Animoto - BP Technology Challenge

via animoto.com

This morning the Digimax Class attempted to make step ladders for the BP Technology Challenge. Some teams were successful, other teams encountered a few problems. A few students from our class will now go into training to be selected for the school team.

Challenge yourself to Blog

Here is an international blog challenge. Sign up at this link and in a few weeks time you will be set challenges. The best thing is that your blog will be in a place where more people will have access to it. You have to remember, the more you comment on other people's blogs, the more your blog will get viewed. Make sure you have this done by the end of the week.

What is the challenge about?

The challenge is about getting students to blog and develop a world wide audience while doing so rather than just their teacher and classmates.

How can my class be involved?

Your class can be involved as a class blog or each student with their own blog can be involved in the student section of the challenge. If students are new to blogging they take part in the beginner section; if they have been blogging for about 6 months or so then the veteran section; if they don’t have their own blog, they might want to take part in the commenter section. This year there will also be activities for a whole class to do.

As the teacher, what do I have to do?

If you have a class blog, make sure the link to this blog is on your blogroll somewhere to make it easy for your students to find the challenges.  If you would prefer, you can copy and paste the challenges into your own class blog and adapt them to suit the needs of your students.

Mainly, keep reminding the students of the challenge and allow them time in and out of school to complete the activities.

How do I join the challenge as a student?

There will be a post on this blog in both February and August, about three weeks before the challenge begins. This will be a google form for each participant to fill in.  This document will then be converted to a page called Student participants and you will be able to see all the students and links to their URLs so you can visit them to read posts and leave comments. Students will be sorted according to age  making it easier for you to visit.

Reflection

Starting today we are going to put up a daily reflection on our blog. This
is going to be about our learning for the day. Some questions we may
answer in our post would be:
- what did I learn today?
- what did I achieve today?
- what can I do tomorrow to improve my learning?
- what is a question I have after the day?
- a general comment about what you did during the day.

Be honest!!!

Your parent or caregiver needs to make a comment against your post.

Poster Competition

Design a poster using word or publisher (or anything else that you may fancy) to put on the wall in the class (and on our blog) covering our rules for making comments on blogs and win! Make sure you include:

1. Title
2. Rules
3. Have correct spelling and grammar
4. Colour

The winner will be voted on by the class and myself and the winner will win themselves some chocolate (King Size Chocolate)!!! Have these finished by Monday next week.

Blog Commenting

In the Digimax Class we want to start providing feedback (comments) on each other’s work. We had a discussion last week about what a good blog comment would contain and came up with the following:

 

• Acknowledge the author of the post
• Comment related to content of post
•  It is ok to agree or disagree – as long as you let them know why
• Give feedback and feed forward
• One word comments are not useful – we want to help the author make their work better
• Follow “netiquette”. Before you push submit think to yourself ‘is this appropriate’? Would say it to their face?
• Everyone can read your comment – make sure your spelling and grammar are correct.

 

 

 

Writing Process

1. Plan your writing
2. Write your draft (book)
3. Typed on computer with double spacing
4. Edit as I type
5. Once I have finished typing:
6. Print
7. This is where I really edit my work – checking to make sense, annotate,
add info/take out info, use any checklist I may have, grammar,
punctuation, spelling. Always thinking to myself 'How can I make this
better!'
8. Get someone to check
9. Before I publish I must have a conference with Mr McKay
10. Fix my writing
11. PUBLISH

Narrative Plan

Download now or preview on posterous

narrative plan.pdf (22 KB)

Use this plan to help figure out what you will cover in your narrative.
Don't start writing with out a plan. Remember the ways we have planned,
this is just another option.

Narrative Check List

Download now or preview on posterous

marking.pdf (105 KB)

Use this to make sure you have everything included in your narrative. If
you find you have missed something out then you can add it during the
editing process.

We have moved!!!

During second block today all students in the Digimax class have moved
their blogs to posterous from blogger. We are putting links in to other
class mates blogs and learning how to post and autopost.

BBC - Skillswise Simplifying Fractions

via awesomescreenshot.com

Simplifying Fractions

http://awesomescreenshot.com/0a2llc53

X-Country

A couple of weeks ago SAMS held their X-Country at Porritt Stadium. It was a good day with lots of mud and lots of involvement. Special mention to Sean in the Digimax class who managed to win the Y7 boys race. We wish him all the best for the InterSschool X-Country coming up.

Waimaths Success for SAMS

Last night we had a number of students participate in the regional Waimaths competition. Our Year 7 Team came 3rd and we won 1st, 3rd and 4th Place in the poster competitions. Our Year 8 team performed well on the night but did not place.

Year 7 Team

Joyce Guo

Nathan Cleaver

Horim Choi

Year 8 Team

Panpan Seehamart

Abigail Wallace

Dylan Roberts

1st Place for the Waimaths Poster

Horim Choi

3rd Place for the Waimaths Poster

Susan Rangi

4th Place for the Waimaths Poster

Darshni Moodley

Animoto Sign up

Link

Maths Activities

Click on the image below for maths activities to do for fractions. These can be found at mathszone.

Time to use your Creative Hat

Maths Animoto - Fractions
Next week we will all be getting Animoto accounts - DON'T DO THIS NOW
What you need for next week is a range of photos showing fractions - have a look at mine. I used my phone and took pictures in town today when walking to the court. I am showing my understanding of what a half is.
Everyone these days has access to digital cameras or has a camera on their phone. You need to get creative and take some fun pictures to help show your understanding of fractions. You may pick a half, or a quarter, or may even add fractions. BE CREATIVE!!!



You need to have your pictures by next Monday.

Wednesday 4 August

Hi
Once again I have been called in. A list of what you need to do.

• Maths - Mr Woody has some work sheets for you - these need to be completed and glued in your maths book. Use some equipment to help you solve.
• Japanese - Mr Woody is taking this and will let me know how you are all working - some of you better be changing your attitudes in class from what I hear!
• Author Study - choose one of the following authors and find out the following and present it in an interesting/exciting way using what ever you want. This turns into homework to be completed by next Friday. Use this time in class to get a head start.

1. History of author - e.g. where they were born? School? Study? Family? Why they started writing? etc
2. Influences on their writing.
3. Books they have written, series of books?
4. Genre they write in?
5. Illustrator or just author?
6. Anything that may be interesting?
7. A range of questions you would ask them if you met them.

Possible authors:

• Margaret Mahy
• Joy Cowley
• Maurice Gee
• JK Rowling
• Maurice Gleitzman
• Roald Dahl

And remember - if you have not finished the other tasks you have a lot of work to do so don't waste your time!

Tuesday 3 August

Hi Digimax

Once again I wont be in today as I have to return to jury service however I should be back for the afternoon. I did get the chance to chat with Mr Woody though and some of you need to up your game a little. Remember I will be checking all of the work I have given is finished (and something that Ruby or Poppy could have done wont be accepted!!!). Make sure you use your time wisely and finish, to a high standard, what needs to be finished. If you aren't sure what that is read yesterdays post.start on yesterdays work make sure you finish the maths below.

I saw some of the completed brochures, some looked good, however there were quite a few spelling/grammar errors. If you are getting these checked before you finish there should be none. 3rd block you have health and the gym is available to be used 2nd half of block one. Remember we have x-county on Friday and that fun run money needs to start coming in.

To finish Block One
Go to this link
We are starting fractions - you need to get a definition and an example of each of the following:

• what is a fraction?
• A definition and example of the 3 types of fractions
• the 3 steps for adding fractions and subtracting fractions
• 3 examples of adding fractions
• 3 example of subtracting fractions

All will be checked when I get back, make sure you make good choices about who you sit with!

Monday 2 August

Hello Digimax Class

I won't be making it in today as I have to attend Jury Service. If you aren't sure what this is ask Mr Woody - make sure he tells you the truth though.
What to do today:

• You need to finish your brochure on Japan (using Microsoft Publisher). You saw the example I left with Mr Woody. This is the standard I am expecting and it needs to be finished by the time I get back. You have had time on Friday and you are getting more time today. If you cannot print it out in colour (see if Jordan, Jacob, Emma or Laura can) just save it and I will print them out when I get back.
• Waimaths poster - this needs to be finished today (once again I will be checking to make sure everyone have completed one). A4 piece of paper, black and white, using ruler, compass, protractor and must contain the title 'Waimaths 2011'. These need to be handed to Miss Thompson or Mr Trudell
• If you have finished both of these things, well done! 
• Writing - watch or read 'Abra Cadabra - and the Tooth Witch'. This is a narrative about the "Tooth Fairy'. Your task is to write a story about another character such as the Easter Bunny, Santa Clause or any other character along those lines. Make sure you describe characters, think about the setting and plan your complication and resolution. If you aren't sure what those things are check your writing book where you made your poster on a narrative (if this isn't finished I suggest you finish that also!).
• Finally, on your blog you need to put the links to the reading sites I showed you last week and the basic facts game in our links - the hit the number one.

Hope you all have a great day and don't forget you have Tech last two blocks.