Computer Technology Concepts
Dennis Read
SAMUEL OGLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Zip Code: 20715
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Page Last Updated 08/22/2015
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Calendar of Events

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Upcoming Events

***Notice from Mr. Read (May 26)***

1. The last date for all late homework return is June 12. I will not be accepting late homework after that date.

2. Classroom Learning Skills Assignment (in SchoolMax): Parents, please read any notes that I may have added in the right column for this assignment. If you see a score of 50, your child needs immediate improvement. Feel free to e/mail me or schedule a conference through Guidance. Feel free to visit and observe your child in my room at any time; parent involvement is important and encouraged at all times.

Disruptive and non-compliant behavior by a few often interferes with my teaching and other student's ability to learn.

***** Extra Credit Information *****

Separate extra credit assignments are not available. Throughout the quarter, I maintain 2 running-records (Classroom Learning Skills) that benefit the students who maintain and respect classroom expectations and guidelines. Following classroom rules is important, and students who do that earn extra credit throughout thd quarter. The CLS assessment is equivalent to a typical quiz grade.

*******Special Homework Information********

As a back-up to papers I distribute in class, I post the identical information on a file sharing website (google drive or ge.tt). See: Favorite Links, below. The exact website I use for sharing may change depending on availability; just click on the link for what you need and you will be properly directed. Use the links below to access Homework and other information. Once inside the folder, click on the file and/or information that you need. Then, click File, Download, Open, and the document is ready to print. For Homework, you may also just view it, complete it, and return to me on notebook paper. Any Homework not returned = 0.

Week 1 (April 13, 2015 - start of Quarter 4)

Welcome to all students (and their families) for Quarter 4! I am very happy to serve as the Computer Technology Teacher at Samuel Ogle Middle School, in this my 18th year at Ogle.

After orientation classes (one each for A and B day students), we will be jumping right into Typing Lessons with the Mavis Beacon program. Students will be soon be taking notes from my reading using MS Word. I will read to them for 2 classes while they take notes, then they will take notes from their own reading for 2 classes. As their first paper, students will draft a summary of their Cornell notes, and then proofread the document in order to prepare it for grading. Overall, students will compose 2 papers during the Quarter in my class. Each grade level has specific Social Studies content on which we focus: Grade 8, American Civil War; Grade 7, Geography of Australia; Grade 6, Geography of South America.

Grades will be appearing in SchoolMax soon after orientation and as assignments are given. We are just getting started, so it may take a little time to get up to our usual speed and pace with grades, assignments, and reporting. Be patient, please. Typically, I enter 2 grades or more for each student weekly once we are underway.

The Grading weights are: Classwork, 70%; Assessments, 20%; Homework, 10%.

My Homework policy is as follows: Homework returned on time can earn full credit. All late Homework earns 50 points (except for excused absences.) Homework not returned earns a zero. Parents - monitor homework! I type the assignment, copy it, and put it in student's hands every Thursday and Friday. It is due in their next class. I do not re-issue 'lost' homework papers. Students may get the assignment from a friend and submit it on notebook paper, or access it through this page (link at the top.) Late homework due to an approved absence is not penalized.

Be sure to read the 'Welcome Letter' that I will give to all students; it explains the course objectives and many other details that you need to know. Students also have a list of 'Classroom Learning Skills'; they are graded on their performance with these skills twice quarterly (before and after the Progress Report.) I finalize these CLS assessments just before the Progress Report and Report Card window closes, but I keep an ongoing checklist of infractions daily. CLS include basic but important rules, procedures, and skills that are important for a productive and safe learning environment, including my classroom and the hallway. All students will get 100 points on this assessment to start, but it is up to them to maintain those points throughout the quarter. Infractions cost them 5 points each.

If you do not receive the 2 handouts from your child, they are accessible through the link on this page, "Handouts for Parents".

Homework #1 will be distributed as usual this week on Thursday and Friday; it is due next week in their next class (Monday or Tuesday.)

Quiz #1 will be Tuesday and Wednesday in Week 2, probably. It will cover basic orientation information and material from the handouts on the first day of class. We have 5 quizzes; the first is the easiest, and the last is the final and most difficult (Excel spreadsheets).

Mr. Read

Computer Technology Concepts

Week 2 (April 20, 2015)

All classes are underway successfully! Parents: ask you child for the 2 handouts that I gave them in their first class (Orientation) last week. They are intended to inform you, and the student, of my agenda and expectations for this Quarter.

We have begun note-taking for Paper #1. There will be 4 sessions of notes, and then students will summarize their notes in a 5 paragraph summary. I will get them started with directions and a demonstration when they begin their summary, probably at the start of Week 3. I will allow students to bring notes from home, optionally, but they must be hand-written only. I want students to read, write, and comprehend content as much as possible.

Copying/pasting text from the web or printing web articles to use as notes or a summary does not support the objective of this paper nor others. Please discourage this practice for my course and all subjects.

Homework 1 was distributed on Thursday/Friday of Week 1; it is due this week on Monday/Tuesday. This is my typical schedule for homework. Students may use any resource for homework material. For more details, read the Homework section above.

There may be 'notes' that I add to the scoring of assignments. These are, sometimes, explanations of problems with behavior that need your immediate attention. Classroom misbehavior adversely affects my teaching and the ability of other students to learn. If you have questions, please contact me.

Mr. Dennis Read, Computer Technology Concepts

Week 3 (April 27, 2015)

Quiz 2 is Monday/Tuesday this week. It includes questions about MS Word/word processing and basic grammar. See the Study Guide under Favorite Links in this article, if needed.

(Also, if you did not receive Handouts (2) from your child, see the Handouts link, as well.)

Students will be drafting their summary and proofreading this week. I am allowing extra notes from home to be used this week, if needed. This is optional and intended to help, of course, students who have been absent or do not have sufficient material for their summary. They must be hand-written, not printed from a computer or website. The purpose here is to encourage reading comprehension and writing, and hand-written notes support that. The finished paper will be graded with a Peer Evaluation tool under my supervision and guidance.

Read my Notice above, please. Poor student behavior is apparent in some classes and disrupting the positive flow of teaching and learning. In my class, students who do not comply with classroom rules and Ogle/PGCPS Student Code of Conduct lose their seats. It will be very difficult to succeed in this course without the use of a computer.

Homework is distributed each Thursday/Friday; it's due date is the following Monday/Tuesday, depending on the A/B schedule. Homework 2 was distributed April 23/24. If you see a '0' for any homework, your child did not return their homework. See my Homework policy above, please for more details.

Mr. Dennis Read, Computer Technology Concepts

Week 4 (May 4, 2015)

We will be finished with proofreading Paper 1 on Monday for A day, and then we will grade this paper with a Peer Evaluation tool on Tuesday and Wednesday for all classes. You can view this tool in the Classwork folder on these pages.

Quiz 3 will be given this week; it is an internet research and reading quiz with questions about grade level Social Studies topics. I do not use search engines (Google, etc.); instead, I assign articles to read in class for information.

The Progress Report window opens May 11 for teachers; for me, this will include all graded work through May 8. Students may return late Homework to avoid '0's by May 8.

Mr. Dennis Read, Computer Technology Concepts

Week 5 (May 11, 2015)

The Progress Report window opens May 11 for all teachers. Please keep in mind that the report that you get on paper in a couple of weeks is likely different than the real-time grades in SchoolMax. SchoolMax has the latest information; while the Progress Report is a 'snapshot' of performance, teacher comments are especially important for you to read.

The second half of my course is more challenging than the first half. At the moment, we are writing our 2nd paper; it's not an essay but a pictureboard document in a Word table. Still, students will be researching their topic and reading/writing informative text.

We will spend about 3 or 4 classes on this paper and then begin Excel spreadsheets and remain on math computations for about 2 weeks. If you are familiar with Excel or any spreadsheet application, give your student some home tutorials to help them along prior to me covering the material in class.

Many students are struggling with typing lessons. Despite my advice (and warnings), some students have advanced themselves to the Intermediate level prematurely. This often happens when students look at the keyboard and/or do not use the Homerow properly. Their scores, of course, suffer because their skills are not commensurate with the demands of the Intermediate lessons.

When I recognize this problem, I reset the lessons to Beginner for the under-performing student. However, I only do this once. They always have the ability to retake earlier lessons in the program to improve their skills. I would advise that if you see scores in the 70's or less that you find a free, web-based typing program for your child to use at home. We use Mavis Beacon in class, but any program will help.

Mr. Dennis Read, Computer Technology Concepts

Week 6 (May 18, 2015)

We will finish Paper 2 (Pictureboard) on Monday and grade it through peer-evaluation on Tuesday and Wednesday. I expect to be able to provide some final 'bonus time' for finishing touches before assessment on these days. You can view the peer evaluation tool in my classwork folder, here, under Favorite Links.

We will be starting Excel spreadsheets no later than Thursday this week. Homework 6 will go home on Thursday/Friday, and it has a vocabulary list with definitions included. Consider this the Study Guide for Quiz 4 which will be administered on Tueday/Wednesday of the following week (Monday is Memorial Day holiday.) NOTE: If your child is absent (Thurs/Fri) and does not receive Homework 6 with the study guide, have them review the terms/definitions over the weekend (See Homework folder, below) in order to prepare for Quiz 4. All Homework is included in my Classwork folder, here, under Favorite Links.

If you have experience with Excel, share your knowledge with your child in advance of my instruction. We will be sorting data, writing math formulas, and graphing (charting). Basic formulas will be covered (+, -, /, *).

Progress Reports were submitted by Wednesday in week 5. Remember, I accept late homework for a score of 50. I will announce a deadline for late work soon; tentatively, it looks like June 12

Mr. Dennis Read, Computer Technology Concepts

Week 7 (May 25)

School is closed on Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day Holiday.

Quiz 4 will be given on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. It is an Excel vocabulary quiz based on the words and definitions that I provided on Homework 6. Students will match words with definitions. If your child did not get Homework 6 due to an absence, then use my Homework folder in this section to reprint the homework and study guide (attached to the homework.)

We will be using Excel spreadsheets for week 7 and 8; material will include data entry, sorting, writing formulas, and graphing (charting.) If you know anything about spreadsheets, you may want to share your expertise with your child. The final quiz, #5, will also be an Excel quiz that covers all of the material I just listed. Expect that quiz in about 2 weeks but before June 12. I will announce a definitive date soon; interruptions in the schedule may change that date beyond June 12.

Cheating is unacceptable behavior; it is a poor decision for any student to make at any time for any assignment. It may be a one-time occurence or repeated behavior, but it is never considered honorable. There are likely many motivations for cheating, ranging from laziness to desperation to lack of fear from being caught. Some students who cheat may believe that cheating is, in fact, only a problem if they do get caught. Not getting caught, for some, may be reinforcement to continue this dishonorable behavior.

Teachers and parents have an obligation to identify and correct cheating if it is detected. It is our duty to teach our children well and mold a code of honorable conduct for them to live by. For their part, they either make good decisions or bad decisions. In my course, cheating always = 0, just as-if the work was never done.

The PGCPS Student Code of Conduct defines cheating as "providing, receiving, or viewing answers to quiz or test items or independent assignments." Homework is not a group activity. Therefore, we must remember that our cheaters on Homework 5 who copied answers were provided the opportunity by others who shared their completed work. More students are guilty than just those who were caught with completely wrong answers. Of course, some cheaters copied from and onto identical homework - this cannot be detected by me.

Grades for Homework 5 will stand in Schoolmax as-entered.

I administered Quiz HW5 to all students on Thursday and Friday, May 21/22. It is the exact same material as Homework 5. Because it is a quiz, it counts as 20% (Homework is 10%). For students who scored an honest 90 or 100% on Homework 5, this quiz will be beneficial; for students who cheated on Homework 5, this quiz may be a problem.

Or, it is possible that everyone will do well on this simple work, especially those who think that cheating is beneficial in some way. Perhaps a good score on Quiz HW5 - under my supervision - will prove to them that you never know what you can do until you try.

I will return both Homework 5 and Quiz HW5 together once Quiz HW5 is graded. Compare the grades and make your own conclusions.

Let me be clear: there are only a handful of students in this episode that I can confirm as cheating on this homework and I will address them directly. My purpose here is to keep all parents informed. If you have not seen a specific note in schoolmax about your child, then all is well.

Mr. Dennis Read, Computer Technology Concepts

Week 8 (June 1)

Homework 7 was distributed last Thursday/Friday, as usual. We only have 1 scheduled Homework assignment left, so be sure to remind your children to complete and return all homework, even if it is late. The last day that I will be accepting late homework is June 12, Friday.

We are currently using Excel spreadsheets for writing formulas, calculating, and sorting data. We will be graphing data soon. I expect our final Excel quiz to be in Week 10, and students are allowed to use their computer and all classwork to assist themselves, if needed.

When we are finished with Excel we will use PowerPoint to make a slide presentation summary of our Social Studies research. This project may not be graded if we do not have to complete it. Students may save all of their classroom work for the quarter to a flash drive at the end of the quarter, if they choose.

Mr. Dennis Read, Computer Technology Concepts

Week 9 (June 8)

Quiz 5 is Monday and Tuesday this week. It is a comprehensive exam of all of the Excel material that we have covering for the past 2 weeks. While it is the most challenging of all of my quizzes, I do allow students to use their computer and relevant Excel classwork files during the exam as a reference and resource.

My last homework assignment, #8, was distributed on Thursday/Friday last week. As stated at the top of these pages, the very last day that I am accepting late homework is this Friday, June 12. I have been lenient with homework return thus far, but as the quarter ends I need to draw assignments to a close. June 12 is the final day for homework return.

We will be using PowerPoint this week to create a slide presentation of our research findings. Students may bring a flash drive, optionally, to save their Classwork folder and all files before the Quarter ends.

Mr. Dennis Read, Computer Technology Concepts

Week 10 (June 15)

Students are ending this quarter with a PowerPoint project. I doubt that we will have enough time to complete this project - there are only 2 or 3 classes this week for Creative Arts classes. However, I expect to have many students present progress of their work on the final days of class, June 22 and 23. These will be short classes due to the early dismissal each day.

For students who do finish this project and if they are close to the next letter grade, I will offer to grade their work. This is optional, but the grade will count if they ask me to grade it. Of course, a less-than-expected grade on this project is possible, too. I am more interested in students gaininig experience with PowerPoint than I am with pressuring students to rush through a project at this time.

This project must be done in class, like all Classwork.

Otherwise, there will be 2 more grades entered this week: 1 typing grade and a final Classroom Learning Skills grade. The grading window opens June 18 and closes June 23.

Thank-you for letting me teach your children this quarter. Have a wonderful summer!

Mr. Dennis Read

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