Mr. P and I got an email today from Sara Long, Digital content Manager-Online Magazine about a post about this website.   

Great News and.....
I got this email today as well, from a class creating an online book, just like ours.   

 Hi there,
Hope all is well.  Just checking in, and wanted to let you know that the Wikispace project has been going great!  The students really seem to enjoy working on it.  We are nearing the end of their time to create for this year, as they are 8th graders who will be moving on to high school next year.  Would you mind taking a look at their progress and offering any suggestions for improvement?  I would also like to know if you (and maybe some of your students) would like to Skype on Tuesday, around 2pm?  My one class has been asking about when they will have the chance to Skype with you guys.
 Click here to see their book  

Great new search engine for school use...You will love it.  Create an account and keep your notes online.... http://www.instagrok.com/
Instagrok.com is very cool.  We will be using it next week.  I showed it to Mrs. Tobin today, and I think she is using it in her class the rest of the day.  It rocks....  HowHere are some keys: 
1.  It has a built in journal and history of what you read and links to where you visited.  The journal allows you to take notes and save them for use on any computer anywhere.  
2.  It is visual: it builds a web on the topic you searched. 
3.  It has web resources for each topic to the right of the web: Key facts, Links, Images, video, quizes, and concepts. 
4.  Click any bubble in the web and all the resources change...every time you pick a new bubble. 
5.  It is fun!!!
Here is a google doc to a PDF brochure on Instagrok.com 

  Final Projects are coming in. I would like to post all project to the website for everyone to see, but numbers make that impossible.  I will post a few of the very best--like the BEAT IT Video below.  However, until then you can comment on this blog and post a link to your blog.  That way students in Mr. P's class and all students at Beachwood can see your final work.  Look back for projects soon....

Remember, I will need permission slips from Parents saying I can post your work on the broader web. 

One Poem:
The Mongols came and the Black Plague spread
The buboes developed and millions were dead.
Coughing up blood and swelling at the neck
The end of Feudalism, this is the Black Death.
Even on the church you could not rely
There may be a chance, but get ready to die.
You can't stop to help your family or friend
Because this is the plague, and this is the end.

The following is the Tagxedo for over 600 words added to a google doc.  Larger words were repeated many times.  Below you can see the middle ages.  Take a screen shot and add to your April 16, 2012 Daily Assignment. 

Finish your Daily assignment based on this clip.    How did I do?

We are using quicktime, a free program for Mac's and already loaded on your Mac.  It allows you to capture your presentation with your voice and then to save it as a movie and post to your blog.  In other words, you present without standing in front of a group of people and you present forever.

Please use the following procedures:
1.  Start your presentation like this:  Hello, today is _____.  My name is (first only) and I attend Beachwood Middle School.  I am _____ years old and this is my ______ project on (the topic you are doing).  EXPLAIN WHY YOU CHOOSE THIS PROJECT FORM AND WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM DOING THIS. 
--Do not Just read your presentation but explain it. 
2. Quicktime rules:  Make sure setting are the following:  Built in Mic on, Medium quality, and change saving to desktop.
3.  Save as a ITUNES:  Webtv or Ipod, depending on size, must be under 100MB.
4.  Drag out of Itunes to your desktop.
5.  Create a new blog, explain why you choose what you did and what you liked about this project.  Then click Multimedia and drag video down and upload your video from your desktop. 
6.  Have your final project posted to your blog by Friday April 20 at the start of class. This may take some time to upload your file.  Plan accordingly.

The following video is a tutorial of this process. 

The following poems are from a student at Beachwood.  What are your comments:


The Mongols came and the Black Plague spread
The buboes developed and millions were dead.
Coughing up blood and swelling at the neck
The end of Feudalism, this is the Black Death.
Even on the church you could not rely
There may be a chance, but get ready to die.
You can't stop to help your family or friend
Because this is the plague, and this is the end.

The black death is coming
Just try to survive
Less than 90% chance
That you'll come out alive.
No one's there
No one will help
Everyone's scared
Scared for their self.
The plague is approaching
The buboes will come
This is the time
Feudalism is done.

We have finished the webquest. Now you have three class days and one week (outside of class) to complete a project of your choice.  

This project can be an overall summary of the unit, a more in-depth look at one idea or event, or a combination of these. 
View these softwares and start to think about what you want to create.  A plan for your project will have to be completed before you begin your creation.  

IN most cases, I want your final project to be posted, embedded in your blog.  

You can use the following methods to build your project: 
Powerpoint
Inspiration
IMOVIE
Online Book 
Weebly (blog or a new webpage)
MineCraft
Voki:  http://www.voki.com/ 
Prezi:  http://prezi.com/index/
Xtranormal:  http://www.xtranormal.com/ 
Stykz:  http://www.stykz.net/ 
Goanimate http://goanimate.com/
Music Video (like HistoryChannel's we saw: Fleas on Rats) 

If you have some other idea, please see Mr. Holman with a written plan.  Again, we will talk about the requirements for each different type during class. 

Students who do not have a "project plan" for class on April 11, will download the powerpoint below and complete the 25 slides created.  You are to add pictures for each slide and define the term.  You will then learn how to record your "presentation" and post your final movie, where you will explain the terms (not just read them) on your blog.