MakerBot fun in the Science department!

This just came in from Ms. Lawson over in the Science department:

Genetics class has been experimenting with the 3D printer this trimester. We have used the Makerbot software and Makerbot Replicator to print a model of DNA, a bust of Einstein, a water molecule, and more. With the Super Bowl approaching, we thought it would be a great opportunity to test out different colors and print designs for both teams. Go Seahawks!

Outlook released for iOS and Android

Screen Shot 2015-01-30 at 10.44.13 AMSome exciting news just came my way via Mr. Lorenzatti:

Microsoft has released Outlook for iOS (iphone/ipad) and has a preview version for Android:

You can read more about it here:
http://blogs.office.com/2015/01/29/deeper-look-outlook-ios-android/

Here is the link to iOS in the iTunes store:
https://itunes.apple.com/app/id951937596

Here is the link to the Android Preview:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.outlook

NOTE: if you’re using the Microsoft Office application on iOS (iPhone, iPad), the current Outlook app is a link to the web client. The new app is not.

French Chanson

Check out this original song written to Taylor’s Blank Space created by some of Ms. Michalski’s French IV students!

From Ms. Michalski:

After studying the film, Le dîner de cons, my students had to write a song from the perspective of one of its characters, using a karaoke version of an existing song.

Great work Ben Chmielewski, Aaron James, and Nate Gordon!

French III Video Project

Ms. Michalski’s French 3 Honors class created a wonderful news broadcast! Check it out!

Here’s what Ms. Michalski had to say about the project:

“As a culminating project after studying media, my French III honors class recently created its own TV station, TV3Monde (after French station, TV5Monde). I divided the class into pairs, and assigned each an area to cover. Kids were asked to give their top 3 choices of interest, based on vocabulary studied, (for example, sports, year in review, editorial piece, fashion/celebrity news, campus news. Etc). They then were required to write their piece, including required grammar and vocabulary, in this case, the vocabulary was media related and thus lent itself perfectly to the project. The grammar we had been studying, too, fit naturally into a newscast: passé composé v. imparfait, object pronouns, interrogative pronouns and adjectives and adverbs. The goals of the project, aside from practicing with the above, collaboration, and fun, was also to speak easily and comfortably between 2-4 minutes, while presenting the news as one would see on the television.

Following the kids’ submission of each of their groups’ clip, all interested kids had the chance to edit the clips into the class newscast, “TV3Monde”. Here is one of the final products.

In terms of technology, kids chose to “interview” non-French speakers and dub/subtitle them, which they reported doing with ease (and great hilarity, in cases). The only issue was, as can be heard in the recording, the variance of the volume, depending on the devices used for recording. This is an issue I’d love to better figure out.”

They did an awesome job – 20 minutes of news!!

You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know – Episode 10

In this episode I talk about Google Chrome extensions, OneNote section groups, proper audio recording levels, a new presentation tool from Microsoft called “Sway”, and an advanced 3D modeling program (free!) called Blender.

Chrome Web Store – Extensions
Microsoft’s new presentation tool: Sway
Advanced 3D modeling program (free!): Blender

Past episodes of YDKWYDK are online right here.

Open Education Resources

Screen Shot 2015-01-04 at 6.09.54 PMHere are the resources that go along with Allison Evans’ presentation on Open Education Resources.

Edutopia – OER Roundup

If you find an Open Content site or resource that you think everyone should know about, please submit your findings using this short online form.