HTML Vocab
HTML - Hyper Text Markup Language
http:// - Hyper Text Transfer Protocol
URL - Universal Resource Locator
<> - HTML Tags
/ - Forward Slash - Wack
\ - Back Slash - Back
Web Hosting - Wix, Weebly
Domain - Go Daddy
Keyboarding with Mr. York
This is a brief summary of how keyboarding is taught at the middle school level and some ideas for elementary school teachers. Through understanding of keyboarding theory it is my hope that all teachers will be able to be more effective as they develop their own programs for keyboarding that are more germane to their grade level.
On the first day of class students are given a computer based timed writing test that tests letters only and capitalization (no symbols or numbers other than period or comma). The keyboards are covered using Protect Computer Products Keyboard Typing Tutor. These covers stay on for the duration of the class. These covers help students to keyboard more efficiently by removing the temptation to look at their hands. Students tend to struggle most with: learning how to use two hands to type capital letters, and sometimes with which fingers type which keys.
Learning to keyboard is a skill that takes practice. Some students will be faster than others, but in order to keyboard by touch ALL students will have to memorize the keyboard and which finger types which key. Students should practice at home and keep their hands at home row whenever keyboarding any assignments. There are several games and lessons online to help students with extra practice. Here is one that uses the most successful method, which is to learn the home row first and all other letters in relation to home row.
If you can already hunt and peck 30 WAM, you can probably keyboard by touch 60 if you would just try to keyboard correctly. The problem with hunt and peck typists is that they never get any faster and usually plateau at a level that is below the standard for middle school. Not using all your fingers also tends to put extra stress on just a few fingers and can lead to repetitive stress injuries.
If you can already keyboard by touch at a proficient rate then alternative assignments can be given. There is no reason to force a student that is proficient to continue with exercises that would be redundant and the coolest part about Computer Literacy is that there is always something new to learn.
On the first day of class students are given a computer based timed writing test that tests letters only and capitalization (no symbols or numbers other than period or comma). The keyboards are covered using Protect Computer Products Keyboard Typing Tutor. These covers stay on for the duration of the class. These covers help students to keyboard more efficiently by removing the temptation to look at their hands. Students tend to struggle most with: learning how to use two hands to type capital letters, and sometimes with which fingers type which keys.
Learning to keyboard is a skill that takes practice. Some students will be faster than others, but in order to keyboard by touch ALL students will have to memorize the keyboard and which finger types which key. Students should practice at home and keep their hands at home row whenever keyboarding any assignments. There are several games and lessons online to help students with extra practice. Here is one that uses the most successful method, which is to learn the home row first and all other letters in relation to home row.
If you can already hunt and peck 30 WAM, you can probably keyboard by touch 60 if you would just try to keyboard correctly. The problem with hunt and peck typists is that they never get any faster and usually plateau at a level that is below the standard for middle school. Not using all your fingers also tends to put extra stress on just a few fingers and can lead to repetitive stress injuries.
If you can already keyboard by touch at a proficient rate then alternative assignments can be given. There is no reason to force a student that is proficient to continue with exercises that would be redundant and the coolest part about Computer Literacy is that there is always something new to learn.
Resources for Keyboarding
I give all students the Keyboarding Hands sheet when they first come to my class in order to make sure that they understand which finger is supposed to type which key and why. I have them color the keyboard by section with 8 different colors. All students should be able to keyboard the letters in their own name with the correct fingers.
******Middle school students should be able to key their own name correctly, without making any mistakes, in approximately five seconds, without looking, by the third week of instruction. *******
The Key Test is given on the very first day and again during the fourth week of instruction in order to track improvement. The first test does not count as a grade but the second one does.
The Hands Test is given during the 6th week of instruction or after Lesson 7 when all the letters of the keyboard have been learned.
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Keyboarding Hands
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Key Test
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Hands Test
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Computer Literacy Notes
Click Here to view the presentation. Pause as you need to in order to complete the worksheet.
Computer Literacy Assignments
CODING - There has been a lot of discussion regarding coding recently. In order to actually write code programmers need a basic understanding of logic functions and the rules of file structure that one learns when studying a language such as C# and working with Microsoft Visual Studio which allows for actual deployment of a program. HTML is one of the easiest forms of non-logic based programming and where many programmers start. More advanced programmers can also work in Java.
A few years ago Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg produced a video to try and increase the workforce for their companies by trying to convince everyone that all children should be coding, and then came up with some games that were supposed to help with this but do not teach actual coding, only the theoretical concept of it. Students can hit a button to uncover the actual coding but it does very little to help someone understand how to use those codes to create anything. The games and resources are available at www.code.org and anyone can visit and play around with the resources. For those that are interested there are also links to learning more advanced languages such as C and C++. I show my students the video and teach everyone the concept of coding in HTML so that they might learn something that is actually applicable. However, as I explain to my students, in order to deploy a website using HTML you still need someone to host your website and building sites, such as the one you are reading right now, is even easier to do without the use of any coding whatsoever.
A few years ago Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg produced a video to try and increase the workforce for their companies by trying to convince everyone that all children should be coding, and then came up with some games that were supposed to help with this but do not teach actual coding, only the theoretical concept of it. Students can hit a button to uncover the actual coding but it does very little to help someone understand how to use those codes to create anything. The games and resources are available at www.code.org and anyone can visit and play around with the resources. For those that are interested there are also links to learning more advanced languages such as C and C++. I show my students the video and teach everyone the concept of coding in HTML so that they might learn something that is actually applicable. However, as I explain to my students, in order to deploy a website using HTML you still need someone to host your website and building sites, such as the one you are reading right now, is even easier to do without the use of any coding whatsoever.
LOGO - Design three different logos in one document using WordArt, ClipArt and Drawing Tools/AutoShapes. The first logo should include your full name (first and last) and clipart that says something about you on top of a background shape or design that ties the text and clipart together. The second should be a Fake Business and the third should be an original band name. The second and third logos should include clipart and coloring choices that convey something about the kind of business and the kind of music that the logos are for.
Logo Assignment Example.
In order to highlight two non-contiguous cells in Excel you have to use the Control Key on your keyboard
Remember to be like Janet Jackson and always be in Controoooool! |
KEYBOARDING
Learning to keyboard by touch is a huge part of this course and requires focus and self-discipline. The first six weeks of this course will focus on learning the keyboard and practicing to keyboard by touch almost exclusively . The keyboarding lessons 1-12 will guide students through memorizing the keyboard. Other assignments that help students understand how to use various aspects of Word, PowerPoint and Excel will be peppered throughout the lessons in order to keep the keyboarding from becoming trite. If students can actually keyboard by touch correctly then lessons can be modified and alternative assignments given. Out of 360 students seen each year there is usually at least one student each semester that can already keyboard correctly. The vast majority of students enter my class keyboarding approximately 5 words a minute. Until this begins to change I will continue to teach keyboarding. Due to our efforts the high school stopped teaching keyboarding four years ago. Keyboarding Lessons 1-12 Drawing Tools - Exploring Autoshapes in Word Name - using Autoshapes to spell first and last name Dream house - Using the drawing tools in Word to create a floor plan of a dream house Logos - Design three different logos in one document using WordArt, ClipArt and Drawing Tools. The first logo should include your full name (first and last) and clipart that says something about you. The second should be a Fake Business and the third should be an original band name. The second and third logos should include clipart and coloring choices that convey something about the kind of business and the kind of music that the logos are for. Skillbuilder - After Keyboarding Lesson 7, students will complete a worksheet that uses all the letters of the keyboard. This assignment consists of 28 lines of text and is worth 14 points. Three Paragraphs - As part of our lesson on Composing at the Keyboard in order to increase keyboarding speed, students will write three paragraphs (5-7 sentences each) that describe a real or fictitious vacation. The following projects out of the text book MUST be completed in class and help students to quickly synthesize computer documentation, become quicker and more efficient at following directions, and prepare students for the comprehensive final exam. Excel Projects - Food, Planets, 2-4, 7, 9-13, 15, 19 Skills taught - Fill Commands, Selecting Non-Contiguous Cells, Merging and Formatting Cell Functions, Using Row and Column Headings, Word Wrap, Formulas, Charts, Absolute Reference Formulas, Percentages, Auto Functions, Formatting and Basic Payroll Word Projects - 1-6, 8-12, 14-18, 22B, 29, 30, 34, 36 Skills Taught - Manipulating Images, Symbols and Bulleted Lists, Custom Margins, Header and Footer Control, Inserting Text Boxes, WordArt, Autoshapes and Drawing Tools, Tabs, Spacing and Paragraph Formatting, Various Text Breaks, Page Borders and Shading, Tables, Alignment, Effects, Mailings, Professional Letter Writing, and Format Painting PPT Autobiographical Presentation, Post Production Photo Editing Publisher Greeting Cards, Newsletters, Business Cards, and Flyers TESTING Key Test - The first day of class students will be given a blank keyboard and asked to fill it in. This will appear in the gradebook as Key Test. The first one will not count but the second test will. It will be given in the 4th Week of the semester. Some memory tricks will be taught in the class but if students are practicing in class without looking at their hands as they are supposed to then they should not have any problem with this test and may even not have to study. Hands Test - This test requires students to know which finger types which keys. This test will be given in the 6th week of the semester. Midterm Exam - A 36 point, multiple choice, midterm exam will be given that covers the four part series of lectures presented in the first half of the class on how to purchase a computer as well as some questions about desktop publishing, hardware and software. Charter Oak High School Computer Literacy Practicum Semester Final Exam- There is currently not a way to test out of the Charter Oak High School Computer Literacy Requirement. The test that was developed for this purpose, but is no longer in use, now appears in a modified form, as a comprehensive final exam at the end of this course. It consists of five projects that are administered over the course of two class periods and covers the aspects of Word, Excel and PowerPoint explored during this class. It is extremely difficult to score well on this 100 point exam without being able to keyboard at a proficient rate simply because of the time limit and the volume of work required. Everything taught in class is in some way related to the preparation of students for this final. |