Link/Resource List

Today you will start researching your project idea and begin creating a list of links on your blog.  The links will be to resources that you discover on the web to help you develop your project.  For example, if Michael is researching "Hip-Hop, Graffiti, history, Bronx" using Google, one of the first results is a blog called Hip-Hop Intellectuals (http://hiphopintellectual.blogspot.com/2008/04/born-in-bronxbaby.html), a useful blog about issues in hip-hop.  Michael might be able to discover interesting articles and links about hip-hop there.  This is an example of a resource that Michael would obviously need to spend some time reading to find useful information.  

When you find a link that is relevant to your topic you will add it to a Links list you will create today in class.  If you are not in class today follow the instructions below:

• For each link you find copy the URL in the address window in your browser.  
• Then you need to open a new window and log into Blogger.  
• Select your blog and click on the the tab that says Layout beneath the title of your blog in the upper left hand corrner.
  
• In the Layout window click on the field in the left side of the layout that says Add a Gadget.
• In the gadget menu click on the plus sign next to Link List.
• Title the List List "Links/Resources"
• You can sort the links by alphabetically if you select that option.
• Paste the the URL you have copied into the New Site URL area.  
• Add a New Site name below the URL, for example Michael's first title would be "Hip-Hop Intellectuals"
  
• Click the ADD LINK button to put it on the list.
• When you are finished click SAVE.
• Your first URL in your link/resource list should be http://bpdigitalportfolio.blogspot.com and the the name should be Digital Portfolio

To meet Tuesday's first goal you should add a minimum of four more relevant resources to help you create your project to your links/resources list today.  If you don't finish you have until next Tuesday to meet your first SMART goal.  

1st SMART goal

By next Tuesday I will post five resources on my blog and I will know I achieved the research because there will be five new links on my blog. 

SMART Goal Setting

In order to help you complete your project we will begin to set and meet goals each week.  The goal setting process will occur every Tuesday for warm-up.  To help you learn to set and meet your individual goals, we are going to look at protocol for goal setting that professionals use. The idea is to set smart goals that you can accomplish. So why do we call them SMART goals? Take a minute right now and think about each letter in the word SMART: S-M-A-R-T. What word might each letter stand for that would help you set and meet goals? Try and figure out at least one and leave your inference as a comment.

SMART goal indicators

• S - Simple - keep your goals directly related to the task at hand. Use your backwards plans.
• M - Measurable - your goal should show growth with demonstrable evidence.
• A - Achievable - your goal should be something that you can accomplish with effort.
• R - Realistic - no amount of effort or hard work can overcome an unrealistic goal.
• T - Time Table - your goal should have a deadline.

Today we will set our first SMART goal together to help start our research into our project idea and develop a list of resources for our blog.

SMART Goal template

By next blank blankI will blank blank blankand I will know I achieved blank blank blankbecause blank blank.

Using the SMART goal template post your first SMART goal, which you will work on tomorrow in class to meet.

Backwards Planning

Creating an independent project for yourself is a big task and often the hardest part is getting started. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the whole idea of a project. In order to help ourselves get started we are going to do some backwards planning. What is backwards planning?

imagine it's early June and you have just shown your amazing project to your portfolio group. In your mind, try and imagine where you are in the school. Try and imagine what you have just shown, read, or presented to your audience. Try and imagine exactly how you presented your project. Close your eyes and visualize exactly what you are presenting to your audience

Now, you should have an idea of what your final project will look like. The question is 'how did you get all the way there from here?' Instead of starting with the first step, let's start with your end goal. For example, several students are interested in creating video documentaries.

Their final step might be:
"Show video on projector to portfolio group."

What steps would a student have to go through to create a film? Without worrying about the order of the steps, what are some steps this student might have to go through to reach their final goal? Take a minute and think about what you know about film or video and documentaries and add a comment with ONE step you think the student would have to take to create a video that would be shown at Town Hall on the big screen. Think about how videos and films are made. What would a student have to know and/or do to make a video?

After looking at some of the steps we think a student might have to take to create a video, start creating your own backwards plan. Today I would like you to

• Briefly introduce your project idea (one sentence)
  
• write down that final step of your project, whether it's debuting a video or an exhibition of art work, exactly how you want to present your project.
  
• Then brainstorm a list of steps in any order that you believe you will have to go through to complete your project.
  
• Start at the end and try to work backwards, but if a step pops into your head write down. Post your final step and all your ideas on your blog under the title "Backwards Plan Brainstorm".

When you are finished with your backwards plan, please send me an email with your blog address if you have not done so yet.

Introduction

Hi my name is Mr. Powhida....

Signing up for Blogger

If you have completed the project worksheet (see below) and have signed up for a Gmail address it is time to sign up for a blog at blogger.com. Signing for a blog is simple as long as you read the instructions and pay attention to the following suggestions:

• Your blog name should be related to the course or your project. Keep it simple by using your name and a simple description. ie Ariel's Comic Book Project. The blog name can be changed anytime.
  
• The blog URL or address is PERMANENT. It should be something short that you can tell other people like yaniqueproject.blogspot.com or dannymusic.blogspot.com. Your only get to name the first part - YOURADDRESS.blogspot.com
• Email me your blog address at mr.powhida@gmail.com Copy the blog address into the SUBJECT of the email when you are finished signing up. I will be adding it to the class blog links section.
  

Project Worksheet #1

Today you will take your first steps towards working digitally in this class. Many of you have email addresses that you use personally, but today you will sign up for an academic email through Google that you will use for class. Follow the procedure below to sign up for your gmail account. We will be using the gmail account for Blogger, Google docs, Picassa, and more. After you sign up for your Gmail, you need to complete the first project worksheet in Word and email me your responses as a word document attachment.

Steps:

1. Go to www.gmail.com
2. Sign up for the email and provide the required information only.
3. Choose an account name that involves only your name and up to two numbers. You may use your full name, your inititals, and periods and numbers in the account. For example my academic email is mr.powhida@gmail.com
4. When you have finished signing up for the email, your first task will be be to email me your responses to questions about your project idea. These are due by Thursday at the latest.
   
5. When you click on the link, which will take you to the project worksheet, copy and paste the questions into Word. Type your answers into the word file and save it as YOURNAME_1.doc and email me the file as an attachment. Please ask for help or a demo if you do not know how to attach a file.