technology with intention
7th Grade
Tech class happenings from the 7th grade, including iCLAST (integrated class of Language Arts, Science and Technology).
Spreadsheets: beyond the basics
385 days
by Jac de Haan
in 7th Grade
7th grade students have a handle on using spreadsheets to store and display information, so we are taking our learning to the next level with Apps Scripts!
In our first class back from break, we started with a stock script and then got to hacking apart the code. Although it looked scary, everyone succeeded in finding some info in the code that they could change to alter the outcome.
The script we started with was actually 2 scripts in one:
function onOpen() {
var sps = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
var sheet = sps.getSheets()[0];
var menuEntries = [ {name: "Ask Name", functionName: "whatIsName"}];
sps.addMenu("CLICK HERE SILLY", menuEntries);
}
function whatIsName() {
var sps = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
var sheet = sps.getSheets()[0];
var myValue = Browser.inputBox("What is your name?");
sheet.getRange("B8").setValue("is silly.");
var b1Range = sheet.getRange("A8").setValue(myValue);
}
The first function in this script creates a custom menu button called “Click here silly”. When clicked, a drop down menu appears with a single option, “Ask Name”.
Custom Spreadsheet Menu - "Click here silly"
The second function is called “askName” and it runs when someone clicks on the custom menu button. This function pops up an alert window that asks the user’s name, and then places the answer in box A8 along with a message in box B8.
Custom pop-up box using Apps Script
For our next class, we took a closer look at the script we used and took some notes on what we found:
//script – code that tells a computer what to do
//variable – placeholder that represents data (number, text) that can change
//Google Apps uses Javascript
//Parts of Javascript
// = “commenting out” tells the computer to ignore
//var = variable
//red text = display text, code computer should consider text
//blue text = variables
Spreadsheets: grow what you know
425 days
by Jac de Haan
in 7th Grade
7th grade students have thrown down an internal challenge! Our spreadsheet work is getting more complex – we’ve recently added a few new formulas to our toolbox:
- =min(range)
- =max(range)
- =median(range)
- =mode(range)
- =average(range)
The Challenge
Goal
Create a spreadsheet that can accept 10 two-digit numbers and automatically generate a stem & leaf plot.
Rules
- you must be able to explain each of your formulas and how they work together
- random two-digit numbers will be entered into your final product by the teacher
Reward
Successful implementation earns the author a free pass on the spreadsheet quiz we’ll be taking next Wednesday in class.
Spreadsheets: store and display
430 days
by Jac de Haan
in 7th Grade
7th grade students continued their exploration of spreadsheets this week by linking functionality with the graphs they have been learning about in math class and the data they’ve been collecting in GO (GreenLake Outdoors).
Spreadsheets are great because they can store data in a table and then create a visual display that allows us to understand the information quickly. Data visualization takes advantage of our ability to process pre-attentively, without the need to understand language.
A quick trick to remember the difference between rows and columns: columns hold up buildings, they go up and down, whereas you row row row a boat to move forward and backwards.
A few new functions that were discussed this week:
- =sort(Range) | This will take a range of data and organize it in order, ascending or descending
- =filter(Range, condition) | This will only return the data that matches a specific condition
- =frequency(Range, criteria) | This will group data according to pre-set rules – great for stem & leaf plots
We also spent some time talking about where data comes from. Primary sources are usually preferable, just as you would want to check any Wikipedia entry references to make sure the data is accurate. We all spent some time on data.gov and data.seattle.gov, using the SMARTboard to find data sets that were interesting.
For students interested in knowing more about data visualization, check out this most excellent film:
Intro to Spreadsheets
441 days
by Jac de Haan
in 7th Grade
The last 7th grade class was a note-taking day, and an intro to spreadsheets. Based on our current knowledge of the similarities and differences between Microsoft Word and Google Documents, we made some assumptions about the quality and ease of use of the free online offering. We tested in individual files and didn’t run into any issues with loading or overwriting.
Kelly's breakdown of how she will spend a typical Thanksgiving break day.
Notes are below:
Google Spreadsheets is an alternative for Microsoft Excel. Google’s offering is free but you may be subjected to advertisements and you may lose your file if the company has server issues or changes their business model. Microsoft offers more advanced functions, but there are so many options that it can be confusing to learn at first.
Spreadsheet – a table that stores information (data) and can display data in different ways (information graphics)
information graphic – an image that allows us to understand data quickly. Info graphics take advantage of the human ability to make visual comparisons and don’t rely heavily on written language.
Data visualization – the process of making information graphics. Making perceptual meaning out of information.
Header row – first row in a table or database that defines the data below it (columns)
Parts of a formula:
=: tells the spreadsheet to perform a function
function: tells spreadsheet to do something with a range of data
range: a series of data
criteria: a condition that must be met for something else to happen
example: =SUM(B2:B8) | This will add all the data from the second column in rows 2 to 8 (answer from below spreadsheet is 24).
example: =COUNTIF(B2:B8, “<4″) | This will count the number of times that a data range meets the criteria (answer from below spreadsheet is 5).
example: =TODAY() | This returns today’s date, with “today” meaning whatever day the spreadsheet is opened. No range is required.
Rebecca's use of formulas to multiply daily data to find cumulative week totals.
Free your data!
454 days
by Jac de Haan
in 7th Grade
7th grade students have been using Google Maps in American History to plot important information about the 13 colonies. As a tech extension for the project, we’ve been playing with the idea of separating data from the programs we use to create it. In Google Maps for instance, we can take the data that lies over the maps and remove it.
Students learned about importing and exporting data, and tied those vocabulary terms to real-world economy and globalization. We then took our .kml files from Google Maps and displayed it in Google Earth, where we found advanced functionality such as the ability to record tours and narrate over our content.
In all of this play, Max C. and Owen found a really cool discovery. As far as we can tell, Google uses a grid or coordinate system to display data over maps and images. However, the data doesn’t care what the maps or images are, just that it is in the right location. Once we imported our data into Google Earth, the placemarkers showed up on Earth but also on Mars, the moom, and in the sky!!! This is a really need glitch/hack – we attached some screenshots:
Colony info overlay on moon!
Colony info overlay on Mars
Colony info overlay on Earth
Internet terms review
474 days
by Jac de Haan
in 7th Grade
7th grade came up with their own definitions for internet terms we use everyday. We use this common vocabulary so that we can communicate efficiently and stay productive.
Internet – network of computers connected wirelessly or with wires. Anyone can access if they have a connection and device that can access the network.
WWW/web/cloud – information that exists on the internet
Web address (URL) – words that represent ‘computer homes’ of information
- http – hypertext transfer protocol
- www – world wide web
- name of the company or site
- domain extension – .com, .org, .edu, .gov, .tv, .info, .co.uk, .net, .biz
address box/bar – the bar or box where you can type in a URL to go directly to the website
web browser – program that can access the web/cloud/internet info
program – application that you install on a computer to do something
search engine – a site (service) that is accessed with a browser to search the web/cloud
Positive power of social networking
475 days
In an example of the positive power of social networking, some Billings students were among the 1.7+ million people who wore purple today in honor of the many people who have committed suicide in recent months because of homophobic abuse and bullying. A few student government officers spoke out against bullying at an all school meeting today, and shared a message of togetherness and community while providing examples of ways to treat each other respectfully while recognizing differences.
This worldwide event was put together by GLAAD, Facebook, MTV and other organizations and was spread primarily through a Facebook page and other social networking tools. Billings Middle School is a PACER partner for National Bullying Prevention Month and a large part of our technology curriculum centers around digital identity.
Hiking Cowiche Canyon
489 days
by Jac de Haan
in 7th Grade
Sometimes it feels right to disconnect from technology and appreciate nature. The 7th grade did just that on our afternoon hike in central Washington. 
Seattle Slink slinks around Seattle!
491 days
7th grade students had their scientific understanding of evolutionary adaptation put to the test in a scary simulation. News reports from around North Seattle were coming in about mysterious happenings surrounding Billings Middle School. We used a Google Map to document the stories, some include newspaper clippings. It seems as though a pattern is emerging…
What type of creature could do such a thing? Biped or quadruped? Herbivore, carnivore or omnivore? Can it swim? Students used facts from the stories to support conclusions about dietary needs, description and origins of the mythical monster. Click on the pushpins below to read more about the incidents.
Just when things couldn’t get any scarier, we found a mystery jawbone in the rain garden while on break! How does this jawline and the teeth present affect our hypotheses already established?
Quote of the day
509 days
by Jac de Haan
in 7th Grade
It’s raining binary!!!
7th grade student Ben commenting on the data cloud we learned about yesterday.
