What We Did:

• 1.8: Project- Propose an App
• Identify and define a problem that could be solved using computing
• Design an app that inputs, outputs, stores, and processes information in order to solve a problem
• Provide and incorporate targeted peer feedback to improve a computing artifact
• Using App Lab to create our app 

What to Work On:

• Unfinished work
• Code.Org for fun! Hour of Code, App Lab, etc. 

What We Plan to Do Next Week:

• Keep working on designing our app in App Lab 

What We Did:

• 1.6: Processing
• Define processing as the work done (possibly by a computer) to turn an input into an output
• Define an algorithm as the series of commands a computer uses to process information
• Develop and iteratively improve an algorithm for processing information based on given constraints

What to Work On:

• Code.Org- Hour of Code (for fun!)
• Unfinished work 

What We Plan to Do Next Week:

• 1.7: Apps and Storage 

What We Did:

• 1.5 Inputs and Outputs
• Identify the inputs and outputs of common computing devices
• Select the inputs and outputs used to perform common computing tasks
• BrainPop: Computers
• Reflection on problem solving and inputs + outputs 

What to Work On:

• Any missing or incomplete work has been sent home, please complete this and send it back to school-- it is the student’s responsibility to resubmit work if needed 

What We Plan to Do Next Week:

• 1.6 Processing 

What We Did:

1.4: What’s a Computer

• Identify a computer as a machine that processes information
• Provide a high level description of the different parts of the Input - Output - Store - Process model of a computer

What to Work On:

• Think about things you use in your daily life- is it a computer? Why or why not? 

What We Plan to Do Next Week:

• Reflections on 1.4 
• 1.5: Inputs and Outputs 

Tech in the Community

**From time to time I receive emails about tech in the community because of the classes I teach.  I forward information that may be of interest to my students, but am not involved with the projects.  Please contact the person in charge if you have any questions. Thanks!** 

The Innovation Center is partnering with Misty Robotics to host a one-day Coding Jam on socially-assistive robots using the new Misty Robot!

You'll spend the morning learning how to use the Misty Platform (learn more at this link: https://www.mistyrobotics.com/robots/).  Then, after lunch, you will work on teams on a design challenge.  The day will end with dinner and an exhibition of each team's skill that you designed and programmed.  Misty employees will be providing training and supporting teams during the jam.

Details:

 - Saturday, October 5

 - 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

 - Cost:  $30

 - Location:  SVVSD Innovation Center 33 Quail Road, Longmont, 80501

If you are interested in this event, please sign up on using this initial form.  Once we get our registration page built in Revtrack, we'll send to you.

Students grades 6-12 are encouraged to attend.  Teachers are also invited to attend and can receive professional development credit.

If you have questions, please email Axel Reitzig ([email protected]).

** The mid-term is here and student work must be turned in for students to get credit.  Assignments can always be turned in for credit and can be redone if students would like to earn more points. We are missing a number of assignments from students.  Students do not get credit for work unless it is turned in. 

Update on Participation Grade

1pt: on task 

1pt: digital citizenship

1pt: login and password

1pt: contribute to discussions

1pt: logout 

** If you have any questions about what this looks like, please ask your child 

What We Did:

1.3: Exploring the Problem Solving Process

• Apply the problem solving process to approach a variety of problems
• Assess how well-defined a problem is and use strategies to define the problem more precisely
• Solving three different tasks and reflecting on the problem solving process
• Word search
•  Seat assignments 
• Planning a day trip 

What to Work On:

• Think about problems in your life and apply the problem solving process
• Define, plan, try, reflect 

What We Plan to Do Next Week:

• Wrap up 1.3
• 1.4: What is a Computer? 

Students have begun to receive graded work back.  Each assignment will have a rubric or points for assignments.  They will be handed back for students to keep and entered into the gradebook.  I’ve been entering grades into Infinite Campus. Students always have the opportunity to resubmit work if they would like to earn more points.  Students are graded on the work they submit. I am looking for thorough work that answers all the questions and completes all of the assignment.  My goal is for students to learn what we are doing in class, so they are always welcome to resubmit work in order to learn more and earn more points.  We will have a hard deadline at the end of each semester, so I can finalize and submit grades. But other than that I’m fairly lenient on turning assignments back in to earn more points.  It is each student’s responsibility to resubmit if they would like to do so. I will be sure to give explicit feedback, so students know what they’ve done well and what they can keep improving on. Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you for your support at home! 

What We Did:

• How to answer questions thoroughly and give complete answers 
• The Problem Solving Process
• Given a problem, identify individual actions that would fall within each step of the problem solving process
• Identify useful strategies within each step of the problem solving process
• Define-Prepare-Try-Reflect 

What to Work On:

• Optional: explore Code.Org 

What We Plan to Do Next Week:

• Exploring problem solving with different problems and scenarios 

What We Did:

• Introduction to problem solving
• Making aluminum boats 
• Objectives: communicate and collaborate with classmates in order to solve a problem; iteratively improve a solution to a problem; identify different strategies used to solve a problem

What to Work On:

• Think of problems and solutions you’ve come up with to everyday occurrences in your life 
• Optional: play around in Code.org (sign in with Google and use your SVVSD account)- App Lab, Hour of Code, etc. 

What We Plan to Do Next Week:

• The Problem Solving Process 
• How will we use it in Computer Science? 

Welcome to the tech lab!  We had a great first week of school!  Each week I will send home a weekly newsletter.  It’ll be a bulleted list of what we’ve done during the week, what students can work on at home, and our plans for the following week.  Sometimes plans change, but this is largely what will be coming up in class. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. I’m looking forward to a great year with the students in the tech lab! 

What We Did:

• Intro to class
• Getting to know you 
• Class expectations
• Logging in to Drive, Google Classroom, and Code.Org
• Exploring Code.Org and Hour of Code 

What to Work On:

• Continue to play around in Code.Org 

What We Plan to Do Next Week:

• Introduction to problem solving
• Group activity- making a plan and revising it to make it better
• Problem solving process