Tomorrow be ready to have a day to remember!

May 30

Year 11, the sun is shining because I'm feeling a little better today.

I'm returning your Investigations and would like you to print your Designs and hand them in today.

You have 1 week to rework your Investigations and hand them in to upgrade your score. They are due Friday June 6. Remember to have them looked at again - you must submit the original Investigation with the Investigate Mark Sheet, and the 2nd draft Investigation.

Tick Tock, Year 11!

May 29

Year 11, I'm sorry I'm not with you today but I'm a bit "under the weather".

Forge on with your CREATE. You should be finishing up with that as time is passing quickly and we only have a few classes left.

Remember that Graduation is June 27 and all your work must be in by June 20. Tuesday June 10 is a national holiday and consequently we won't have classes. So after today's class - we only have 5 classes.

Tick Tock, Year 11

May 27

Year 11 - The countdown has started. . .

May 22/23

Year 11 - Thursday, May 22 was a national holiday:-) I hope you enjoyed your day off.

Let's continue with the Create portion of the project.

May 20

Year 11, you all are busy as bees as you buzz around to get your projects done on time. Take a few minutes to check out this site I came across.

Check it out - it's way cool:-) http://www.helpthehoneybees.com/

May 15/16

It's been a long week Year 11 - continue with your Plan OR begin your Create!!!!!

May 13

Year 11 - How about a little wine and cheese party? Well, not quite but we are planning our Activity Day on June 4 around a Systems Technology theme. We are planning on visiting 2 establishments in Azeitão that have a very long tradition here in Portugal.

But until things are finalized, let's continue working on our projects.

Year 11, we have received a "thank you" card for our particpation in the Earthwatch webcast on April 22. Well done Year 11. They loved YOU!

Henry, before I forget. . . Would you be willing to write a very small article for the June issue of the Signadou regarding your participation in the webcast? It would be fantastic to have a student's view of the project;-)

May 8/9

Year 11 - Let's talk about Google Docs.

Sometimes students begin working on a school project (homework, classwork, group work) during class time and don't finish it. It is necessary to complete the project at home. Now comes the student's dilemma - how to "take" the project home. Well, for some it's possible to access his/her school folder from home but for others with Microsoft Vista this doesn't seem to work.

Google Docs is another option. With Google Docs it's easy to store documents online. By doing so, the student can access the document from any computer (with an internet connection) anywhere in the world. Wow! That covers a lot of territory.

To learn more about Google Docs check out this video.



For more info and to start using Google Docs today visit this site: http://docs.google.com

ALSO, the Design portion of your project is due today;-) Don't forget to print it and hand it in.

May 6

Always good advice Year 11.

Remember your Designs are due at the end of the week (May 8/9).

May 2

If you have an apple and I have an apple, and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea, and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.
- George Bernard Shaw

Year 11 - The Design Deadline is nearing. The due date is May 8/9.

April 29

Good Luck Year 11

April 24/25

Year 11 - Add a little color to your day . . .

Continue with your Designs

Have a great (long) weekend!

April 22 - Earth Day

Year 11 - Happy Earth Day!

Period 1 & 2 - Let's try our hands at webcasting.

Moderation People - Let's work hard to finish our samples.

Everybody else - Let's continue with the "Design".

April 17/18

Year 11 - Help the Earth! Please take a few minutes out of your class-time to make a difference. As you know April 22 is Earth Day. This is a day that has been set aside to celebrate our great planet. As custodians, it is our responsibility to protect the planet and act as caretakers for future generations.

A Voicethread has been created and will become part of an Earth Day initiative (Earthcast 08 Project). Please contribute to the SDIS Earth Day Voicethread and offer advice for protecting our world.

1. Go to http://voicethread.com and register
2. Click on Browse
3. Type - SDIS Earth Day, then click on the magnifying glass
4. Record your message

That was quick and easy. You have just added yourself to the list of contributors and helped make the world a better place.


Thank You Year 11

and now back to the Design portion of the program (hahaha).

April 15

[Design is] a plan for arranging elements in such a way as to best accomplish a particular purpose. CHARLES EAMES

Year 11 - Continue with your Designs

April 10/11

Year 11 - I can't wait to see your DESIGNS. Keep working!

April 8

Good Morning/Afternoon Year 11

First things First;-)

First things first!
1. Please sign into Blogger.com and open your blog
2. Click on the Layout tab
3. In the Sidebar, click on Add a Page Element
4. Choose Link List and click
5. Ask the person sitting to your left for their blog address
6. Insert this information and save changes
7. Then use this link and visit the blog
8. Leave a relevant comment on that blog.

Great Year 11 - You have just added to and participated in someone else's learning! Well done!

Now continue with your Design

April 3/4

Year 11 - Design your future! Work hard!

Continue with the Design portion of the project

April 1

APRIL FOOLS DAY



The Investigation is over!(and that's no joke) Let's move on to the Design part of the project;-)

March 27/28

Year 11 - Welcome Back
Spring Break is over and it's time to bet back to work.

Today the Investigate part of your project is due.

Please hand it in before the end of class. Detentions will be assigned for late projects.

Now, it's on to DESIGN :-)

March 11

Year 11

INVESTIGATION - Due March 27/28

Use your time wisely today to avoid unnessary work over the Spring Break.

Remember, I'm available to answer any queries you may have.

March 6/7

Year 11 - Work hard. Remember our due date for the Investigation (Criterion A) is March 27/28. Work smart - work in class NOT on your holiday break.

March 4

Let's talk about the Design Specification and Design Brief. What are they? How do they fit into your project.

February 28/February 29

Year 11, another week is drawing to a close. Continue with your investigation.

Remember:

This is a work environment - please stay on task.

February 26

And the Investigation continues . . .

Remember the Investigate portion of your project is due after Easter break. BUT, you don't want to work on it during break-finish it before the 12th. You'll thank yourself.

February 22/23

Year 11

We are at the beginning of the course and I'd like to offer you some assistance with respect to creating posts for your Process Journal/blog.

You are conducting research and want to summarize using the following:

• From my research I found out . . .
  
• I have discovered that . . .


• My conclusions are that . . .


• I have kept my research relevant by . . .
  

Starting Questions that can be useful while undergoing research: Why? When? Where? What? How many? How often? How much?

February 19

Year 11 - INVESTIGATE

We perform investigations everyday - without really thinking about it. Every time you seek information that you don't already possess, you, in fact, are investigating.

We will proceed in a more organized fashion to really focus on investigating AND learning.

Click here to access the Investigate Help Sheet

Follow this sheet for success. Address each item carefully and completely!

February 14

Happy Valentine's Day Year 11

After you complete the jigsaw puzzle (hahaha) let's get started on the Investigation part of the project. Click on the Investigate Help Sheet in the sidebar before proceeding.

February 12

Welcome Year 11

Before we get started let's take a few minutes and find out what this class is all about.

| View | Upload your own

January 31/February 1

Time just ran out Year 11 - I'll miss you.

Please come back and visit . . .

January 24/25

Oh no, only one more week of classes. I miss you already.

January 22

Year 11 - Although we are still trying to be eco-friendly, we are going to print the projects. I would appreciate it if you would print the Investigate, Design, and Plan portions of your project. (Remember to include your Cover Page)

Thank you

January 17/18

Year 11

Plan - Due today.

Due Date

The Plan Section of the Design Cycle is due:

Friday January 18, 2008

January 15

Year 11 - You are almost finished.

January 10/11

Tick Tock Year 11.

If you have any questions, please ask.

I'm missing you guys already:-(

January 8 - Happy New Year!

Get a Voki now!



Welcome back Year 11. There's a saying, "Time and tide wait for no man" - and that's so true. We only have a few weeks to complete our projects - so let's get started!