Google Documents

Working on a project in two places can a be a difficult task sometimes. One way to keep things organized between your laptop computer and your home computer is to use Google Documents. In Google documents you can do word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. Google Docs will let you save the files so that they are compatible with programs like Microsoft Office, which includes Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Today, before you get back to developing your goals, I'd like you to watch a brief demo on Google Docs and then sign in and create a new document. Simply type "This is a Google Document" in the body of the text and save the file.

Please make sure you have posted your reflection on last week's goals and your new weekly goals for April 8 - 15.

Goals and Reflections

Last week I asked you to set three weekly goals that you could meet by this Tuesday. On Thursday afternoon, I asked you to briefly reflect on your progress towards meeting those goals. Setting and meeting your own goals in an important habit of self-regulated learning. Let's see how you did in terms of setting your goals, which I've posted here. After we've discussed the goals you set, everyone must report on whether or not they met their weekly goals as honestly as possible. You must post your goals and your evaluation on your blog today. Additionally you must outline three new weekly goals that you will make an effort to meet by next Tuesday under a new post titled Weekly Goals "April 8 - 15"

Rosalyn
1. Finding more informtation on the 3 different spanish music (salsa,
merengue, bachata)
2. Finding which songs I'm going to put in my blank Cd.
3. Thinking how I'm going to write the information down like doing a
essay or what
Tanonya
GOAL 1
That I will have a survey for kids to who want to answer the questions
thatI will have.
GOAL 2
That I will try to get around n see if i can get people tobe in my
video. I will get there names and get there answers for questions I
will have for them so that we can already have it before we do the
video.
GOAL 3
That I will gather pictures and music to put in my video.So that it
could connect back to the reason of the project.
Chelsei
1. Draft a list of sites I want to photograph
2. Get the camera and finish my Photography
3. Begin to play around with imovie and note features I would be
interested in using
Shayna
My three goals for this class would be to enhance my idea for my
painting, complete my painting, and be able to have others understand
my painting.
Stephanie
1) By next tuesday i would like to have the majority of my poems
gathered together.
2) I would like to add more poems to the collection
3) And come up with a plan and steps of how im going to put
everything together!!
Azalia
1. TO FINISH HISTORY OF ALL DANCES
2. TO FIND DANCERS TO INTERVEIW
3. BEGIN ORGANIZATION OF VIDEO
Kanesha
1. Decide who to interview and what I am going to ask.
2. Set up a time to use the camera to take pictures.
3. Gather some music to play in the background for the project.
4. Conduct an interview with at least two people.
Malaynthia
1. I need to bring you back your camera.
2. I need to take the picture of my building.
3. I need to start my project already.
Saquaya
1. Officially get a 'crew' and 'models' for my shoots
2. To pick 3-5 locations that I will like to shoot for the final project.
3. Obtain a tripod
Angelica
My first goal is to come up with a actual sketch of the painting. i do believe this is the hardest part because i am not the best artist. My second goal is to figure the cost of the canvas board and how many that i will need. My third is figuring a goal sheet of times that i want to have the work done by this is so i don't become overwhelmed by the project. These are my goals that i hope to complete by Tuesday and i hope to get them done.
Brian
My goals for next week are to get a get a good amount of surveys back
to start applying statistical data on powerpoint.
Adam
1.my first goal is to complete my project and passthe class.
2.my second goalis to get enoouggh information to dothis project imgonna need images and vidos lyrics and things like that to complete my project.
3. my last goal is to learn the powerpoint better and make my project great
Nekeema
##- 1. To edit my videos into a documentary
%%- 2. Finish my proposal
##- 3. Get my whole project reviewed by two people to get feedback.

Weekly Reflection

Based on your goals, take a few minutes at the end of the period today to reflect on both your actual and expected progress on your three goals for next Tuesday that you set for yourself. Please touch upon the following points:

• What have you actually produced? (new ideas, questions, surveys, sketches, research...)
• What will you produce over the next four days?
  
• Were you able to work productively in class? What roadblocks did you encounter and how can you overcome them?
• How are you doing overall on your project?

Please post your response on your blog as "Weekly Project Reflection"

Self-Regulation and Continuous Learning

Working independently or within a group is something that requires a lot of each you. In order to be successful in college you must be able to set and meet goals to become a self-directed learner. What does that mean? If a professor says, "write an 800 word paper on Government due in one month?" How would you do it? What are some steps you might take to meet the professor's demand? (Leave a comment on the blog right now with a few steps you might take as a self-directed learner)

Self-Regulation is an important part of assessing your own progress on any given task. To self-regulate your own work, you have to set some basic goals, know when they have been met, and if they meet necessary standards. Part of of this process of self-regulation first requires you to think about your own style of learning. Answer the following questions on your blog in a new post:

1. What is the best environment (home, school, work, etc.) for your learning?
2. Where do you choose to study?
3. Where do you choose to work creatively?
4. How do you work with others?
5. What is your favorite way of learning (listening, looking, doing, etc)?
6. What do you think are your talents or strengths (arts, writing, speaking, problem solving)?
7. Where do your personal interests lie?
8. Do you check for accuracy and precision?
9. Are you persistent in developing your work?

Self-regulation begins with your own internal reflection on how you learn and work best. Once you start to realize your strengths you can start to work towards those on your own. If you have finished your self-evaluation, take a moment to set three individual goals about for developing your project next week. Also set one group goal. Discuss this briefly with your group. Email me your goals, and I will give you feedback about your goals.

Project Work Groups

As we start to transition into our individual project work we also need to work more effectively. Today we need to re-organize our class into groups that are doing the most similar work, not simply who we like to sit with. As your begin your projects, I will be working with groups on specific lessons and ideas that relate to those projects. Today, we will decide upon the group categories, break into small groups and then you will work together to come up with a list of questions/needs.

The groups will conduct their work in the following manner. Everyone will individually write down two or three things they need to know about their project. Then, everyone will share their questions one at a time with the group. If anyone knows the answer for the question or how to help, please share with your group. When you have all gone around, chose the most important questions you want lessons on or help with in your group. Write them down on a big sheet of paper and hang up the questions near your table. One person will present the questions to the class.

Project Proposal

Portfolio Project Proposal

Now that everyone has had some time to think and re-think your individual portfolio project it is time to submit a formal written proposal by Wednesday March 19th. The proposal will be included in your 1st marking period grade as a major project, because it should reflect all the thought and energy you have devoted to your project so far. For many of you, this is an opportunity to improve your grade by putting together all of the little steps you may have missed into a clearly written, one page document that outlines your independent portfolio project.

A formal proposal is a requirement for thesis papers, projects, grants, small businesses, and studies to a name few examples where writing is a key part of getting funding or permission to develop your own idea. In college or career it is an integral part of getting things done in a competitive environment. Being able to clearly and directly state your or someone else’s ideas, plans, and rationale is a very important skill. Grant writing, a specific kind of proposal where individuals and groups propose ideas for funding, can be a full-time job.

Your proposal should touch upon all of the steps we taken so far in our planning, but now you will have to refine your project idea into a clear thesis statement. This statement will guide the rest of your proposal like it would guide an essay or report. Please use the following outline to structure your proposal.

• Please introduce your project and what is important about it. Please list the main ideas that your project will address. Examples include what will be communicated, what you will learn, or how it will demonstrate the habits of mind.
• Please provide a rationale your project by supporting your main ideas. Please provide an analysis of any research questions you have, planning you have done, materials or skills you will need, and what evidence you will use to support your idea. Please explain why it is important, how it will affect others, and how it connects to the larger community.
• Please discuss how the project reflects you as a unique individual and what it will add to your portfolio presentation that is not present in your other work. How does the project reflect your creativity and risk-taking?
• Conclude your proposal by discussing your commitment to the project. Discuss what challenges you will face and possible solutions. Briefly discuss your strengths and weaknesses working on projects.

Your proposal must be a minimum of four paragraphs or one page, typed and double-spaced in 12 pt Times font with your name. It may not exceed two pages.

Materials List

By next Tuesday you should have your blog completely caught up to today's assignment, which is to create a list of materials that you will need to complete your project. Your materials can be both physical; paper, paint, video cameras and academic; learning how to use Flash, how to use Photoshop, or edit a video. Think about what you will need and what you will need to learn or learn more about. Type up a list of everything you could possibly want to use and know, don't worry about whether or not we can actually get it yet. Think big first. Post your list on your blog using the list feature.