Billings Beta
technology with intention
Technology is…
567 days
by Jac de Haan
in 6th Grade
A tool or machine created by instinct, experiment or planned design to improve life or do things easier.
- 6th grade class STEM2
Technology is…
567 days
by Jac de Haan
in 6th Grade
An object or invention created conciously by animal or human, changing the nature of something to make work more efficient or simplify life.
- 6th grade class STEM1
Internet terms review
575 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
575 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.
Computers of the Future
577 days
by Jac de Haan
in 6th Grade
After reflecting about the changes that computers have undergone since ENIAC was introduced, 6th grade students spent a day looking at trends for the future. Devices seem to be getting smaller, but there is a point where our current input and output systems are difficult to use, size-wise. Some keyboards are already too small for hands to type comfortably, and some screens are small enough that users sit hunched over to read the tiny writing.
Students used Microsoft Paint and Word to create computers of the future, taking into consideration portability and function. Here are a couple of standout examples:
Rachel designed a wearable, translucent computer
Rory's computer is a desk, and the desk is a computer
STEM: Wheel & Axle
578 days
by Jac de Haan
in 6th Grade
Our study of simple machines continued this week with a couple of experiments examining the wheel involved in a wheel and axle.
Vocabulary terms this week were circumference, diameter and radius. We completed measurements and made educated guesses about the relationship of radius and circumference, as well as of circumference and distance traveled per rotation. To see concepts in action, we went over to our middle school community friends at Nothwest CrossFit – where they have a giant tire that looks like it came off a fire truck or monster truck. Their tire has a circumference of 14 feet! Which definitely illustrated the ideas we discussed.
Our final exercise consisted of estimating how many tire rotations Tom’s bike would go through to get from the CrossFit gym back to school. Guesses ranged from 70 up to 250. As we walked, students altered their hypothesis in light of information gathered. Official answer: 204 rotations! Knowing that Tom’s tire was 6′ 9″, that means we walked 1377 feet.
October is cybersecurity awareness month
585 days
The folks at StaySafeOnline.org are back with a bunch of tips to help keep you and your home computer safe. Their website has a bunch of information about how to get involved and protect yourself. Copied below are some of their social networking tips, originally from this download-able file.
- Privacy and security settings exist for a reason: Learn about and use the privacy and security settings on social networks. They are there to help you control who sees what you post and manage your online experience in a positive way.
- Once posted, always posted: Protect your reputation on social networks. What you post online stays online. Think twice before posting pictures you wouldn’t want your parents or future employers to see. Recent research (http://www.microsoft.com/privacy/dpd/research.aspx) found that 70% of job recruiters rejected candidates based on information they found online.
- Keep personal info personal: Be cautious about how much personal information you provide on social networking sites. The more information you post, the easier it may be for a hacker or someone else to use that information to steal your identity, access your data, or commit other crimes such as stalking.
- Know and manage your friends: Social networks can be used for a variety of purposes. Some of the fun is creating a large pool of friends from many aspects of your life. That doesn’t mean all friends are created equal. Use tools to manage the information you share with friends in different groups or even have multiple online pages. If you’re trying to create a public persona as a blogger or expert, create an open profile or a “fan” page that encourages broad participation and limits personal information. Use your personal profile to keep your real friends (the ones you know trust) more synced up with your daily life.
- Know what action to take: If someone is harassing or threatening you, remove them from your friends list, block them, and report them to the site administrator.
- Be cautious about messages you receive on social networking sites that contain links. Even links that look they come from friends can sometimes contain malware or be part of a phishing attack (attempts to collect personal information: log-on and password and other identifying information by pretending to be a message form a friend or a business). If you are suspicious, don’t click contact your friend or the business directly to verify the validity.
But can this room make phone calls?
589 days
by Jac de Haan
in 6th Grade
Jac is still out of town with the 7th grade, but the 6th grade continues to learn about computers by using another technology – books! 6th graders used encyclopedias and dictionaries from 1938 to 2006 to define “computer” and “internet.” They had to find copyright dates so that they could make accurate judgments as to the invention of modern definitions and use throughout time.
The discussion turned to ENIAC, the first general purpose super-computer developed at the University of Pennsylvania in 1943 with help from the U.S. Government. Students went down to Green Lake with a tape measure to plot out the size of this early monstrosity (40′ by 40′ packed up, 100′ by 50′ unwrapped). They talked about the power of this early computer as compared to common devices such as an iPod or cell phone.
Hiking Cowiche Canyon
589 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. 
The Hurt Square
590 days
While Jac is in Central Washington with the 7th grade, 8th grade students are delving deeper into the intersection between data permanence, social networks, friendship and privacy. The work they are doing is an adaptation of a lesson created by Common Sense Media, a non-profit focused on educating students, parents and teachers about the reality of digital identity.
Students examined a series of scenarios that happen everyday online between teens. They then rated the experiences based on the level of hurtfulness or embarrassment that would be caused and the level of intention behind the action.
You may be posting something that you think is funny or harmless, but others involved might not see your comments or media in the same light as you. Who gets to decide how painful something is – the insulter or the person feeling hurt?
You don’t always know how someone will take a joke or statement online. Don’t just think would this offend me? but consider could this hurt the person I’m referring to?
Students captured their responses in a ‘hurt square’, a graphing tool that illustrates the relative pain/intentionality of a situation:
Here is a list of the scenarios that students assessed:
#1: Your long-time buddy from 1st grade just posted a hilarious photo of the two of you when you were only 6 years old. You are both completely naked, running through a garden sprinkler with cowboy hats on.
#2: A classmate that you don’t talk to often just posted a list of “the 5 dumbest things you said today.”
#3: A friend from another school just posted a photo of you with the caption “Sooooo hot! I’d tap that.”
#4: A cabin mate from Camp Colman just posted a photo of you asleep with someone else’s underwear on your pillow.
#5: A buddy has a wall post about how cute you and your crush are. Problem is, they are online buddies with their Mom, who knows your Mom, and your Mom isn’t cool with you dating in 8th grade.
#6: You made a YouTube video for a school project. Someone anonymously commented “that’s so gay!”
#7: A bunch of teammates created a page called “you shouldn’t start for our team because you suck at sports” and then forwarded it to you.
#8: Someone took a photo of you from a school trip and drew boogers and a mustache on it, then posted it.
#9: A friend sent you a private message online that starts by calling you a racial slur for a different race than yours.
