Assignments 1st Semester

These are the assignments that you need to have completed.

1. POSTER:

A poster showing good design and content that you would use for teaching.
Use any programme - Word, Powerpoint, Publisher, Photoshop, etc

Marks: 10

2. PRESENTATION:

These must be EITHER

A Powerpoint that you can use to teach your Specific Skills lesson

It should be a minimum of 6 -8 slides and should contain elements - pictures, text, Smart Art - that will ENGAGE and CHALLENGE your learners.
Use the information I gave in the lecture about backgrounds and animations.
A plain white powerpoint containing no pictures or animations will gain minimum marks.

OR

A Prezi that you will use to teach your Specific Skills lesson

There is no fixed number of elements or positions, but it should be something that can ENGAGE AND CHALLENGE.

The addition of extra elements will always gain more marks.

Marks: 30

3. EXCEL SPREADSHEET EXERCISE

The exercise was emailed to you either in March or in May.  If you cannot find it, I will send it again. There is a blog post on using spreadsheets.

Marks: 20

4. WORKSHEET

This is a worksheet you would use in a class you teach.  It must be neat, fit on the page/s and have reasonable content

Marks: 15

5. RUBRIC

A rubric which can be used to assess a section of work in your subject/Learning Area/Phase.

Marks: 15

Bonus Marks:

If you have submitted an OHP or signed up for the Partners-in-Learning network, there are bonus marks.

Technology in your classroom

This is a link to a great blog post on using technology in the classroom.  It isn't a simple read - you have to click 
on each section to read the ideas - but it is worth taking the time to do it.

http://www.technologytailgate.com/2013/04/my-focus-for-technology.html
http://www.technologytailgate.com/2013/04/my-focus-for-technology.html

Office for Administration - EXCEL

MS EXCEL

Excel is a spreadsheet programme which allows CALCULATIONS to be made. It is hugely useful for a variety of different applications in teaching, including the dreaded Mark Sheets which most teachers need to do at some stage or another.

However, that is not all Excel can be used for - here are a few other ideas for using them in the classroom:
Use the cells to design a SEATING PLAN of the kids in your class - and you can even use the REVIEW menu to add comments about what to look out for - "He talks too much" "She will burst into tears if you raise your Voice" etc.

Create a CLASS LIST. You can sort Alphabetically using the SORT tool - but don't forget to EXPAND THE SELECTION if you select only one column at the beginning



Draw Graphs or Charts to show data graphically. The Chart Icon allows you to turn your data into a chart. You can choose a variety of different types of graphs. You can even make PICTOGRAPHS

Make a MARK BOOK

You have detailed instructions on how to create a Mark Book. Some of the skills you will need to master are:

• Renaming the Spreadsheet
• Sorting class lists alphabetically
• Orientating Headings
• Calculating the SUM of a range of numbers
• Calculating the AVERAGE of a range of numbers
• Changing data
• Saving and retrieving the markbook

Remember when you perform a calculation that there are some rules that you need to follow

eg

Office for Administration - Word

The Microsoft Office - and other shareware Office packages - are "lifesavers" for teachers to use. They give you an opportunity not only to make your Admin work neat, but also to re-use them in other terms and years. The best part, is that you can make changes on a regular basis.

Here is a list of some of the things you can use WORD for

• Creating worksheets
• Setting test and exam papers
• Developing assessment rubrics
• Writing good news or disciplinary notes
• Weekly lesson plan
• Creating certificates
• Designing concert programme
• Publishing sport team lists
• Writing letters to parents or sponsors
• Drawing diagrams using lines and shapes
• Creating newsletters
• Writing and editing essays / reports
• Completing learner support templates
• Writing CVs

We will look at a few of these applications in this course.

WORKSHEETS

Use text boxes, tables and call outs to make the worksheet interesting.

Make sure that the text is large enough to read.

A clear, clean font makes the worksheet easier to read – even for senior grades

 

Tests and Exams

Remember when you are testing learners, the test should be on the content they have learnt and the skills they use in applying the content NOT their ability to read a poorly designed test with untidy and difficult to read writing and confusing questions.

 

Make sure the SPACING between lines is at least 1.5 - this makes scanning and close reading easier.

 

Use a reasonable font size - a minimum of 12, and up to 16 for younger learners.  I generally use Calibri 14 as this is easy to read.

 

The Layout of the test can help learners follow instructions.

 

Tick boxes are useful for True/False questions

 

• Use Google Forms (find them on Google Drive) OR make your own tick boxes using INSERT - SHAPES

 

 

 Numbers for multiple choice questions can be inserted from the HOME menu

 

Lines for writing extended answers are important if learners are to work on the question paper - don't just leave a space

 

Tables with blocks to fill in are really useful if only a small amount of text is wanted. 

Assessment Rubrics

 

Tables
These make it really easy to see what is going on. You can insert a table from the INSERT menu - select how many columns and rows you need.

 

 

 

Merge Cells

This allows you to make clear headings for sections of the rubric, or it allows you to make a clear line between sections

Highlight the cells you want to merge and MERGE CELLS

You can also SPLIT a cell into more lines or columns

Borders and Shading

This makes assessment sheets clear and easy to follow.

Use the Borders and Shading tool to make clear divisions between types of information in the rubric

 

Smiley Faces or other graphics

In the Foundation Phase you may want to use "smiley faces" to help the learners understand what you are looking for.

One place you can find a smily face icon is in the BASIC SHAPES menu in the INSERT toolbar.

You can even change the shape of the mouth by "pulling" on the diamond on the mouth

Certificates

Templates are useful here

Use Office on line - the best ones are definitely on line

Make your own and save it as a template so you can use it again

 

Newsletters

Columns make newsletters easier to read - find these in the PAGE LAYOUT menu

Use text boxes to emphasise points

Insert graphics - remember to use the TEXT WRAP - THROUGH tool so your pictures don't move your text around

 

CVs

Use the Templates Menu or make your own

It is called RESUME in the American programmes

Choose the type and style you need

Don’t put pictures, fancy fonts, etc onto them

A cover page is not essential but can make it look tidy

Notes and letters

A useful tool is a MAIL MERGE

Put people’s names on the top of each letter

Find this in MAILINGS

Start Mail Merge

Select Recipients

Make your own data base of names

Merge and Finish to print individualised letters



Blog Notifications

HOW TO GET RID OF ALL THE ANNOYING NOTIFICATIONS IN YOUR BOX ACCOUNT.

Assignments for this term

Posters:

These should all have been completed and sent to me by now.

I will reply to you as soon as possible and make comments and suggestions.

Presentations:

These must be EITHER

A Powerpoint that you can use to teach your Specific Skills lesson

It should be a minimum of 6 -8 slides and should contain elements - pictures, text, Smart Art - that will ENGAGE and CHALLENGE your learners.
Use the information I gave in the lecture about backgrounds and animations.
A plain white powerpoint containing no pictures or animations will gain minimum marks.

If you did not attend the lecture, that will not be an excuse for sub-standard work.

OR

A Prezi that you will use to teach your Specific Skills lesson

There is no fixed number of elements or positions, but it should be something that can ENGAGE AND CHALLENGE.

The addition of extra elements will always gain more marks.

Due Dates:

Group A and B - 18 March

Group C and D - 26 March

Please don't expect a reply by return mail - there are 100 of you!  I will be in New Zealand from 22 March to 5 May but will check e-mail most days and will reply before you have to do your presentation.

How to use box.com

You should have received an invitation to collaborate on a folder called Assignment 2

Please click to accept the invitation.

You may be asked to LOG IN

 

Box.com already knows your e-mail address as I sent you invitation to it.  But when you type in a password, you will get an error message saying your details are invalid.

 

This is because, as with all web based applications, you need to SIGN UP before you can LOG IN

 

Once you have SIGNED UP, you can LOG IN and access the folder.  You will never need to sign up again on that e-mail address, even if you want to create your own box.

 

UPLOADING A FILE

In the ASSIGNMENT 2 folder, click on UPLOAD and then save your presentation.  Please remember to name it with your NAME and STUDENT NUMBER so I know who to assign the marks to.