Summer 2009 Many Uses of Computer Camp Final Blog

Overall, I thought camp was fifity gazillion times better than last year. However, there is always room for improvement. For this blog, I'm going to go through each day and highlight the lessons that went well and what needs to be improved.

Day One
Introduction to Camp - The sheet game is always good to start with. The students enjoy it, they remember each others name, its a good way to organize the students right away into their rooms. I think we again should give the students a calendar. All of them knew when PLC dates were and they rarely asked the instructor. However we will need to change when the Road Tests are. Overall the introduction was fine. I don't think much needs to be changed.
My Technology Story - Activity went great. All of the students were engaged. I don't think anything needs to be changed.
File Management Lesson - The purpose of this lessson is good. Lesson itself as a demonstration should be changed an more interactive. We should open up the folder, have students identify what was wrong, and then have an interactive activity with how to re-name the mislabled files. Then, this activity may not be needed for the to do list.
Various ITA Accounts - Lecture with the PowerPoint is fine. This should stay short and sweet. Add how to check PLC score here.
Google Features - This semester in my class Ryan did this as a quick lecture with the PowerPoint. This should be more of a demosntration. If there is time students should see an instructor text, add features to his gmal, and etc.
To Do List - Needs to be reorded and things need to be deleted. This is what I think it should be for next year. Also, in general before all to do lists we need to go over what the students will be doing. This should be quick demos of what they will be doing.

1. Gmail
2. Forward Wiscmail To Gmail
3. Write Wiscmail and Gmail in Google Doc in front of the Room
4. Set up a Blogger with appropriate settings
5. Write blogger address in front of the room
6. Log-In to Learn@UW as a test
7. Log-In to ITA Login page as a test
8. Log-In MyWebSpace as a test
9. Add themes, tasks, and whatever labs students want
10. Add all instructor e-mails including staff
11. Add additional information in Google Doc
12. Share their blog with instructors and staff
13. Create a Google Presentation of Themselves
14. Take Learn@UW Quiz
15. Then whatever fun activities are left in any order the following above are based on priority with what should be done.

Certification - Overall certification for the first day was fine. Everyday last 15 minutes there needs to be a blog.

Day Two

I really wasn't in much of the classroom that day, but WIKI needs to be changed but whatever instructors are teaching the hardware stuff that day.

Day Three

I was not at all in the classroom that day. I think Unit Coordinators need to be at Camp Everyday. Otherwise they feel loss. If unit coordinators need to be absent don't have both of them gone the same day. I talked to Kevin about this, but both of us felt a little loss especially because we weren't at the end of the day meeting.

Day Four

Basic components of PowerPoint - Lesson should be kept as a lecture with demonstrations. Heavy on the demonstrations. If needed it should be shorter. We may need a clear list of demonstrations to do that will be seen in the "To Do List." This would include: cropping, setting a color transparent, changing the color of a picture, and adding cutom animation so things enter and exit.
Learning Actions - We started to run out of time. This lesson can be made shorter. It should still be a step-by-step of how to add a shape and textbox. We need to make sure both the shape and text box are linked. Otherwise the button may not work. Also we need to show the students how to make it so the page is only clickable at the button.
World's Worst PowerPoint - Lesson is good. Can stay the same. Taught by Kiki who was very quite. I think this is still a good lesson for an intern to teach. There needs to be more prep with interns. I will talk about this at the end of the blog.
PowerPoint To Do List - Again we need to preview the to do list. We should emphasize the To Do List is ordered in a particular way and should be followed that way. I still think this was a good lesson, but somethings need be changed. The students do not need to link all of the menu page just some of them. The students should just have to link the Motherboard, highlighted boxes, and one other componenet. The stuff in Slide Master was a little complicated for the students to understand. If this step is not done correctly the PowerPoint will be done wrong. Thus, I REALLY think this should be a demo because none of the students understood it. Otherwise, just by adding screen shots of what the students need to change to this part is more instructive may be good enough. Otherwise, all of the other animation is fine. Skilled students should now be able to complete the PowerPoint. We need to make sure students save this project. We should remind the students they can use this to study
Intoduction to Hardware and BTW - If we get enough instructors to make a BTW, we should set up the computers like the Mini Showcase. Students can explore for 7 minutes or so. Then we should explain to the students the files they will need for their BTW. We will have students pick partners guy and girl. Students should then copy their files over. The PowerPoint Review questions need to be changed. I think the questions should be review of activities the students did in the To Do List. To our class, the questions seemed random.

Day 5
Exploration with drum challenges and Secret Song need to be made in a To Do List. We need to preview the to do list. Something that does need to be demoed that Pacal did was how to make a sound go up or down a note. Otherwise Sony Acid should stay. All of the students enjoyed it.

Day 6

I think all day BTW work time went well. Most likely, it will be needed next year. I think this day went pretty smoothly. What we should tell the students is that once they have their spec sheet at the end of each day they can ask an instructor to read it over. Looking at all the BTW, a lot of the students computers weren't the best because they didn't get really individual feedback. WIth the PowerPoints, I would ask the students if they were done and then give critique and tell them explicitly what they need to change. I gave the students options for me to look over their PowerPoint.

Day 7

The problem with this day was the instruction with PowerPoint. I think overall, we need to make sure whatever instructor is teaching this lesson demosntrates the demo clearly. We should suggest the students take Google Notes. Also, we should change the to do list to be more informative in step by step for the beginning steps. Overall, the day did what was need, which was introduce the students to the programs. We need to make sure students save this project.

Day 8

This should be changed to ALL DAY portfolios. The introduction to Portfolios needs to be shorter. I think the students should see a demosntration of how the portfolios should be changed. Then, there should be a step-by-step to set up their portfolios. The About Me section should be e-mailed the day before so the students write it at home. If the students have time they can work on their BTW.

Day 9

All day work day. We should still make sure we have one road test and then another. Again we need to be giving the students more feedback on their projects right away. I really thinkg having the students e-mail spec sheets would be a good idea.

Day 10

Road test went fine. But, we need to organize the showcase better. The day was very hectic. Students weren't even able to really explore or write their blogs. Also, it would be a good idea if it was in the conference room. The labs are TOO crowded. Also it was stressful for me to during lunch figure everything out with those students. It would be better if we could do it in class.

Interns

I think before camp starts, we need to have the intern come in. Unit Coordinators should be responsible for the interns tasks. Kiki did a good job but it was still stressful at some points. It would be nice if Unit Support worked with them on how they teach. Interns need to practice teaching infront of instructos first and then go into the classroom.