G9 Tech Class #10

Today we will start working on Plan!

The main idea in the Plan stage is that you can organize yourselves on what will be done (building your bridge!), when and with what resources. The Plan stage needs to:

1. make a detailed step by step list of tasks/instructions on how your chosen Design will be created/built (think as if someone else will built/create your product based on these instructions)
2. show a timeline of tasks and resources that will guide you through the next stage: Create. Use the Gantt and CPM (Critical Path Method usually used together with PERT) concepts we talked about in class: simultaneously, overlapping and sequence.
3. Include evidence of planning for materials and resources usage
4. Make any modifications you considered needed to your chosen design

A couple suggested tools for Plan stage can be the following:

• TODOIST :Todoist is a task manager that's useful, fast and easy to use. You can manage a lot of to-dos ... :-)
• TOM'S PLANNER: Tom's Planner allows you to create, collaborate and share Gantt Charts online with drag and drop simplicity. It's extremely intuitive and easy-to-use.
• Take the Tour @ Tom's Planner Quick Tour
• CPM and PERT Charts resource: Mind Tools
• GANTT chart resources:
• Mind Tools (sequencial and parallel activities)
• The Research Whisperer
• Using MS Excel
• Daily Dose of Excel
• Bright Hub

WA Expansion reports - Timeline examples:

Remember that you can always use the Design Folder Checklist to make sure your stage is complete.

Don't forget to check the G9 Due Dates to stay on task. Plan is due today and record your progress in your Process Journal. 


Please review my comments regarding your submitted assignments and see me if you have anything missing. You can submit Design today for 50% of the grade. Thanks!

G9 Tech Class #9

I am posting a couple more pics from Mexico City! :-)

 

Today your Design stage is due following the G9 Due Dates planned. Please work on this assignment during class today and submit it by the end of the day today (11.59pm).  Remember to download a copy of your Shared doc before you submit your assignment. 

I you don't remember how to do that, you can watch a step by step video tutorial in my YouTube Channel!

You can review the guidelines for this stage on last class' blog entry.

Don't forget to make your journal entry of the day. Based on today's progress, I would suggest including the sketches of your designs as visual evidence!



I read about this and thought it could be interesting for you all :-)
Read more about it here: Doodle for Google: If I could travel in time, I'd visit...

G9 Tech Class #8

Dear G9 students,

as I promised I am posting another picture of Mexico City, This is the Main Square.

Today please start working on Design.

• Include a variety of different designs addressing the project 'problem'  (at least 3)
• Explain every part of each ideas/product solution
• For explaining your designs, please use different techniques like story boards, sketches, labelled diagrams with explanations, etc.
• Evaluate each design critically against the design specifications (assess what design specs each design complies with or not)
• Choose one design to build
• Justify your choice
• Evaluate your performance in the design stage of the project.

You can use the Design Folder Checklist as a guide not to leave anything out of your Design Stage.

Remember to check the G9 Due Dates to stay on task.

Record what you accomplished today, what's your plan for next class, any issues you had to overcome, etc in your Process Journal.

G9 Tech Class #7

Dear G9 students,
Greetings from Mexico city! I attach below a picture I took from the plane while landing in Mexico city. I will try and get another picture that shows more of Mexico City for tomorrow :-)

Today please continue working on your Investigation stage which is due by the end of today. Please visit the G9 Due Dates webpage for Project 1 to plan accordingly.

Review the information posted in last class' blog post regarding:

• your 'problem': Design, build and test an aesthetically pleasing, yet economical bridge to replace the Clifton Suspension Bridge.  How will you solve this challenge?
• the basic design specifications (materials, cost, scale)
• and what you need to include in your Investigation stage.

You can use the G9 Investigation Template shared document to work collaboratively online.

• Remember to include the Assignment Standards we have talked about in class. 
• Specify on your document who was in charge of developing each part of the content (you can write your name between brackets, use colour coding, etc)
• You can use the Design Folder Checklist to make sure you don't leave anything out of your assignment.
• Take a look at Investigation criteria to know what is expected from you at this stage. 
• Once you finish your assignment: Download your Shared Doc as a .pdf before you submit it. You can watch the step by step video tutorial in my YouTube Channel!
• Once you have your downloaded your assignment, please follow the steps to submit your assignment as posted in the MYP Technology Website.

Remember to make your Process Journal entry of the day. You can use this Process Journal shared Doc template.

G9 Tech Class #6

Before we continue working on Project 1, we will talk about collaborative tools for you to work together on your assignments. Let's start by watching these You Tube videos in my You Tube Channel: Google Docs Playlist. 

• Google Docs Intro:

• Google Docs in Plain English
• Google Apps new look
• Using Google Docs
• Intro to Google Docs
• Google Docs 2011 Beginner Tutorial
• Google Docs Sharing and Collaboration Tutorial.

Today, let's look into Shared Docs features... I will work with a class helper :-)

If you would like to work on this G9 Investigation Template as your starting point to your Investigation for Project 1, please follow these steps:

• Save a copy (File, Make a copy)
• Click OK to Copy Document
• Click on the name of the document (top left): Copy of ......
• Enter a new document name
• Change the Sharing settings for your group to be able to work collaboratively (use the Share button at top right of your screen)

You can watch a step by step video tutorial in my YouTube Channel!

Continuing on Project 1, please continue your research on two Famous Bridges focusing on:

• materials
• reason
• benefits
• drawbacks
• design/type
• diferent locations

For your Project 1 problem: Design, build and test an aesthetically pleasing, yet economical bridge to replace the Clifton Suspension Bridge.  How will you solve this challenge?

Basic Design Specifications

Materials: Regular Spaghetti and glue gun glue

Cost: £1 per strand of spaghetti, £.50 per glue stick 

Scale: 70cm minimum 

No support except the top of the desk.

• How will the bridge be tested? A bag will be suspended from the center of the bridge and weight will added until it collapses
• How will the bridge be judged? Strength, Cost, Design

Visit the G9 Due Dates webpage to plan for your assignments. 

Remember to make your Process Journal entry of the day. You can use this Process Journal shared Doc template.

G9 Tech Class #5

Following what we began working on last class, we will continue our Investigation stage for Project 1.


Based on the specific info that we are looking into to learn about bridges:

• different kinds of bridges
• compression
• tension
• what kind of bridge is required for each situation
• how do arches support weight?
• what happens when a load pushes down on a Beam Bridge?
• how do you stabilize a Suspension Bridge?
• How do Cabled-Stayeds Bridges work?
• build some bridges online
• important vocabulary like: piers, span, beams, arches, truss, suspension, cable-stayed
• and more!

Please visit last class' blog entry and browse the suggested start up resources.

1. Tension and Compression 
2. Forces Lab 
3. PBS Bridge Basics
4. NOVA Beta Build a Bridge

+ Research two Famous Bridges focusing on:

• materials
• reason
• benefits
• drawbacks
• design/type
• diferent locations

This research is due: by the end of class today.

Keep working on your Process Journal. You can use this template as a start-up document. Remember to record who makes the journal entry!

G9 Tech Class #4

Today we will start working on Project 1: Bridge Building
We will work in groups of 3 students (max). Please organize in groups.

Let's start looking into these suggested sources to learn about:

• different kinds of bridges
• compression
• tension
• what kind of bridge is required for each situation
• how do arches support weight?
• what happens when a load pushes down on a Beam Bridge?
• how do you stabilize a Suspension Bridge?
• How do Cabled-Stayeds Bridges work?
• build some bridges online
• important vocabulary like: piers, span, beams, arches, truss, suspension, cable-stayed
• and more!

Your start up resources are:

1. Tension and Compression (watch movie abt Arch Bridges)
2. Forces Lab: Forces act on big structures in many ways. Click on the actions: Squeeze, Stretch, Bend, Slide and Twist to explore the forces at work and to see real-life examples)
3. PBS Bridge Basics
4. NOVA Beta Build a Bridge

Start your Process Journal today! You can use this template as a start-up document. Remember to record who makes the journal entry!

G9 Tech Class #3

Welcome to the second week of the second semester!

Following our activity last class, we will continue developing the mind map on the Design Cycle. Today we will complete the Design Cycle by working on the stages: Plan, Create and Evaluate.

Continue working collaboratively with your partners to complete the mind map today. The final piece of work is due by the end of this class.

Since this assignment has been developed with a variety of tools that not all of them allow for showing your Design Cycle Mind Map on one screen/image that can be submitted following the how to submit your Assignments in Technology class details, we will present your final products at the end of class.

30 minutes before the period ends all groups will present their Mind Map. Each group will have 5 minutes to present.

Remember what standards your final product needs to include! You can make sure you have a complete assignment by visiting the information posted in the MYP Technology Docs webpage.

G9 Tech Class #2

Following our conversations last class, this is the first blog post for our G9 MYP Technology class!

Please take some time to browse around the MYP Technology website and find information about about the course, schedule, assessment criteria, expectations, assignments standards, how to submit your assignments and policies among others.

I have also posted the updated A/B days calendar in the MYP Technology website's home page.

Following the IB MYP Technology curriculum (Group 8) , we will be using the core tool: Design Cycle.

Please read in detail the information available at these links.

For further understanding and reflection on the Design Cycle, please read the article below so we can discuss it in class.
Breaking The Design Cycle: Get Creative To Be Creative




Looking into every stage of the Design Cycle, we will make a mind map showing what "happens" in each stage. Let's start focusing today on Investigation and Design stages!

Resources that you can use: 
MYP Technology Website, IB MYP Technology, Design Cycle Graph and Design Cycle Checklist among others that you will need to find!

Work in pairs for this assignment. Please choose one of the collaborative online mind mapping tools listed below: 

• Spicy Nodes 
• MindMeister
• Glogster
• Bubbl.us
• ExploraTree
• Text2MindMap
• WiseMapping
• EdiStorm
• CoMapping
• Mindomo
• or you can browse for other options and/or come up with your own!