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Missions

Missions will be regular TechED class challenges for students to demonstrate their learning and technology use skills.  Each time a student successfully completes all requirements of a mission, demonstrating their individual learning and skill, they will earn an entry-slip that they can place in the Mission Container.  At the end of each semester we will draw a name out of the Mission Container to select a winner.  Winner will have the choice of receiving a Digital MP3 Player or a Digital Camera.

 

iLyrics: Share your favorite tunes

posted ‎‎Dec 9, 2008 4:55 AM‎‎ by Mark Arnold

Mission 005:

eCast for Early Elementary

posted ‎‎Dec 7, 2008 12:07 PM‎‎ by Mark Arnold   [ updated ‎‎Dec 8, 2008 8:29 AM‎‎ ]

Mission 004: eCast for Early Elementary

Your mission:  Create an eBook (eCast) for students in grades K-1.  An eBook is an electronic version of a book.  They are pretty easy to make and you could use different tools to create an eBook.  They are different from audio-books.  Audio-books are just audio recordings of a book.  eBooks go a step beyond audio-books by adding images, text you can read along with, or more advanced features that make them interactive.  Your mission requires, at a minimum, that you mix together text, images, and an audio recording of the book.  You have already used GarageBand to create a simple Podcast of your favorite things.  Thinking about what you learned from your previous Podcast experience, use GarageBand to assemble your eCast.  You will need to use a tool that allows you to type out the text of the story, so that it can be read easily as viewers listen along with the story.  PicFont (see resources) will make it easy to mix text with your images.

Steps:
1. Select a book from the library (K-1 appropriate)... See Mrs. Guilford
2. Take pictures of book illustrations
3. Use PicFont (see resources) to type in story text to accompany the images
4. Arrange images into Garage Band
5. Record and edit audio segments to fit with images.
6. Share (Save file & Sent to iTunes)

Resources:
PicFont (lets you put text onto or around any picture)
GarageBand (place images/text into track - record timed audio)

eBook Examples:
Tumble Books
Storyline Online

Clifford Stories (PBS Kids)

Alternative Mission:  Use other tools that allow you to mix text, images, and audio (recorded) to create an eBook for K-1 students.  Follow steps similar to the original mission.  Or... You could also create a simple eLearning activity for K-5 students.

Possible tools...
NoteShare
Keynote (example attached)
iMovie

eLearning Ideas...
ABCs            (template on server)
Counting    (template on server)
Calendar    (template on server)    http://www.printable2009calendar.net/
Planets     
(template on server)    http://www.iconarchive.com/category/nature/solar-system-icons-by-dan-wiersma.html
Time
States
Animals
Money
Sign Language
Things Around the House
Holidays
Colors
Shapes
Signs
Health Hints
Earth/Continents
Food Pyramid
Moon Phases

In the Mirror

posted ‎‎Nov 4, 2008 7:59 AM‎‎ by Mark Arnold   [ updated ‎‎Dec 7, 2008 12:09 PM‎‎ ]


Mission 003: In the Mirror...

Your mission:  Create a mirror-collage that communicates what you see in your future.  Gather images (see list below) that can be used to visually display what your life might look like 20 years from now. Seventh and Eighth students should use Garage Band to create a Podcast of their mirror-collage. Sixth grade students can try the following to record audio.

Steps: Find or take the following pictures and gather them into a single folder with your name on it.
  • Complete a Storyboard to plan the project (use handout)
  • Provide a current digital picture of yourself
  • Provide an image showing what a picture of you at work might look like 20 years from now
    - Examples: A college professor. A mechanic. The President.
  • Provide an image showing what a picture of you at play might look like 20 years from now
    - Examples: Hiking, At a ball game. Traveling.
  • Provide an image showing something you hope to accomplish in the next 20 years
    - Examples: Climbing a mountain. Buying a home. Having a baby.
* Once you have all four (4) images, provide a copy of the folder to Mr. Arnold. 
  • Create a Podcast: Put the four pictures in the order above into GarageBand (Create new Podcast)....
    Have each picture display for roughly eight (8) seconds and record voice/audio to go with each of your
    future images.
  • (Bonus) See if you can get background music and sounds to play in your Podcast.

Alternative Mission:  Create a digital time-capsule of your favorite things.  Gather images of your favorite things (5 items).  Include an audio recording that identifies each item and a reason for it being included in the time-capsule.  Seventh and Eighth students should use Garage Band to create a Podcast of their time-capsule. Sixth grader students can try the following to record audio.


Directions coming soon! They will be very similar to the tasks for the main mission.

Map Makers

posted ‎‎Oct 14, 2008 8:10 AM‎‎ by Mark Arnold   [ updated ‎‎Nov 4, 2008 8:02 AM‎‎ ]

Mission 002: Map it out...

Your mission, if you choose to accept it:
Imagine you are in your senior year of high school and graduation is near... where will you be heading after graduation?  College, travel, service, work... where?  If you're not sure, now is a good time to start thinking about it, planning even.  This is mission will require you map your future... at least a piece of it.

Google maps allows you to create your own maps (MyMaps) if you have a Google Account.  There are many other tools that have been created online that can also create and personalize maps.  Many of them use the Google Maps and Satellite Images. I have linked a few of these tools below.  Each one of them allows you to mark locations or way-points on a map, add descriptions to communicate information related to the location, and with some you can even create hyperlinks to other information sources or add pictures to your location description.  Clicking on a location marker should reveal information about the location.

The primary mission is to use one of the mapping tools below to create a map that describes one "journey" you plan to make after you graduate.  As I mentioned before... this might be exploring colleges you might attend, a trip you would like to take, places you want to see, things you want to do, where you want to work - doing what kind of work, etc.  To successfully complete the mission, your journey must map and describe the following:
  • at least five (5) location markers, each related to a theme for your journey (ex. Where I Want to Work, Colleges I Might Attend, My Trip to the Grand Canyon...);
  • for each marker provide some detail as a description of the location you have selected (2-3 sentences), tell specifically why that location was chosen or what is significant about the location;
  • include a photo or hyperlink with each marker that provides additional information about the location.
An alternative mission would be to locate any five (5) locations in the world and develop them around a topic to map out and describe as a virtual-tour (ex. Five Largest Airports in the United States, The Five Largest Rivers in the US, Presidents from New England, Boston's Pro Stadiums, Highest Mountains in the World...).  The same requirements are necessary for either mission you select.

Successful completion of this mission will demonstrate clearly your ability to:
  • creatively select a topic for your journey or tour;
  • use of the features of the mapping tool to locate, mark, and describe locations;
  • ability to embed pictures and hyperlinks into your location markers;
  • clearly and accurately communicate information about specific locations;
  • and effectively use a map to help others learn about the locations you have selected.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mapping Tools: Make sure to consider and learn which of these tools allow you to add pictures and/or hyperlinks to your location marker descriptions.
http://www.umapper.com/
http://www.communitywalk.com/
http://www.zeemaps.com


You might find some examples or ideas at the following site(s):
Sightseeing with Google Maps

Check out the following resources on how to create your own map(s) with Google Maps:

http://www.google.com/mapmaker/mapfiles/s/support.html
http://sites.google.com/site/mapmakeruserhelp/


Learn Basic HTML:
http://www.austen.com/tutorial/

Crack the Code

posted ‎‎Oct 9, 2008 8:24 AM‎‎ by Mark Arnold   [ updated ‎‎Oct 9, 2008 10:32 AM‎‎ ]


Mission 001: Crack the Code & Capture the Lobster Robbers


Your mission, if you choose to accept it: Thieves have made off with lobsters from our local docks.  Your job is to crack the code below and find out where their hide-out is located.  Use Google Earth to search out the coordinates (longitude-latitude) below, by cutting and pasting the coordinates into the Google Earth search box.  Record the name of each location you find... It may be a city or a place.  These are locations that the robbers have been seen at by witnesses since the lobster robberies were first reported.  Look at the satellite images of the locations closely... Try to imagine the journey of the robbers as they make off with the lobsters and head for their hide-out.  How do you think they would travel from location to location (boat, train, plane, etc.).

Latitude              Longitude                   Number of Letters    Location

44°09'15.38” N    68°39'45.45” W            10                             ______________________________________

44°08'40.40” N    68°42'11.55” W            12 (2 words)              ______________________________________
                                           
44°02'40.05” N    68°50'31.38” W            10                              ______________________________________

44°19'44.73” N    69°43'57.79” W            7                                ______________________________________

41°17'38.65” N    72°55'36.56” W            8 (two words)            ______________________________________

40°45'59.70” N    73°59'57.60” W            7 (two words)            ______________________________________
           
39°21'23.89” N    74°25'05.84” W            12 (two words)        ______________________________________

34°41'40.09” N    76°33'33.02” W            13 (two words)          ______________________________________



The first letter of each location will spell out the name of the city where the robbers hide-out is located.    Find out where it is so you can contact the FBI in that city to help you catch the thieves.  Write the name of the city below and the state where this city is located.


Name of City: ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____  (8 letters)      What state is this city located in?: ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____  (7 letters)

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