This is your last period to finish up your installations of your operating systems.  The idea system dual boots any flavour of linux (your choice) and Windows 7 (or XP if the box is really old).  I would like to start the networking unit as soon as we are all back together on Tuesday and you need a functional box to make that happen.

It is time for you to complete a rough draft of your One Big Project proposal.  As soon as it is cleaned up and approved by me, it will be sent home for your parent's signature.  Remember that this project is your opportunity to explore aspects of the course that you are interested in, and has been stated before does not have to cost you $1.

The DIY Gamer Kit is the latest DIY technology kit from Technology WIll Save Us. With this kit you  build your own handheld games console then learn how to program your own video games using Arduino their our custom software library.

Looks like it could be an awesome OBP for someone looking for ideas.

With more than a few students away today at the Plowing Match, the rest of us still need to keep pushing forward.  You should be working on our Emerging Technology assignment (make sure you double read over the requirements listed in the outline/rubric below).  Presentations will take place on Monday.  This will be your last class work period for the assignment.

Remember that not only do you need to be a proponent for your chosen technology, you also need to pick one emerging tech to be an opponent of, and be prepared to ask questions/point out flaws.

The sign ups are as follows:

Reminder about the make up hardware quiz Monday at lunch...let's all pass w/ the required 75% !!  Here's a website to help you with your review.

Do NOT FORGET that Wednesday you will be writing your terminology and indentification quiz.  Also don't forget that you need to score at least 75% on the test to continue in the course (or you will rewrite a different version of the quiz until you do).  It is imperative that we all speak the same language in this classroom, so please buckle down and review your notes.

Hopefully, today will be the day that we turn our computer systems (for the first time...lol).

Still thinking about your culminating? Cool websites to check out for ideas:

Instructables
RaspberryP
Hacked Gadgets
Arduino Projects
Lifehacker

This is an awesome step forward in finding economical ways to get ICT into the hands of everyone.  I particularly like the analogy the inventor makes to typing class from the 70s and 80s.

As we rebuild our computers, we will be looking at the subsystems and components that make up a system.

Today we will be cleaning our CPUs, resocketing them, and discussing what a CPU's function is in a computer system, and the impact that it has on performance.  We will be using this PowerPoint as a basis for our exploration.

For homework, students are asked to read the attached handout on how hard disk drives work. This is due for Friday's class.

Now that we have all successfully deconstructed our boxes, we'll begin the long process about identifying and understanding each of the components.  If you were confused yesterday or need some extra review this website is an awesome resource.  This website also has some excellent information (along with step by step pictures), that should help reinforce everything we have been discussing and demonstrating in class.

You will need to complete this webquest by the end of today's class, as it covers some of the necessary expectations for the course in a very efficient manner.  The more seatwork we can do efficiently and effectively, the more time we can spend using our hands to build some VERY awesome things.

There will be some seatwork over the next few days, as it is VERY important that we all speak the same language.