This assignment will give you practice using an RSS reader.
You will need a Google account for this assignment. If you do not already have one, create an account at google.com.
Once you have an account, subscribe to our class blog (http://cis471.blogspot.com). Go to the blog and click on "Subscribe to this blog by RSS" in the right hand column. Select "Subscribe to this blog using Google." You will be taken to Google where you can confirm the request. (Be sure to select the option to "Add to Google Reader", not "Add to Google Homepage").
When you have completed the subscription, print out your Google Reader page showing it to turn in.
(Be sure the list of subscriptions is showing in the left hand column of the screen. If it is not, click on the right-arrow/triangle to open the list).
Check your Google Reader daily for at least two weeks, starring any items you consider noteworthy.
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Showing posts with label blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog. Show all posts
Monday, November 1, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Subscribe to the class blog by email
This assignment illustrates the idea of subscription or notification of an event, in this case, new posts on our class blog.
Subscribe to our class blog via email by clicking on the link at the top of the right hand column (Follow by Email).
Don't forget to respond to the verification request to confirm your subscription.
Print the subscription confirmation to turn in.
Link to topic module
Subscribe to our class blog via email by clicking on the link at the top of the right hand column (Follow by Email).
Don't forget to respond to the verification request to confirm your subscription.
Print the subscription confirmation to turn in.
Link to topic module
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Image processing practice
This assignment will give you practice with image processing. Your assignment is to modify the three images shown below. (You can get full-size copies of the images by clicking on them, then right-clicking to save the full-size image or copy and paste it directly into your image editor). Think about how you will approach each task before doing it and be sure not to distort the images.
Remove the last sentence from this image:
Shorten the window in this image so there is only about half an inch of white space between the words and the bottom of the window (retain the frame, page number, etc. at the bottom). Make sure the appearance and size of the words remain the same and also erase the black dash under the "T" in the word "This."
Remove both of the oarlocks (the u-shaped hardware that holds the oars when you are rowing) from the boat in this image:
Post the before and after of the three images on your blog.Print and turn in the blog post.
Remove the last sentence from this image:
Shorten the window in this image so there is only about half an inch of white space between the words and the bottom of the window (retain the frame, page number, etc. at the bottom). Make sure the appearance and size of the words remain the same and also erase the black dash under the "T" in the word "This."
Remove both of the oarlocks (the u-shaped hardware that holds the oars when you are rowing) from the boat in this image:
Post the before and after of the three images on your blog.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Make and post a square thumbnail picture of yourself
Prepare a 250 by 250 pixel, closely cropped image of your face. (I will check the size).
Be careful not to distort the shape of your face -- the final result will have an aspect ratio of 1:1. You will probably have to crop your photo in order to make it square. That will leave a square image, which can be re-sized to 250 by 250 and saved.
(Hint: The "Rectangular Select" tool has a "Fixed Ratio" option).
Focus on your face, and crop out most of the background. Feel free to cut off part of your hair, one of your ears, etc., for example:
Adjust the contrast and color so that it looks good on the screen.
When you are pleased with the image, post a copy of it and a copy of the picture you started with on your blog. Give it the label "Asst. 18".
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Be careful not to distort the shape of your face -- the final result will have an aspect ratio of 1:1. You will probably have to crop your photo in order to make it square. That will leave a square image, which can be re-sized to 250 by 250 and saved.
(Hint: The "Rectangular Select" tool has a "Fixed Ratio" option).
Focus on your face, and crop out most of the background. Feel free to cut off part of your hair, one of your ears, etc., for example:
Adjust the contrast and color so that it looks good on the screen.
When you are pleased with the image, post a copy of it and a copy of the picture you started with on your blog. Give it the label "Asst. 18".
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Friday, September 17, 2010
Modify a blog
This assignment tests your understanding of modifying the layout and style of a blog.
Add Profile and Link List gadgets to your blog, as shown in this example blog.
Note that in the example there is a link to my profile, but my profile itself does not appear.
Blogger will find and use your Google Plus profile if you used the same account for Google Plus and Blogger.
Note also that the helpful links are to our class roster, class home page and professor's home page.
Don't forget to test the links to your profile and the helpful links to be sure they work.
Print and turn in a screen shot of the blog with the helpful links and profile gadgets.
Next change the your blog template and answer these questions:
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Prerequisite assignment
Add Profile and Link List gadgets to your blog, as shown in this example blog.
Note that in the example there is a link to my profile, but my profile itself does not appear.
Blogger will find and use your Google Plus profile if you used the same account for Google Plus and Blogger.
Don't forget to test the links to your profile and the helpful links to be sure they work.
Print and turn in a screen shot of the blog with the helpful links and profile gadgets.
Next change the your blog template and answer these questions:
- Did changing the template change the appearance of your blog?
- Did changing the template change the content of your blog?
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Prerequisite assignment
Describe a blog post
This assignment will familiarize you with blog-search and give you practice writing a short blog post.
Using the search box, labels or just browsing, find a post on our class blog that you find interesting then write a post on your blog describing it.
The title of your post should be the same as the title of the post you chose.
The body of your post should be a description of the post you chose -- saying 1. what it is about, 2. why you selected it and 3. where it fits in our class outline.
Also, include a link to the post you chose -- be sure to make it a "hot" link since I will test it.
Print a copy of your blog post to turn in.
Note that you cannot complete this assignment if you have not created a blog. If you tried but couldn't, get help. (Remember that it's not knowing the right answer -- it's knowing how to get it).
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Using the search box, labels or just browsing, find a post on our class blog that you find interesting then write a post on your blog describing it.
The title of your post should be the same as the title of the post you chose.
The body of your post should be a description of the post you chose -- saying 1. what it is about, 2. why you selected it and 3. where it fits in our class outline.
Also, include a link to the post you chose -- be sure to make it a "hot" link since I will test it.
Print a copy of your blog post to turn in.
Note that you cannot complete this assignment if you have not created a blog. If you tried but couldn't, get help. (Remember that it's not knowing the right answer -- it's knowing how to get it).
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Write a blog post
This will familiarize you with blog search and posting, and practice writing a short document.
Using the search box or labels, find a post that you find interesting on our class blog. Write a short description of it and post the description on your blog.
You should summarize the post in the first sentence -- to get the reader interested -- then go on to say more about what the post said, why you chose it, and where it fits in our class outline. Be sure to include a ckickable link to the post itself in your post. That way, an interested reader can refer back to the original.
Print a copy the description on your blog to turn in. Be sure to follow format I outlined above.
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Using the search box or labels, find a post that you find interesting on our class blog. Write a short description of it and post the description on your blog.
You should summarize the post in the first sentence -- to get the reader interested -- then go on to say more about what the post said, why you chose it, and where it fits in our class outline. Be sure to include a ckickable link to the post itself in your post. That way, an interested reader can refer back to the original.
Print a copy the description on your blog to turn in. Be sure to follow format I outlined above.
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Create a blog
This assignment will familiarize you with blog creation using Blogger.
Go to www.blogger.com and create a blog. (You will need to create a Google account if you don't already have one).
Pick the Simple template so all of our blogs will have the same look and feel.
When you create your blog, it will have "about me" and "useful links" in the right hand column. Delete them for now. (We will add some back later).
Also set the blog title to your name and give it the description line "This is my class blog."
When you have it set up, add your first post.
Your first post should give our definition of digital literacy: "Digital literacy consists of the skills and concepts a student needs for success in school and after graduation as a professional and citizen."
When you are finished, it should look like this, but with your name, not mine. If it does not look exactly like mine, fix it.
Print and turn in a screen shot showing your blog.
Link to topic module.
Go to www.blogger.com and create a blog. (You will need to create a Google account if you don't already have one).
Pick the Simple template so all of our blogs will have the same look and feel.
When you create your blog, it will have "about me" and "useful links" in the right hand column. Delete them for now. (We will add some back later).
Also set the blog title to your name and give it the description line "This is my class blog."
When you have it set up, add your first post.
Your first post should give our definition of digital literacy: "Digital literacy consists of the skills and concepts a student needs for success in school and after graduation as a professional and citizen."
When you are finished, it should look like this, but with your name, not mine. If it does not look exactly like mine, fix it.
Print and turn in a screen shot showing your blog.
Link to topic module.
Familiarity with a blog
This assignment will test your understanding of what a blog is and give you a little practice navigating our class blog.
Answer questions 1, 2, 10, 12 and 13 at the end of the What is Web log (blog) PowerPoint presentation. Print your answers and turn them in.
Link to topic module.
Answer questions 1, 2, 10, 12 and 13 at the end of the What is Web log (blog) PowerPoint presentation. Print your answers and turn them in.
Link to topic module.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Conversation using a blog comment
This assignment will give you practice with conversational writing.
You will be posting a comment on a blog. Find a blog on a topic where you have some knowledge and opinions -- look for a blog that you would like to subscribe to and continue following. It can be on any topic, not necessarily related to our class -- perhaps sports, music, cooking, the stock market, etc. -- whatever interests you.
Read the current and recent posts on the blog, and post a comment on one of them. Your comment should be relevant to the particular post you selected, and must contain at least one quote from that post.
Remember that you are conversing with the person who wrote the blog post -- you might want to ask him or her a question, disagree with something they said, add something they overlooked, etc. Think of it as conversing with your keyboard.
Print out a copy of the original post and your comment showing the quote to turn in.
If the blog owner replies to your comment, print that out as well and you will get extra credit for the assignment. Similarly, if you send them an email and they reply, print the exchange out and you will get extra credit.
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
You will be posting a comment on a blog. Find a blog on a topic where you have some knowledge and opinions -- look for a blog that you would like to subscribe to and continue following. It can be on any topic, not necessarily related to our class -- perhaps sports, music, cooking, the stock market, etc. -- whatever interests you.
Read the current and recent posts on the blog, and post a comment on one of them. Your comment should be relevant to the particular post you selected, and must contain at least one quote from that post.
Remember that you are conversing with the person who wrote the blog post -- you might want to ask him or her a question, disagree with something they said, add something they overlooked, etc. Think of it as conversing with your keyboard.
Print out a copy of the original post and your comment showing the quote to turn in.
If the blog owner replies to your comment, print that out as well and you will get extra credit for the assignment. Similarly, if you send them an email and they reply, print the exchange out and you will get extra credit.
Link to topic module
Link to topic module
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Blogger
This assignment is a review of your understanding of Blogger and setting up an account.
Answer questions 1, 2 and 4 at the end of the Blogger PowerPoint presentation. Be sure your answers are clearly written -- don't turn in the first draft.
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