Grade 6 & 7 Mrs.

Alex Carter Unit: Exploring Google Education Apps AOI: Approaches to learning

MYP Unit Question How can I use the Google Apps for education online tools to incorporate all my work, for all my middle years subjects, to best organise and take advantage of the digital age?

By the end of this course: Students should be able to easily navigate and integrate the various tools Google Apps offers. They should be able to share content, collaborate, design, plan, create and evaluate work produced for all their Middle school subjects.

Materials YouTube videos - saved in school account, student 3D Game Lab accounts, student computers, headphones, e-portfolio, Google Accounts

3D Game Lab Rewards Gmail Master, Google Docs Pro, Google Calendar Organiser, Gmail Ninja, Researcher, Labs Innovator, Task Manager, Collaborator, Google Apps Shopper, Google Guru

Quest Points Quest Quest Points Introduction to Google Apps Apps Mail Labs Search Tips in Google Keyboard Shortcuts Store and Organize Mail Manage and Create Task Lists Google Mail Labs Introduction to Google Docs Exploring Google Docs Google Presentation Google Research Introduction to Google Calendar Google Education Apps Shopping iGoogle Google Reader Using Scribd to embed Google Docs Using Easybib to cite your sources Final Project

25 50 25 50 50 50 50 50 100 100 100 100 50 75 75 25 50 200

Total: 1225

Introduction Welcome back Grade 6s & 7s, Over the next few weeks you will be exploring Google Education Apps through online quests in 3D Game Lab.

Your grade will depend on the amount of quests completed. The more quests that you complete the higher your score will be. Questing Ranks: 7 - +1200 (Expedition Leader) 6 - +1150 (Adventurer) 5 - +900 (Explorer) 4 - +800 (Trekker) 3 - +650 (Voyager) 2 - +200 (Pioneer) 1 - +100 (Wanderer) Throughout this unit you will explore this unit question: How can I use the Google Apps for education online tools to incorporate all my work, for all my middle years subjects, to best organise and take advantage of the digital age? Throughout the quests, PLEASE read instructions carefully to avoid missing any required steps. Enjoy!

A. Investigate Maximum 6 points Module 1: Gmail 1 Becoming a Gmail Ninja 2 Keyboard shortcuts 3 Getting Organized 4 Manage and creating tasks 5 Apps mail labs

Module 2: Google Drive 1 Introduction to Docs 2 Exploring Docs 3 Google Presentation 4 Google Research in Docs

Module 3: Google Calendar 1 Introduction to Google Calendar 2 Sharing Calendars 3 Importing Calendars

Module 4: Google Web Store 1 Introduction to the Google Web Store 2 Google Education Apps Shopping

Module 5: iGoogle 1 Setting up your iGoogle account

Module 6: Google Reader 1 Setting up Google Reader

Module 7: Easybib 1 Installing the extension in

Final project: Your final Quest will consist of creating a presentation to share the knowledge and skills you have developed over the past few weeks. PROJECT DUE WEDNESDAY March 13th 2013

B. Design Maximum 6 points You will now choose 3 different ways to share your knowledge that you have developed over the last few weeks with the tasks that you have completed in 3D Game Lab. 1 List 3 different tools that you can use to create your presentation (Prezi, Voicethread, etc.): a SlideRocket b Prezi

Voicethread

2 Make yourself a list of required items for your Google Apps for Education presentation: a Must demonstrate your knowledge of Google Apps for Education b Must include all components of Google Apps for Education c Must be approximately 5 minutes long (no longer than 10 minutes) d Must be engaging/interesting to classmates e Must include a bibliography with sources properly cited using MLA format (Easybib can help you with this) f Must answer this question: How can I use the Google Apps for education online tools to incorporate all my work, for all my middle years subjects, to best organise and take advantage of the digital age?" g Must include a title or introduction slide h Images and text i How to... j What you learned.. k Conclusion l 3 Make yourself a list of desirable items for your Google Apps for Education presentation: a Images and text, maybe music to keep people tuned in. b Graphics/Animations of some sort, again to keep attention. c Good, useful, but in short amounts, information. d Attractive colours. e

C. Plan Maximum 6 points For the plan stage, you will: 1) Present in detail what resources (materials, tools, equipment, etc.) you will need:

For the presentation I will need, time, space, images ( depending on the slide ), a presentation tool, an audience, internet, and time to both speak and explain each slide. 2) Present clear steps on how you will create your Google Apps for Education presentation: - Using SlideRocket, I will create a presentation that will demonstrate the usefulness and effectiveness of Google Apps for Education. 3) Add time needed, planned dates and when each step will be accomplished. PROJECT (Create Stage) DUE MONDAY March 4th 2013
Time Plan: (Estimate time in minutes, approximately, needed for each step.) Steps to do: 1. Plan out and Design Project 2. Begin Project Time in min. Date due:

15 mins

Fri. 8th March Sat. 9th March Sun. 10th March/Mon. 11th March Wed. 13th March

10 mins

3. Rough 25 mins Project Copy 4. Adding to details 5. Finish project 6. Practice presentation 7. Present

15 mins

10 mins

20 mins

D. Create Maximum 6 points Create the presentation Task 1: Use Appropriate Techniques and Equipment Follow your plan! Update your plan when you complete a task. Enter the date, and/or new boxes in different colour when you complete a task. When you complete tasks and the time is different to your plan, explain the reasons why. Justify any other changes made to your plan, no matter how small.

Task 2: Follow the Plan Keep a process journal, with photographs, videos and brief explanations while making your presentation. EACH LESSON! Explain what went well what went wrong, what problems you solved and what you need to do next lesson.

Process Journal - AO Wednesday 6th March Throughout this project I have learned a lot, but I am worried that I will not use my time well enough to create a good presentation for the final product. Its been difficult for me, not having my laptop and I am, sadly, unable to complete the Gmail Ninja quest for several reasons; one being my computers strange reactions to screen recording. I find that its easy to work at home, rather than in class, because of the noise created by the others, along with people asking for help, so hopefully I will be able to complete the final project at home. Friday 8th March

Today I have begun to plan out my presentation. Ive decided that I will be using SlideRocket, which is a new tool for me and I am interested to see how it will work out for my presentation. I will be creating a slide or two with a brief explanation for each feature, along with a picture and some pros and possible cons of the app. Hopefully I will be creative with my time and will use it well over the long weekend. Saturday 9th March Ive been notified that I will be busy on both Sunday and Monday, so I will have to do the bulk of the work today. I have begun putting my SlideRocket together and forming a script for the presentation itself in class (if Im allowed to speak along with the presentation, that is). Ive also been experimenting with SlideRocket and I have to say that I find it much easier to use than Google Presentation, and possibly Microsoft PowerPoint as well. I will be using it more often for future presentations in other classes, for sure. Monday 11th March Knowing that I have little time left (and to be fair, my time management skills were not very good; I constantly procrastinate, switch from one homework to the next, or keep pushing it back -- which has been happening constantly), I have been finishing up the presentation and I dont have much more to do; only 3 or 4 more slides left. I have also managed to run out of time to work on this document, which I shall be completing tomorrow, as well as the revision of my project. Tuesday 12th March With even less time left, and no electricity at home for a whole day, Ive barely managed to scrape the project together just in time by going to my dads office to use the internet. Hopefully my project will be alright and I will do well, but I just hope that I understood what was asked of me, as some of the questions were mildly confusing to me, but perhaps that was just me over-reacting. If possible, I will share/publish both the document and presentation by morning, seeing as I have little time here at the office and no power at home. Wednesday 13th March I had no idea that the screencast-o-matic was necessary, and in all honesty Im afraid that it might not work, seeing as both my browsers have been having problems lately. Hopefully it will work and everything will be fine. Electricity came back late tonight and Im so happy, Ill have time to make the recording, thank goodness.

Weekend of the 15th As predicted, neither of my browsers are working efficiently and I cant seem to record anything on it. My microphone isnt working properly either and everything is just a large mess right now. I think what Ill do is write the script and simply embed it along with the presentation, that should work well enough I think. Other than that, the presentation and everything else is done and will be embedded soon.

E. Evaluate Maximum 6 points For the evaluate stage, you will: 1. Take a look at the specifications that you wrote in the Investigate stage. A) Are you happy with the outcome? Explain in detail. Im moderately pleased. I couldnt do a lot of the things I wanted to due to electricity, internet and general computer issues. I think I couldve done better if those problems hadnt occurred (or fixed quicker), but Im glad that I experimented with a new form of presentation. B) Did anything change? What changed? Why did it change? I was originally planning on making a video of some sorts, or maybe use powerpoint, but I thought that this project had shown me different ways to present and perhaps I should try something new, so SlideRocket was added to my list of new presentation tools. C) Was something left out from the original plan? Why? I think I left several parts out of the original plan due to lack of time and issues with equipment. Most of those being colours, animations and other factors to brighten, or add a more attractive appeal to the presentation, but I still think that I did a good job. D) Is there anything you would change about your final product (invention) if you had more time or could rewind and do things over? What & why? If I could rewind, or try again, I would definitely try to manage my time better (as it is still a big issue for me), or maybe try and record the screencast. I probably wouldve also

added more animations, colours and other attractive elements to add appeal to my peers, but I still think that I have done well regardless.

2. What are 3 things you learned from this project? 3. How would you rate your performance and involvement? (Place an x in the box that corresponds) Rarely
I participated fully and contributed to each step of the design cycle INVESTIGATE:Br ainstorming Ideas; Asking Questions; Writing the Design Brief DESIGN: Sketching /Drawing out ideas; All according to Design Brief. PLAN: Specifying & preparing materials & tools; Identifying Steps and time CREATE: Working diligently; Use tools appropriately.

Sometimes

Often

Always

EVALUATE: Identify parts that need improvement; Come up with solutions to change, make better. I used my time wisely in class. I did not need reminders from the teacher to get to work. I worked cooperatively, helped, communicated and offered ideas and suggestions. I worked safely & responsibly with tools provided, following instructions. I gave the best effort I am capable of in each class.

4. Embed this Google Doc and your presentation into your TECHNOLOGY BLOG. 5. Add categories: Your grade Google Apps for Education Creativity

AOI: Approaches to learning

Throughout your quests you will continue to develop knowledge and skills of the IB Technology Design Cycle. You will: A. Investigate what Google Apps for Education has to offer you. B. Design and C. Plan different aspects of Google Apps for Education to discover Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar and the Chrome Web Store. D. Create emails, documents and calendars to demonstrate skills learned and developed throughout the quests. E. Evaluate how you can use Google Apps to help you be organised through the next 5 years of MYP. F. Attitude and Effort (Every class, every task) *Do your best at every task, every class. *Be cooperative towards your classmates, group members as well as others around. *Clean up without reminders. *Complete all tasks to the best of your ability!

Let the quests begin!! Visit: http://portal.3dgamelab.org to get started.