PhotoShop meets Graduation Project

Now that you've selected your Graduation Project topic - what images come to mind when you think of your topic? An effective way of begin your research is by designing a collage that represents images that relate to your topic. When you are done, upload your collage to your blog. (It must be saved as a .jpg or .gif)
Requirements:

• A collage of images
• 800 x 600
• In color
• Text is allowed but it should not over-power or be larger than the images
• “Bells and whistles” – put all of your skills to work, be as creative as you can
• Typos/spelling errors = Failing Grade

Rubric:

• Readability: Be creative with your graphics, but make sure your fonts, word art, and positioning of the text do not make the text hard to read.
• Use of color: Make sure that you can see/read the text clearly. Do your pictures make a visual statement?
• Spelling and Grammar: You should have absolutely no errors on this sign! Grammar or spelling mistakes will make your sign unacceptable.
• Relationship to research: Are your pictures appropriate for your topic?
• Appropriate size: Your size must be 81/2 x 11.
• Visual appeal: Your sign must be appealing and readable from a distance.
• General neatness and skill level: Your sign should look like you spent some time on it. It should be visually appealing.
• Use of space on the page: Your sign should fill up the page. Make use of the space available to you.
• Overall creativity: Did you go out of your way to find interesting graphics? Have you created a sign that stands out from your peers, either through the artwork or through your master of computer skills?
  

Next Steps

3 things are due on Friday, January 16th (or Tuesday January 20th if no school on Friday) on a Microsoft Word document:

1. identified topic
2. Essential Project Question
3. First 10 web sites which will offer background information (this should be a list of web titles that are hyperlinked

Next step: Start getting an understanding of your topic - Read through the websites you've collected

Graduation Project Key Terms:

• Generate a list of 10-15 key terms that have to do with your graduation project.
• These terms could be important words necessary for a full understanding of your topic, unfamiliar terms that are part of a special vocabulary, and/or jargon/specialized terminology related to your topic.
• Write a complete definition for each of your terms.
• Post the list of words/definitions to your blog - (Add a gadget)

Foundation Questions - question your topic and your essential question - what questions do you need to ask to help you answer your Essential Question? Try starting with a simple 'What is....? question. You need to develop about 10 Foundation Questions.

Do's and Don'ts of Blogging!!

Just a reminder about the following blogging guidelines as you begin updating your blogs:
1. Update your blog at least every day in class, but you are encouraged to update on the weekends as necessary.

2. Your blog should be a log or diary of anything having to do with your graduation project. You can post about:

• your activities in class (what did you do in class today?)


• any websites visited, articles read, etc. (give titles, urls, etc.)


• contacts spoken with or emailed


• problems faced


• next steps


• progress made towards your weekly To-Do List

3. Remember that although blogs are not as formal as a final paper or proposal, you should still write using your best grammar and spelling.
4. This is not a personal blog, but one meant to record your progress on the graduation project. Any inappropriate content, images or text placed on your blog will result in a failing grade.5. Always read comments posted to your blog, as I will be keeping tabs on your progress and answering questions that you may have through this method.

Projects to read about... What did they do?

Read the 3 articles listed below, and as you read, look for details to help you answer the following questions:

• List the project requirements that the students mentioned in these articles had to meet. Compare them to our project.


• How have the students taken their projects beyond the “research” component to become actively involved?


• Focus on one project from the articles – “brainstorm” a list of the various steps/components that the student probably had to complete to reach the point of presentation.


• There are many ideas/concepts conveyed in these articles, which ideas are offered might help your thinking and/or planning of your project?


• Refer to the handouts in your folder to help you.


• Post your responses and comments to these articles on the class blog in complete sentences and paragraphs – consider using Microsoft Word to help you correct your spelling/grammar.

1. “Weldon seniors shine for judges - give project presentations” http://www.rrdailyherald.com/articles/2004/12/10/news/news01.txt


2. “Senior projects open windows” http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?issue_date=12-10-2004&ID=200411388


3. “A Passion for Projects: Students Have a Voice -- and a Choice” http://www.edutopia.org/passion-for-projects-students-have-voice-and-choice
   

Blogging in Class???

Welcome to the City High Class of 2010 (Trimester 2) Graduation Project Blog!

Before you get started, you should learn something about this blogging business.

1. Read the New York Times article about blogging, "For Some, the Blogging Never Stops".

2. With the person next to you, answer the following 8 questions on a separate word document. Answer in complete sentences.

• What is blogging, according to the article?

• How many blogs has the blog-tracking company, Technorati, counted?


• What percentage of online users uses blogs, according to Jupiter Research?


• What reason does Richard Wiggins give for writing blogs?


• How does Scott Lederer justify the time he spends blogging?


• What does Jeff Jarvis mean by "the obligation to blog"?


• According to Barabara Quint, what is it about blogging that makes it more attractive than cash?


• What are some of the pitfalls to frequent blogging?

3. Independently: Answer the following questions and post them as comments to this post:

• Do you think constant blogging indicates signs of an unhealthy obsession or a harmless, spirited pastime? Why?


• What makes another person's blog worth reading?


• By what "rules" do you think fellow bloggers should abide, and why?