IMPORTANT: Assignment Deadline

IMPORTANT: Assignment Deadline

The deadline to submit all assignments is
Thursday June 14th at 5pm. Assignments received after 5:01 will be marked as
missing.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

What's My Grade? Microsoft Excel Assignment

Microsoft Excel is a very powerful tool.  Like many powerful tools, it is also sometimes complicated.  While this is an individual assignment, you may need to work with your neighbors if you get stuck.  Asking a question in Google and using the Help menu are good, too!

-Open Microsoft Excel, and save your file using the class saving guidelines.

-As your header, add a title (What's My Grade?), name, and class.

-Across your first row, create some column headings: Assignment, Earned, Possible, Percentage


-Format your first row in Bold.

-Log in to EdLine, and record your assignment names in your first column under Assignment


-Enter in your earned credit for each assignment in the Earned column.

-Enter in the total possible points in the Possible column.

-Now format your Percentage column.
  1. Right click on the letter above the column to highlight the entire column.
  2. Select "Format"
  3. Under the "Number" section, select "Percentage"
  4. Click OK
-Now find the percentage earned for each assignment.
  1. Select the top most cell in the percentage column that is in the same row as your top assignment.
  2. Click the sum key.  The sum key is represented by the greek letter Sigma: 
  3. Note that the automatic function of the sum key is to sum or add a string of numbers together.  It probably looks something like this: =SUM(B2:C2). Excel guesses which numbers you want to add and highlights those cells.  In this case Excel has probably chosen both the Earned and Possible points to add together.  Unfortunately adding the two numbers together will not give us meaningful information so we need to...
  4. Edit the function.  We find the percentage of a number by dividing.  So you convert this sentence: "I earned 6 out of 10 points for First Assignment" to a function like so: 6/10.
  5. But what if we resubmit the assignment for more credit?  We want to be able to enter in the new number in the correct box and have the percentage represent the new number.  So change the function in your selected box to =SUM(B2/C2), then press enter.
  6. You should now see the percentage in the box you edited!
  7. Okay, how about the other assignments percentages?  Do I have to redo the same process for every assignment? No, you don't!
  8. Hover your mouse cursor over the lower right corner of the cell you just added the function to.
  9. Your cursor should turn to a solid black cross.
  10. If you drag the cross down and release, it will copy the function to every cell you highlight.
-Okay time for your totals.  Use the Sum function to total up your Earned, Possible, and Percentages columns with separate totals.

-Download my template to see what your file should look like.

-If your document looks like mine (including functions!),  you may save, then attach to a professional email to teacherlatorre@gmail.com No earlier than the last 10 minutes of class!.  If you finish the minimum requirements before the last ten minutes, add a sheet to your document and repeat the process for all of your classes.

Cyberbullying Project Reflection (Individual)

Your reflection should be written on a Word document then sent as an attachment to teacherlatorre@gmail.com.
Use the same format that your group used for the Proposal.
Please include:
-An appropriate file name
-Date
-To
-From
-What happened?
-Was this a success? Why or why not?
-Include a compliment to one of your group members for something they helped your group to accomplish.
-Finally, assign yourself, your group members, and your group over all a grade (A-D).  Defend and explain your decision.  It should look like this:

[example]:
Grade
Mr. LaTorre (me): A-
I worked hard but there was one day I was tired and did not help out as much.

Phillip Group guy: A+
Phillip did a ton of work, and even got some things done outside of class.

Gene Group guy: B-
Gene wanted to do another topic, and it took all day to get him to help.  Eventually he was really good at doing research and adding it to our project.

Group Grade: A
We worked well together even though we had some disagreements.  We learned a lot about cyberbullying, and were able to compile our facts into a presentation that made sence and was educational to others.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Cyber Bullying Presentation

Once you have completed the action portion of your project, you will need to create a Microsoft Powerpoint file to share your project with the class.

Steps:
  1. Choose one group member to navigate to docs.google.com, and create a presentation document.
  2. Add all group members to the document as editors.
  3. Using the rather plain presentation below as your template, create a much more creative presentation to share with the class that will describe your project.
  4. Download your Google presentation as a PowerPoint presentation, using the class saving guidelines.
  5. Attach your file to a professional email from your Outlook account to teacherlatorre@gmail.com

Follow this example while creating your presentation:



Grading for this assignment:
  • Students will be graded as a group, not individually for this portion of the project.
  • I will be looking for the following components in determining your grade for the presentation:
    • Title Page (group members listed?)
    • Project Overview (how did your group decide what to do?)
    • Action (Is it clear what your group has done?)
    • Outcome (All questions answered?)
    • Conclusion (lessons learned)
    • Thank You/Questions page
    • Works Cited (MLA format)
    • Proper spelling and grammar
  • Each of the above requirements is worth 5 points each, totalling 40 points for the presentation.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Elementary Presenters

If your group is hoping to present at an elementary school, please fill in your information in the spreadsheet here.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Cyberbullying Group Project Overview

In small groups (3 members), you will conduct a project to learn more about cyberbullying.  You may focus on causes, effects, history, culture, awareness, technology, or other aspects of cyberbullying.  The learning in this project will not be guided by the teacher - each group will need to be their own guide (I am available to help you when you need it, however).

Project goals:

  • Collaborate using Google Documents and email.
  • Discover more about cyber culture.

Project components:

Grading:
  • Each of the project components will be graded according to whether the group each individual follow instructions.
  • Group members will assign each other collaboration grades
  • Individuals will assign themselves an overall grade
  • The teacher will assign an effort and participation grade

Cyberbullying Project: Action

This portion of the project may be interpreted freely.  The only way that this portion of the project is graded is whether it appears that the group spent the allotted time working on their project or not.

Some action portions of the Cyberbullying Project by past students:
  • Create a presentation and leading a discussion in an elementary classroom.
  • Make an informational video.
  • Create informational posters to hang about the school.
  • Create an informational model.
  • Write an article to submit to a local paper.
  • Write a research essay.
  • Create a board game.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Cyberbullying Project Research Requirement

You will need to gather information from several sources to ensure that the information you use in your project is accurate and meaningful.

While gathering information for your project, you must use information using the following resources:

1) At least one article found using Gale Power Search

2) At least one article found using SIRS Knowledge Source OR Opposing Viewpoints

3) At least one news article found using Google News

4) At least one website that you trust as a reputable source

As you collect information, be sure you keep your sources in a works cited page.  Let me know which requirement you are fulfilling in your works cited page by including the resource where you found the article.  For example:



Works Cited

  1. Acohido, Byron. "Hackers Invade iTunes Accounts.USA TODAY. 26 Aug 2010: B.1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 07 May 2012. (Found using SIRS Knowledge Source)
  2. Molina, Brett. "Study: More People Using Cellphones for Real-time Info." USA Today. Gannett, 07 May 2012. Web. 07 May 2012. <http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2012/05/study-more-people-using-cell-phones-for-real-time-info/1>. (Found using Google News)

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Cyberbullying Project Proposal

Be sure you have completed your group brainstorm document before starting your Project Proposal.

Project Proposal



  1. One group member create a Google Document.
  2. Title the document "Cyberbullying Project Proposal"
  3. Designate all group members as editors using the "Share" button.
Write what your group plans to do with this project, addressing all of the following:

  1. Is your proposal written in a Google Document, using clear formatting, correct spelling, punctuation, and a file name that is descriptive and appropriate?
  2. What is the date that you are submitting the proposal?
  3. Who is submitting the proposal?
  4. Who is the intended audience of the proposal? (hint: Mr. LaTorre)
  5. What action do you plan to take?
  6. Where will your project take place?
  7. Why will it be important to take this action?
  8. How long will this project take?
  9. What materials or help will you need?
  10. Are each of the sections that answer these questions titled and clearly separated (where necessary)?
Proofread your document carefully.  Taking turns reading aloud is a good method of finding mistakes.

Once you are sure that your proposal is ready to submit, designate one group member to follow these instructions:
  1. Click "File", then "Download as", then "Word"
  2. Save the file using class saving procedures.
  3. Draft a professional email in Microsoft Outlook.
  4. Add all group members to the "Carbon Copy" (CC) section.
  5. Add teacherlatorre@gmail.com to the "To" section.
  6. Approach Mr. LaTorre to let him know your proposal has been submitted.
After the teacher approves your project, you may take action.