August Keyboarding Schedule

During your first month in Keyboarding, it is important for you to build your keyboarding skills. This will help you to achieve your WPM goals for the year.

You can find your Word file in the "Documents" folder in the "Dock."

Ms. Kline will be circling the lab to help you with proper hand and body position.

For the month of August, you will follow this schedule:

• Mavis textbook - 15 minutes
• Mavis program - 15 minutes
• Mavis games - 10 minutes

Remember:

• Procedures
• Practice
• Perseverance

"Back to School Night" Documentary Video

For the next two weeks you will continue working on the Back to School Night Documentary class project. We will need new volunteers to produce the video using the Smart Board. Don't be shy! We'll help you along the way!

With the video imported into the computer, the following steps need to be completed:

• Edit the video by deleting unwanted scenes
  
• Cut the video to approximately 5-10 minutes
  
• Cut the video into "clips"
  
• Import the digital photos from Back to School Night
  
• Put the clips and photos in order
  
• Add title clips
  
• Add transitions between clips
  
• Add music
  
• Add narration
  
• Don't forget to SAVE often!
  
• Export your video back to a mini-DV cassette
  
• Export your video to QuickTime so that we can post it on the Spurgeon web site

Now we will be able to share your documentary with the entire school!

Learning to Type from the Textbook

Today you will begin typing from your Mavis textbook.

This will teach you look at your copy (written words) and type without looking at your hands.

We will use the following procedures when typing from the textbook:

• Click on the Applications folder and open Microsoft Word
  
• Save your file in the "Documents" folder
  
• File Save As: "Period#LastNameFirstName"
  
• Type "Page + #" at the top of your page
  
• Do not change the font
  
• Do not change the size of the text
  
• If you cannot see the words well, zoom in to your document
  
• Read the instructions for the page
  
• Type the exercises from the page
  
• When you finish a page, type "Page + #" with the new page number
  
• Continue typing the rest of the exercises in the book
  
• Always type the page # before you start the exercise
  
• Ms. Kline will check your work occasionally
  
• Everyday you will open the "Documents" folder in your dock
  
• Select your document to open
  
• Continue the exercises

Follow the daily schedule as posted yesterday.

Daily Keyboarding Drills

Now that you have taken your first keyboarding test, you know your starting speed. You have set a goal in the Mavis keyboarding program, and you will spend the year working to accomplish this goal!

For the month of August, you will follow this schedule:

• Mavis textbook - 15 minutes
• Mavis program - 15 minutes
• Mavis games - 10 minutes

It is important for you to be able to look at your copy (paper) on the right of your computer, and then type without looking at your hands. Using the Mavis textbook on a daily basis will help you to accomplish this skill.

Let's Make a Movie!

Today we will make a "Spurgeon Back to School Night" Documentary Video!

You will learn the basics of how to use iMovie to import video, edit, add titles, sound, narration, and then export your completed project to DVD and Quicktime for the web.

We will show this movie to the entire school later this week over our in-house video system which broadcasts in all of the classrooms.

Also this week, Ms. Kline will post the web version of the movie to the Spurgeon web site.

Test Day!

Today you will begin using the online typing test www.typingtest.com to test your typing speed. You will take a typing test every Friday until the end of the school year.

Your speed is measured in "Words Per Minute" (WPM). You may only have one error per minute for your test to count. If you make a mistake during a test, you have two options:

• Restart the test
  
• Correct the mistake while typing
  

To make a correction during a test, you will use your right pinky finger to strike the delete key. Do not lift your hands off of the keyboard to reach the delete key.

Remember proper hand and body position:

• Keyboard at the edge of the table
  
• Push your chair back
  
• Sit up straight
  
• Feet flat on the floor
  
• Sit one hand-span away from the keyboard
  
• Relax your arms
  
• Keep yours wrists level
  
• Hands on the Home Keys
  

You may take as many tests as you wish until you are happy with your score. When you are done, you may have free time.

Free Time Activities:

• Chess Game
  
• Visit web sites under the "Web Site Links" on the right
  
• Use the "World Book Encylopedia" in your Applications folder
  
• Play the typing games in Mavis 16
  

How to use www.typingtest.com:

• Go to www.typingtest.com
  
• Click "Begin Typing Test"
  
• Click "Restart Typing Test"
  
• Leave Test Duration at 1 min.
  
• Under "Test Text," drop down to "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"
  
• Leave Speed Unit at WPM
  
• Click "Begin"
  
• When you start typing, the timer will start.
  
• Do not stop typing until all of the time runs out.
  
• Correct your mistakes as you type.
  
• When the test is finished, your speed will display on the right
  
• If you are happy with your score, show it to Ms. Kline
  
• Write down your score on your "Grade Sheet"
  
• Have your parents sign your "Grade Sheet" each week
  

GOOD LUCK!

Back to School Night!

You are almost finished with the first two weeks of school, so it's time for "Back to School Night!"

Be sure to bring your family tonight so that they may visit with your teachers and see what Spurgeon Intermediate is all about.

All students who visit Ms. Kline will receive a candy.

When you visit tonight, log in and show your parents how you use the computer during class. Start them with "Ms. Kline Online," then show them the Mavis16 keyboarding program. You are welcome to show them the chess program and take them for a spin on the Internet if you wish!

All students who attend may have a photograph taken with their family at their computer to use in later class projects.

Don't forget the AVID program's Nacho/Taco Cart for a light dinner before the program.

Learning to Type with Mavis 16

Today you will begin your keyboarding lessons with Mavis 16. This is a fun software program that teaches you how to type based on your current skill level.

You will use the following steps to begin:

1. Open the Applications Folder
   
2. Open the MB Teaches Typing 16 folder
   
3. Open Mavis 16
   
4. Wait for the program to begin
   
5. Click "Create a New User"
   
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to create your account
   
7. Type your period# before your First Name when you create your account name
   
8. After you click "Finish" wait for Ms. Kline in the "Classroom" area
   
9. Click "Go To" on the lower left side of the screen
   
10. Select "Lesson Area"
    
11. Click on "Beginner Typist"
    
12. Get into proper hand and body position
    
13. Start the lesson by reading the screen and clicking "Begin" when you are ready

Time to Type!

Let's review what you learned about Keyboarding yesterday.

What is the most important thing for you to remember?

That's right...the Home Keys.

What are the home keys?

Left Hand

a s d f

Right Hand

j k l ;

What are the other special keys?

Right Thumb

space bar

Pinky Fingers

Shift Keys (for making capital letters)

Open "Intro to Keyboarding", we'll finish up the introductory lesson and then we'll practice typing!

Ready, Set, Type!

Why did you take a Keyboarding class at Spurgeon?

That's right...to learn to type by touch.


What does it mean to type by touch?

That's right...to type without looking at your hands.

We will use the "Intro to Keyboarding" lesson located under the "Resources" section.

Let's get started!

Ready, set, type!

Let's Make a Name Tent!

Who's ready to do a fun activity?

Follow the steps below to make your name tent:

1. Look at the "Class Resources" section on the right
   
2. Click on Name Tent
   
3. This will download the name tent to your desktop
   
4. Click and hold the "Applications" folder at the bottom of your screen
   
5. Go to "Microsoft Office X" and move across to "Microsoft Word" and let go
   
6. Click "Open"
   
7. Click on "Desktop"
   
8. Click on "NameTent.rtf"
   
9. Click "Open"
   
10. This will open the name tent document
    
11. Double click on the words "My Name"
    
12. Write your name in the box
    
13. Click "OK"
    
14. Double click on the other "My Name"
    
15. Write your name in the box
    
16. Click "OK"
    
17. Click on "File" at the top of the screen
    
18. Drop down to "Print" and let go
    
19. Click on "Print"
    
20. Fold your paper in half lengthwise
    
21. Fold the edges of your paper inside
    
22. Place your name tent on top of your computer
    
23. Quit "Microsoft Word"
    
24. Drag the "NameTent.rtf" file into the trash

Great job!

Procedure, Practice, Perseverance Continued!

We had a lot of fun on our second day of class! Many of you won more Harry Potter prizes for volunteering to read or answering questions in class.

What did you learn on Wednesday?

How to get really good at something you want to do:
When you know what to do, and you learn how to do it, all you have to do is practice and stick with it!

We'll finish up reviewing class procedures today, and many more of you will win prizes.

Keep up the good work and remember:

• Procedures
• Practice
• Perseverance

Technology I - Lab Assistants

For the first three weeks of school, you will be working on a variety of computer maintenance projects.

Some of the projects you will be working on include:

• Preparing the new iBook Laptop Carts for Math & Language Arts Classes
  
• Preparing Labs A, B & C to receive classes
  
• Installing memory in the older iMacs
  
• Setting up the Smart Boards in Labs A, B & C

The skills you will learn while assisting as lab technicians will prepare you for the higher-level technology courses you will take in high school and college. These skills can also translate into a higher paying job while you are in high school and college. All of your current and future technology skills are built on your prior knowledge and skills.

Procedure, Practice, Perseverance

What a great first day of school!

You now have a seat at a wonderful eMac. You visited the Ms. Kline Online blog and learned just what was in store for this school year. You learned how to log in to your computer. And, you received a new Harry Potter bracelet in class!

What are we going to do today?

Procedure, procedure, procedure!

Look on the right side of this website and click on the link to Ms. Kline's Class Procedures. We will spend today and tomorrow reviewing Ms. Kline's class procedures. This will help you understand how to be successful in this class. You will receive a copy of the class procedures/hall pass card to keep in your 3-ring binder. Along with your class grade card and academic standards card, these three documents will be the only papers you will be required to keep for the entire year. All of the other documents you need will be posted here at Ms. Kline Online. You will never have to worry about losing any papers in this class!

Why are learning about class procedures?

Procedures can help you to be successful in everything!

When you know what to do, and you learn how to do it, all you have to do is practice and stick with it!

How to get really good at something you want to do:

• Procedures
• Practice
• Perseverance

Welcome to Technology I

This is Spurgeon's advanced computer/technology class.

In this class you will learn many new and exciting skills. You will also be trained as a "Technology Assistant," thus allowing you to help maintain computer lab equipment as well as assist students and staff to use technology at school.
Some of the new skills you will learn include:

• Using a digital camera
  
• Using a digital camcorder
  
• Advanced filming techniques
  
• Using DVD production software
  
• Using video production software
  
• How to create a documentary video
  
• How to create a school news program
  
• How to set up technology-related equipment
  
• Using email to communicate with other students
  
• Creating a "blog" to document your school activities

Some of the skills you will continue practicing include:

• Keyboarding to continue increasing your typing speed (WPM)
  
• Word Processing

In addition to class activities, you belong to Spurgeon's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club. We are one of only two middle schools in Southern California to have this wonderful opportunity. During the year you will fundraise to purchase sweatshirts and to participate in exciting field trips such as visiting the KOCE television studio, attending the annual FBLA Southern Section conference, and team-building at the Alpine Conference Center in the San Bernardino mountains.

We are looking forward to an exciting year!

Welcome to Keyboarding!

Welcome to Spurgeon's introductory computer class, Keyboarding.

In this class you will learn how to:

• type by touch (without looking at your hands)


• type using proper body technique


• use graphic art software to draw pictures using a computer


• use the Internet to do research


• use multimedia software to make a presentation

as well as many other computer-based skills.

This first week we'll cover class procedures, make a name tent, and begin learning about touch typing.

You'll be amazed at how quickly you will increase your keyboarding speeds while learning all sorts of new skills on the computer.

Let's get started!

Welcome to Business Technology!

Hooray! It's the start of a new school year and you made it into Spurgeon's Business Technology program!

Whether you are enrolled in the introductory Keyboarding course, or the more advanced Technology I course, you should be looking forward to an interesting and fun school year!

Ms. Kline Online is the place to find out what's happening in class and what's coming up in the future.

Be sure to check out this site daily for updates on assignments and to find links to important web sites used in class such as www.typingtest.com the site you will use to take your typing tests.

Get started today by looking at the post about your class.