Kline Quick Tip #1 - Frozen Application Fix

When you have a software application that is frozen (will not run or quit) on Mac OS X, please "force quit" the program before using a hard reboot (pressing and holding the power button to turn off your computer).

To Force Quit:

1. Press and hold the Option and Command (apple) keys
2. Press the Esc (escape) key
3. In the dialog window, select the program that is "not responding" or frozen
4. Click the "Force Quit" button
5. Confirm by clicking the "Force Quit" button again
6. Close the dialog window (click the red button)

You may now reopen the application and continue working.

To Hard Reboot:

1. Press and hold the power button
2. Wait until the machine powers off (black screen, light off)
3. Count to 5
4. Press the power button to restart
   

Week 5

Welcome to Week 5 of Keyboarding!

Last week you began your keyboarding practice in earnest. You continued to practice your touch typing, using proper hand and body position at the keyboard. You also learned how to make a word search using your Keyboarding vocabulary words.

This week you will:

• Learn how to "Force Quit" a frozen application.
  
• Review proper keyboarding technique.
• Continue your Keyboarding Online lessons.
  

You will also continue to work on your computer-related vocabulary by creating a crossword puzzle using your Keyboarding vocabulary words from weeks 1 - 5. Use Discovery Education's Puzzlemaker again to create your puzzle.

Ms. Kline's Week 5 Key Vocabulary:

• icon
• mouseover
• application
• alignment

Vocabulary Fun #2 - Using an Online Puzzle Maker to make a Word Search

Today we will learn to use an online "puzzle maker" program to practice Ms. Kline's Weekly Key Vocabulary. You may use this program to generate a variety of puzzles to help you learn the vocabulary in any class!

We will use Discovery Education's Puzzlemaker program to create our puzzles:

• Word Search
• Criss-Cross
• Double Puzzles
• Fallen Phrases
• Math Squares
• Mazes
• Letter Tiles
• Cryptograms
• Number Blocks
• Hidden Message

Today you will use Ms. Kline's Weekly Key Vocabulary from Weeks 1-4 to build your puzzles. Click on each of the following four links and open them in new tabs so that you are able to see all four vocabulary lists. Remember, there are four new words each week, so you will have a total of 16 words in your first puzzle. Today you only have time to try the first puzzle, a word search.

• Week 4
• Week 3
• Week 2
• Week 1

Check out Ms. Kline's Vocabulary Word Search-Week 1 she made as an example!

Fall Equinox

Happy Autumnal Equinox!

Today is one of only two days in every year that the hours of night and day are approximately equal. From now until the Winter Solstice, the days will be getting shorter.

Happy Fall...winter can't be far off!

Week 4

Welcome to Week 4 of Keyboarding!

Last week you learned the basics of computer keyboarding including touch typing, and proper hand and body position at the keyboard.

This week you will:

• Take a keyboarding pre-test to see how fast you type at the beginning of this course.
  
• Review proper keyboarding technique.
• Continue your Keyboarding Online lessons.
  

You will also continue to work on your computer-related vocabulary.

Ms. Kline's Week 4 Key Vocabulary:

• keyboarding
• W.P.M.
• align
• forearm

Intro to Keyboarding Online Program Continued

Today we will conclude yesterday's lesson, "Keyboarding Online Program."

Follow the instructions to login to the Keyboarding Online program and finish the introduction where we left off.

You are now ready to begin your lessons!

Keyboarding Online Program

Today we will begin our new online keyboarding program, Keyboarding Online.

First we will bookmark the Keyboarding Online website. If you need help, follow the instructions in Ms. Kline's blog post Add a Bookmark to Firefox.

Now we will log in and use the system:

• Enter the School Login and Password.
  
• Click "Screen Edition Keyboard Mastery"
  
• Click "Trust" when asked to download the Java application for Keyboarding Online.
  
• Click "Open Existing Student File."
  
• Click on your period.
  
• Click on your name.
  
• Click "Open."
  
• Enter your password.
  
• Click "Set Up" on the left and then click on each tab to see how the system is set up for grading your keyboarding lessons.
  
• Click "Introduction" and we will review this section as a class.
  
• Click on each step, and carefully read each introductory lesson.
  
• Follow the instructions in each section as required. These practice exercises will teach you how to use the Keyboarding Online program and will prepare you for the regular lessons.
  
• Click "Lessons Menu."
  
• Type only Line 1 in the Lesson 1, Line 1 window, do not type any other line at this time.
• Repeat Line 1 if you still have time left on the timer. Don't forget this part or your WPM will drop!
  
• The length of each timing is listed at the top of the window.
• The timer is displayed at the bottom of the screen.
  
• You will only receive a score when you have reached 15 WPM.
• Repeat Line 1 three times.
  
• Look at your top three scores at the bottom right of the window.
• Continue with Line 2 when you have received three scores for Line 1.
  
• Type Line 2 only in this new window. Don't forget to repeat Line 2 if you still have time on your timer.
  
• Continue this process for every line in each lesson, and repeat each line three times.
  
• Click "Progress Reports" & "Comprehensive" to check your progress.
  
• Click "Grade Reports" & "Current Grade" to see your current grade.

You will be amazed how quickly your speed and accuracy improve!

Intro to Keyboarding Continued

Yesterday, you learned about the importance of proper body position while keyboarding.

Today, we will continue Ms. Kline's "Intro to Keyboarding" lesson to learn about the importance of proper hand placement, and how to use the "home row" or "home keys" to improve both your speed, measured in words per minute (WPM), and accuracy while keyboarding.

You will find your "Intro to Keyboarding" pdf on your desktop after you have clicked on the hyperlink for this file.

Ready, Set, Type!

Why did you take a Keyboarding class at Spurgeon?

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

You are going to learn "touch typing."

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!

Advanced Internet Search Techniques-Student Practice

Today you will practice what you learned last week in the Searching for Images Using Google Image Search.

We will try various techniques searching with the word: dog

1. Open a new tab
2. Go to: www.google.com
3. Click on Images
4. Click on Advanced Image Search
5. Type dog in the first search box (any)
   

We will now try various search parameters to search for dog.

Change the "Content type" to:

• news content
• photo content
• clip art
• line drawing

We will now do the following searches with "line drawings" only:

Change the "Aspect ratio" to:

• tall (for vertical images)
  
• wide (for horizontal images)

We will now change back to "any content" for the following searches:

Change the "Coloration" to:

• black and white
• full color

Now we will check our rights to use an image.

Change "Usage Rights" to:

• labeled for reuse

How did your search results vary with every search?

Week 3

Welcome to Week 3 of Keyboarding!

Last week you learned how to make a web bookmark so that you are able to quickly visit a website again. You also learned many new vocabulary words.

You also learned many advanced search techniques when searching for images on the web.

This week you will:

• Practice the advanced search techniques you learned.
  
• Learn how to customize your desktop.
• Learn basic "touch typing" techniques.
• Begin your Keyboarding Online lessons.
  

You will also continue to work on your computer-related vocabulary.

Ms. Kline's Week 3 Key Vocabulary:

• touch typing
• speed
• accuracy
• home row/keys

Images Continued

Yesterday, we continued Wednesday's lesson on advanced search techniques using Google Image Search and you practiced defining your search with more detail.

Today we will conclude the lesson, Searching for Images Using Google Image Search.

Images Continued

Today we will continue the lesson we began yesterday, Searching for Images Using Google Image Search.

Searching for Images Using Google Image Search

As you know, the Internet is for everyone, not just for kids! Therefore, we need to be careful when searching for images on the Internet.

When using Google's "Image Search," you will find an amazing number of images as you do research for class projects. Before using Google's "Images" search engine, we will learn how to effectively and efficiently search for images so that we find images that best suit our research, as quickly as possible.

To configure Google's "Preferences" feature for searches:

• Go to google.com
  
• Click on the "Images" link above the search box.
  
• Click on "Search Settings" at the top right to see the Preferences panel.
• Choose a Interface Language (defaults to English).
• Choose a Search Language - leave this set to "all languages" for more results. Translate pages from other languages with Google's Translate tool.
  
• Scroll down to "SafeSearch Filtering" and select "Use strict filtering (Filter both explicit text and explicit images)."
• Choose the number of results you would like to see displayed (10 - 100).
• Click on "Save Preferences."
  
• This returns you to the Google image search window.

To customize your image search, enter a more detailed description:

• Click on "Advanced Image Search" on the right of the "Search Images" button.
  
• Fill in the "Find results" boxes to define your search parameters.
  
  • Fill in all required words related to your search in the "all" box
  • Fill in words that should be grouped together in the "exact phrase" box
  • Fill in any related words to your search in the "any" box
  • Fill in any words not related to your search in the "not related" box
• Select the content type of image you would like to find.
• Select the "File Size" in the drop-down menu or fill in the "Exact size" boxes.
  
• Select the "Aspect ratio" you want (the shape of the image).
• Click on the "File Types" drop down menu to select a certain file type-leave it on "any filetype" for all images.
• Click on the "Coloration" drop down menu and select color or black & white or "any colors" for all images.
• Enter a domain (website) if you want images only from a certain website.
• Select the "Usage Rights" if you want to be able to use an image in a creative or commercial project.
• Select "Use Strict Filtering" for "SafeSearch."
• Click the "Google Search" button.
  
• View the list of images returned.
  
• Click on the image you want.
  
• Click on "See Full-Size Image" if you would like to see a large version of the image.

Always remember:

• If you see something inappropriate on the internet, simply close the window!

• Images you find on the web are usually protected by copyright laws and may require permission to use. Familiarize yourself with copyright, "fair use" and public domain to understand how you may use the images you find on the web.
  

• Cite all sources you use from the web.

• When searching for images at school, your searches should be related to your classwork, or academic content.

Firefox Part 4 - Add a Bookmark to Firefox

When you want to visit a web page, you must know the URL or "web address" of this web page. If you want to remember the URL of a website, the best way to do this is to make a web bookmark. A bookmark remembers the URL of the website for you so you can visit the website later. You can keep this bookmark in your "Bookmarks" menu (at the top of your screen), or you can keep a bookmark in your "Bookmarks Toolbar" which is below the "Navigation Toolbar" in the Firefox browser window.

To add a bookmark to the Firefox toolbar:

• Open Firefox
  
• Go to the web page to be bookmarked (Today we will bookmark "Ms. Kline Online")
  
• Click "Bookmarks" in the menu bar (the keyboard shortcut is "Command + D")
  
• Drop down to "Bookmark This Page..."
  
• Type in the name of this bookmark
  
• Click the drop-down menu in the "Folder:" box
  
• Drop down to "Bookmarks Toolbar" so that you will see it in your toolbar
  
• Click "Done"

You can now see your new bookmark in the toolbar menu below the Navigation toolbar

Week 2

Welcome to Week 2 of Keyboarding!

Last week you learned many things related to Spurgeon, Ms. Kline's class, and computer applications including many new vocabulary words.

This week you will learn:

• how to make a bookmark of a website you wish to visit again.
• how to search for images using Google Image Search.
  
• how to use advanced search techniques for the web.
  

You will also continue to work on your computer-related vocabulary.

Ms. Kline's Week 2 Key Vocabulary:

• web bookmark
• search engine
• images
• Aspect ratio

Remember, Spurgeon's words of the week are:

Respectful and Honorable

Vocabulary Fun #1 - Vocabulary Word Search

Try this word search to learn your Keyboarding Key Vocabulary for Week 1.
The word list is at the bottom of this blog entry.

Good Luck!!

E R S P J Z E A F A A S U N R
R C E E O T C P C P T E X X A
M E Z S I T J J P T A A J H B
M S S S W X K L O I C R T A L
G O B P U O I S D H I C R R O
S E U R O C R E E N C H A D O
W E L S A N M B T D O E L D T
U Q R T E I S E B M N N A R M
X L I V T O R I T E Y G T I U
C O A L E N V M B K W I I V U
N U U C E R B E P I K N G E G
T M O T R F V Q R M L E I W Y
G N I P Y T H C U O T T D D V
H Y P E R L I N K S B D Y E Y
K R A M K O O B C O O K I E S

APPLICATION
BOOKMARK
COOKIES
DESKTOP
DIGITAL ART
HARD DRIVE
HYPERLINK
ICON
INTERNET
MOUSEOVER
MULTIMEDIA
RESPONSIBILTY
SEARCH ENGINE
SERVER
TOOLBAR
TOUCH TYPING
URL
WEB BROWSER
WEBSITE

Firefox Part 3 - Customizing Your Web Browser Continued

Today we will finish the lesson we began yesterday, Modifying the Firefox Web Browser for Your Use. We will finish configuring our browser to use during this year!

Firefox Part 2 - Customizing the Firefox Web Browser for Your Use

As you know, this class uses the web browser Firefox to visit websites on the Internet. Today, you will learn how to customize the Firefox browser to make it even more useful to you. You will open the "Preferences" pane to customize your browser. You will not learn everything there is to know about customizing Firefox, but you will learn a great deal to start!

To find the Preferences pane, click "Firefox" in the menu bar at the top of your screen and drop down to "Preferences."

There are 7 tabs in the Preferences pane:

Main:
Use this tab to tell your browser what web page you want Firefox to open when you begin, and to manage your browser's add-on programs.

To change your home page in the Firefox browser:

• Open Firefox
  
• Go to www.spurgeoncougars.us
  
• Click "Firefox" in the menu bar
  
• Drop down to "Preferences"
  
• Click the "Main" tab in dialog box that appears (1st tab)
  
• Click "Use Current Page"
  
• Close the dialog box
  
• Test by clicking the Firefox "home" icon.

If you want a different home page, go to any web page instead of www.spurgeoncougars.us and follow the above directions.

Tabs:
Use this tab to manage how your browser opens different websites. Using tabbed browsing opens new websites in successive tabs along the top of the browser's viewing area.

• Select "a new tab"
• Select other options as you see fit

Content:
Use this tab to set up the type of content you want to allow.

• If you have a slow Internet connection, you may "deselect" (uncheck) the "load images automatically" box. The web page will now load faster because it will not need to load the images.
• Java and JavaScript are programs that run in the browser. They can be very useful programs, but sometimes you do not want them to run if you do not trust the source of these programs.
  
• You may also block "pop-up windows" here if you wish.

Applications:
This tab shows the "plug-in" applications you have installed in your browser.

Privacy:
Use this tab to protect your privacy while browsing.

• Under History - select the number of days you wish to remember the websites you have visited.
  
• Select "Accept cookies from sites" and "Accept third-party cookies" if you want to use websites that rely on cookies (stored data) to run.
• Select "Always clear my private data when I close Firefox" if you wish to clear your private data every time you quit Firefox.
  
• Click on "Settings" to select the type of data you want cleared for this function.
• Click on "Clear Now" to clear your private data immediately.
  

Security:
Use this tab to monitor your security settings.

• Select the three boxes to warn you of web forgeries, attack sites, or software installs
• Do not select the "Remember passwords for sites" if you do not want other people who use your computer to have access to your passwords.

Firefox Part 1 - Using the Firefox Web Browser

During this course, you will use the "Firefox" web browser to visit websites on the Internet. Firefox is very easy to use. It is also easy to modify to suit your browsing needs. You will learn how to modify Firefox in the next lesson.

First step:
Go to the "Applications" folder in your dock, and open Firefox. After Firefox opens, you will then see the "browser window." This window has many important areas that you will need to learn to use.

Menu Bar Items:
The "menu bar" is always located at the top of your computer's desktop. It will look different for each different computer application you use. It has nine important "drop-down" menus that you may use. I will list a few of the drop-down items I would like you to learn to use.

Firefox

• Preferences - Where you modify the browser's settings
  
• Quit - Use to quit the browser
  

File

• New Window - Opens a new window so you can visit another web page
• New Tab - Opens a new tab so you can visit another web page and still see the tab to the other web pages you have open
• Open Location - This highlights the address bar, then you can type the address to a different web page
• Close Window - Close a web page in a window
• Close Tab - Close a web page in a tab
• Save Page As... - Save a web page to your computer
• Print - Print a web page
• Work Offline - If this is checked, your are not connected to the Internet

Edit - Use these features if you need to edit, copy items, paste items, find items, etc.

• Undo
• Redo
• Cut
• Copy
• Paste
• Delete
• Select All
• Find

View

• Toolbar - You may show or hide your toolbars as you wish
  
• Status Bar - Shows if a web page is loading
  
• Side Bars - Shows your history or bookmarks
  
• Reload - Reloads your current web page
  

History

• Use this menu bar item to see the websites you have already visited

Bookmarks

• Use this tab to make or edit your website bookmarks

Tools

• These are advanced features you may learn to use later

Window

• Use this menu bar item to switch between different windows or to zoom in on the page

Help

• Use this menu bar item to access the help menu or update Firefox

Firefox has two toolbars that you may also modify for your use:

Navigation Toolbar - This toolbar has various items to help you "navigate" (find your way around) a web page:

• Back Arrow - Use to go to the page you visited before the current page
• Forward Arrow - Use to go to the page you visited after the current page
  
• Reload Arrow - Use to reload the current page
  
• Stop - Use to stop loading the current page
  
• Home - Use to go to your browser's set "home page"
  
• History - Use to view your browsing history (the pages you have already visited)
  
• Print - Use to print the current web page (be careful...it could be long!)
  
• Address Bar - Type the URL of the web page you wish to visit
  
• Search Bar - Use to search a topic with a variety of web "search engines"
  

Bookmarks Toolbar - This toolbar shows the bookmarks you have selected to be constantly displayed on the toolbar.

When you visit a web page, don't forget to click on the "hyperlinks." These are usually underlined and colored blue. Hyperlinks take you to another web page for more information about a topic.

Procedures, Practice, Perseverance!

What a great first day of school!

You now have a seat at your very own eMac! You've learned how to log in to your computer and open the Firefox web browser. You have also visited the Ms. Kline Online blog, and learned just what was in store for the new school year.

What are we going to do for the next two days?

Procedure, procedure, procedure!

We will spend today reviewing Ms. Kline's class procedures. Look on the right side of this website and click on the link to Ms. Kline's Class Procedures. This will help you understand how to be successful in this class. You may refer to the class procedures at any time by visiting Ms. Kline's blog. All of the documents you will need in this class will be posted here at Ms. Kline Online. You will never have to worry about losing any papers in this class!

Why are we 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

Ms. Kline's Class Procedures

Entering the Classroom
Please enter from the rear of the class.
Please enter quietly and calmly.
Please go directly to your seat.
Please be seated before the bell rings.
Please sign the Spurgeon tardy sheet if you arrive late.

Daily Routine
Please take out your name tag and put it on your computer.
Please begin your keyboarding lessons immediately.
Please check the Ms. Kline Online blog for any changes in today's lesson.
Roll will be taken from the seating chart.

During Class
Please keep your backpack and other things on the floor in front of your feet.
Please listen while the teacher is talking.
Please stay seated unless you have permission to get up from your seat.
Please place your cup on top of your computer if you have a question.
Please limit talking as appropriate.

Clean Up
Please save your work, then shut down your computer.
Please place your cup on the left side of your computer.
Please leave your keyboard picture in front of the computer.
Please put your name tag in your binder.
Please clean up your area.
Please place your keyboard and mouse at the edge of the table.

Exiting the Classroom
The teacher will dismiss your entire row when everyone is ready.
Please push in your chair.
Please exit at the rear of the class.
Please exit quietly and calmly.

Restroom Procedures
Please try to visit the restroom during Nutrition or Lunch.
Please take a signed hall pass whenever you leave the classroom.
Please visit the restroom as quickly as possible.
Please inform the teacher if you have any special needs/emergencies regarding the restroom.

Behavior
Please say Please and Thank You when speaking in class.
Please do not interrupt when others are speaking.
Please be responsible with all lab equipment.

Class Rules
Please do not chew gum in class.
Please do not bring food or drink into the computer lab.
Please respect everyone (people and their things).
Please do not disturb any computer equipment.

Consequences for Rule Breaking
Teacher Warning
5 minute Teacher Conference and phone call home
15 minute Teacher Detention and phone call home
Parent Conference
Referral to Assistant Principal