G10 A-3 Tech Class #14

Today 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: Game

• carry out tests to compare the game against the design specifications
• consider the success (and/or failure) of the game in an objective manner based on testing, your own views and the views of the intended users (include feedback from users)
• consider the impact of the game on individuals and on society
• explain how the game could be improved.

Evaluate your use of the design cycle: 

• reflect on your performance at each stage of the design cycle (discuss strengths and weaknesses/areas of improvements of each stage)
• compare your predicted timeline with the actual use of time and give reasons for changes (if any) 
• identify the parts that you found difficult and suggest ways in which your performance could be improved.

Today you need to focus on:

• fine tune/retouch your final products to have them ready for your audience on Monday
• start reflecting on your Evaluate stage document.
• decide with the Secondary Counselor: Mrs Nees, how and when you will present your games to G7 students during advisory period on October 3, 2011
• Plan the Schedule for class visits to G7, G8 and G9.
• prepare ways to collect feedback from your users

You can also visit the Design Folder Checklist to make sure you will have a complete Evaluate stage. 
Based on G10 Due Dates Evaluate stage needs to be submitted Tuesday.

G10 A-3 Tech Class #13

Today is Presentation Day!!! Be prepared to show and explain your final product:

• built, 
• operational,
• talk about the process of creation
• issues you had to overcome
• timeline/time management
• group work
• strengths / weaknesses / areas of improvement

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

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. 

G10 A-3 TechClass #12

Based on our experience with the Create stage last class, we decided we will use this class to finish working on Create stage as well as your product.

I have updated the G10 Due dates webpage to reflect this change of dates.

By the end of today you will need to fully develop:

1. Process Journal

2. Include tools and techniques you used to create your game

3. Time management: Did you follow your time plan? How?

4. Changes made to your chosen design? Why? How?

You can always use the Design Folder Checklist to make sure your Create stage is complete. For more details in Create stage visit Tech class #10 blog entry.

Your Create stage as well as your product are due by the end of today.

Remember you can make updates to those stages and re-submit the graded stages for a second assessment for that stage.

As stated in the Assignments Standards, if you make changes and/or updates to your documents please please please use the Track Changes feature (what is this?) so it is evident how you further developed the stage.

If you are working on The Cloud, you can read more about this feature in the Google Docs Blog entry on Tools for Viewing Docs Revisions.

You can also visit Google Docs Revision History with step by step instructions on how to use Revision History.

Resubmit again following the steps to submit and assignments posted in the MYP Technology website.

G10 A-3 TechClass #11

Today we continue working on Create stage. Review the G10 Due dates webpage to help you stay on task.

In Create stage remember to fully develop:

1. Your Process Journal

2. Explain tools and techniques you used to create your product

3. Talk about your time management: Did you follow your time plan? How?

4. Changes made to your chosen design? Why? How?

You can always use the Design Folder Checklist to make sure your Create stage is complete. For more details in Create stage visit last class' blog entry.

Your Create stage as well as your product are due by the end of today. (Based on our experience this class we decided to reschedule Create stage due date for next class.)

I have returned grades and comments for all the assignments that were submitted. Please review them as a group. You can make updates to those stages and re-submit them for a second assessment for that stage.

As stated in the Assignments Standards, if you make changes and/or updates to your documents please please please use the Track Changes feature (what is this?) so it is evident how you further developed the stage.

If you are working on The Cloud, you can read more about this feature in the Google Docs Blog entry on Tools for Viewing Docs Revisions.

You can also visit Google Docs Revision History with step by step instructions on how to use Revision History.

Resubmit again following the steps to submit and assignments posted in the MYP Technology website.

Thanks!

G10 A-3 TechClass #10

Welcome to class #10!

Today we will start working on Create stage. Please visit the G10 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 create the product)
• 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 create your product

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

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

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

G10 A-3 TechClass #9

Today we will start working on Plan!

The main idea in the Plan stage is that you can organize yourselves on what will be done, when and with what resources? The Plan stage needs to:

1. make a detailed step by step list of tasks/instructions on how the chosen Design will be created/built (think as if someone else will built/create your product based on these instructions)
2. show a timeline of tasks and resources that will guide you through the next stage: Create. Use the Gantt and CPM (Critical Path Method usually used together with PERT) concepts we talked about in class: simultaneously, overlapping and sequence.
3. Include evidence of planning for materials and resources usage
4. Make any modifications you considered needed to your chosen design

A couple suggested tools for Plan stage can be the following:

• TODOIST :Todoist is a task manager that's useful, fast and easy to use. You can manage a lot of to-dos ... :-)
• TOM'S PLANNER: Tom's Planner allows you to create, collaborate and share Gantt Charts online with drag and drop simplicity. It's extremely intuitive and easy-to-use.
• Take the Tour @ Tom's Planner Quick Tour

Remember that you can always use the Design Folder Checklist to make sure your stage is complete.

Don't forget to check the G10 Due Dates to stay on task. Plan is due today and record your progress in your Process Journal. Thanks!

G10 A-3 TechClass #8

Good morning!

I have received your Investigation stage through the submitting process and I am thankful to ones that submitted on time and following the stated procedure. I will be replying to your submitted email your grade and comments today. I will post on the board a list of people who are missing the assignment.

Today your Design stage is due following the G10 Due Dates planned. Please work on that during class and submit it by the end of the day today. You can review the guidelines for this stage on last class' blog entry.

Don't forget to make your journal entry of the day and today you should include in it the sketches of your designs as visual evidence!

G10 A-3 TechClass #7

Good morning!!!

Last class you finished Investigation by completing your assignment (you could use the G10 Investigation Draft doc) and you submitted your work by following the Steps to submit your assignments.

Today please start working on Design.

• Include a variety of different designs/proposed solutions  (at least 3)
• Explain every part of each ideas/product solution
• For explaining your designs, please use different techniques like story boards, sketches, labelled diagrams with explanations, etc.
• Evaluate each design critically against the design specifications (assess what design specs each design complies with or not)
• Choose one design to build
• Justify your choice
• Evaluate your performance in the design stage of the project.

You can use the Design Folder Checklist as a guide not to leave anything out of your Design Stage.

Remember to check the G10 Due Dates to stay on task.

Record what you accomplish today, what's your plan for next class, any issues you had to overcome, etc in your Process Journal.

Thank you!

G10 A-3 TechClass #6

Good morning!

Today we will continue to work on the Investigation stage of Project 1.

Investigation will be due by the end of this class. Please work on completing this assignment as well as recording your entry in your Process Journal (will you will need to submit in Create stage)

The due dates for Project 1 are posted in the MYP Technology Website under G10 Due Dates.

• Remember to include the Assignment Standards we have talked about in class.
• You can use the Design Folder Checklist to make sure you don't leave anything out of your assignment.
• Take a look at Investigation criteria to know what is expected from you at this stage.
• You can visit last class' blog entry G10 A-3 TechClass #5 to access the G10 Investigation Draft Shared Document
• Follow the steps to submit your assignment as posted in the MYP Technology Website.

G10 A-3 TechClass #5

Today we will continue working on Project 1:

Develop a Product to Teach Younger Students about the Design Cycle or Digital Citizenship

Last class we worked on starting our Investigation. Please take a look at the G10 Investigation Draft Shared Document that we started in class so you have a guiding structure to work with for your first assignment. Let's work together to list everything we need to include in our Investigation stage.

If you would like to work on this Shared doc as your starting point to document your Investigation, please:

• Save a copy (File, Make a copy)
• Click OK to Copy Document
• Click on the name of the document (top left): Copy of ......
• Enter a new document name
• Change the Sharing settings for your group to be able to work collaboratively (Share button at top right)

You can watch a step by step video tutorial in my YouTube Channel!

You can also use the Design Folder Checklist as guidelines for your Investigation.

Remember today is the deadline to turn in your AUP. Thank you!