CMS Computers 700

However, make sure to check TeacherEase.

Quite a few of you are close to or have finished lesson 16 in MT4. Great work!

Today we made good progress in MT4. Keep going. We're almost there!

Make sure you keep track of this and other classes on Teacherease.

The Homework Link page will have links and files you need to complete any assignments for this class.

The Videos page is under construction. I'm hoping to get videos we use in class on that page soon.

Be sure to check out Mrs. Whiteman's funny (because she's funny) comment on the "I'm here. You're there." post from 9/17.

In a sentence or two, somebody please explain to Mrs. Whiteman what a blog is. (I know you get it, Mrs. W. I'd just like see how we explain it.) If you need help explaining it, refresh your memory by watching the Commoncraft blog video at http://www.commoncraft.com/blogs. Then use your own words to explain.

We're still in MT4 today. Again, many of you are making excellent progress. Some of you need to use extra time to get caught up.

The comments about the skins keep on coming. I know they're not the most popular thing ever. Some people have asked about why we use them or are saying that they are pointless. It's still ok to dislike them, but I'll tell you why we use them. Anybody who has ever taught keyboarding can tell you that you can't learn to type at any decent speed if you are looking at the keys while you learn/practice. Here's a great example...

Last year, we started MT4 after ordering the skins but before they arrived. People were getting really, really good gwam scores. When the skins arrived, we put them on, and everyone's gwams dropped by about half. This showed us that when you're learning to keyboard, no matter how hard you try not to look, you always end up looking.

Yes, you will type more slowly at first when you can't see the keys, but if you are able to look at them while learning you will never become as fast and accurate as you can if you learn without looking. Being forced not to look forces you to memorize the keys.

Does that mean you have to love the skins...no, but they will make you a better keyboarder.

For those of you who do not have Mr. Pennington and are wondering who Mr. Holman is (He commented on one of our blog posts.), he's a social studies teacher at Beachwood City Schools. He and Mr. P do a lot of work together.

Hello everybody. Hope you're enjoying your Friday and getting lots done in MT4. Remember I need a good report from your sub...a bonus sit-where-you-want day is on the line next week.

I'm at a meeting learning about all kinds of great technologies to share with you this semester.

You should be at least in lesson 7 today. Those of you who are done, please make sure you post a comment on one or more of the blog topics.

Have a great weekend.

Great job!

Everyone else, keep up your hard work. We're getting there.

Today is a MicroType day. Hooray.

Many of you have commented on the tiny font that appears when you type a comment on the blog. Yes, it is small and hard to read. I'm going to see if there's anything that can be done about it.

More MT4 today. I feel your pain about the skins. The first time I took typing was in high school, and I did not like it one bit and was sure it was a skill I would never need. I must say that now I'm very glad I had to do it, because many of you have seen me type and know that I'm amazing! =) Just kidding...it may be hard to believe now, but you will be glad you did it. I wish I had  been forced to take piano lessons, too, so now I'd know how to play the piano.

We watched the video Blogs in Plain English by commoncraft and discussed the difference between news delivery in the 20 and 21st centuries. The 20th century saw mostly one-way delivery of news by newspapers, TV, radio, and magazines. Now, with blogs and other online media, we can share and exchange information with each other and with people we've never met.