If TED is still blocked we will work today in Scratch. This lesson would have been next Monday.
Today we will examine the Scratch programming system. Scratch was developed at the MIT Media Lab (where Negroponte-the inventor of the One Laptop is from). I think it is intended primarily for younger students than you, but it does present some very complex programming concepts.
Check out some of the news about Scratch. Notice that much of the news is another language than English. Is there an assumption in the world of the inventor and business that you speak more than one language??
Here are some ideas to get started. You must do at least one of these.
Here is the Guide to Scratch.
So please test and play with this program today. Read some of the press, search for more information, check for blog references to the program. Be sure you complete at least one of the ideas.
Answer the following questions on your blog (include links!):
1. What did you do with Scratch today? Share any insights to the program that might help your classmates.
2. Is this a valuable program? What criteria should we use? Be specific! Use Web Design terms!!
3. For Web3: Compare Scratch to Flash.
Senin, 01 Desember 2008
Minggu, 30 November 2008
TED Talks
I will edit this in morning.... (as of 7:00am these videos were still blocked, I have sent an email to try to figure out what the issue is....)
One thing you want to do in life is get around smart people. I was lucky to go to a school that had really, really smart people around. Listening to them makes life interesting.
Many of you have seen some of the TED talks before. TED is a place where smart people get together and kind of do a show and tell.
I would like you to watch at least two videos today from start to finish. Everyone must watch the Theo Jansen video. I give you some prompts to start a discussion on your blog. Each of these videos is about 10-20 minutes long. They say teenagers can't pay attention to anything. Prove them wrong.
Hans Rosling: How data is cool. Think of your little Excel charts. Will you be ready to use data like this. This guy is fun to listen to.
Jeff Han: How displays will change. This would profoundly change how we use computers.
John Maeda: A smart, funny guy talks about simplicity. Think about how simplicity is the driving force in design (hint: iPods).
Nicholas Negroponte: Would you spend your life on a project that helps others? Does listening to the originator of the idea change your vision of this program?
Theo Jansen: Freaky. Mind-blowing. But pay attention. What is life? Can you make something that lives out of PVC pipe? He does. Cyborg alert!
Blaise Aguero y Arcos: Demonstrates Photosynth. Wow. The Notre Dame cathedral thing is amazing. Can you think of ways you could use this software?
Anand Agarawala: The BumpTop desktop. Certainly a different set-up! Would this help you search your photographs?
What did you learn? Share what you learned. Start a conversation. Can you add something to a discussion?
Be sure to have links to the talk on your blog.
One thing you want to do in life is get around smart people. I was lucky to go to a school that had really, really smart people around. Listening to them makes life interesting.
Many of you have seen some of the TED talks before. TED is a place where smart people get together and kind of do a show and tell.
I would like you to watch at least two videos today from start to finish. Everyone must watch the Theo Jansen video. I give you some prompts to start a discussion on your blog. Each of these videos is about 10-20 minutes long. They say teenagers can't pay attention to anything. Prove them wrong.
Hans Rosling: How data is cool. Think of your little Excel charts. Will you be ready to use data like this. This guy is fun to listen to.
Jeff Han: How displays will change. This would profoundly change how we use computers.
John Maeda: A smart, funny guy talks about simplicity. Think about how simplicity is the driving force in design (hint: iPods).
Nicholas Negroponte: Would you spend your life on a project that helps others? Does listening to the originator of the idea change your vision of this program?
Theo Jansen: Freaky. Mind-blowing. But pay attention. What is life? Can you make something that lives out of PVC pipe? He does. Cyborg alert!
Blaise Aguero y Arcos: Demonstrates Photosynth. Wow. The Notre Dame cathedral thing is amazing. Can you think of ways you could use this software?
Anand Agarawala: The BumpTop desktop. Certainly a different set-up! Would this help you search your photographs?
What did you learn? Share what you learned. Start a conversation. Can you add something to a discussion?
Be sure to have links to the talk on your blog.
Rabu, 26 November 2008
Site of the Month
OK: Check out MrPicassoHead.
1. Easy to use.
2. Teaches you something about Picasso's art.
3. You use the site, you don't read it.
4. It gives you a product that you can "hang" on your blog.
Can you find a cooler site? That is today's challenge.
1. Easy to use.
2. Teaches you something about Picasso's art.
3. You use the site, you don't read it.
4. It gives you a product that you can "hang" on your blog.
Can you find a cooler site? That is today's challenge.
Selasa, 25 November 2008
Seminars for Success, Now for Website Optimizer
You may have heard of Seminars for Success. It's a full day of hands-on training on Google products like AdWords and Google Analytics. We've heard requests for more in-depth training on Google Website Optimizer. If you don't know about it, Website Optimizer is a free tool that helps you increase your site's conversion rates by testing different versions of your website's content.
If you want to learn about website testing and how to increase your website's effectiveness, then this course is for you. The course covers how to run your first experiment, best practices in landing page design, and advanced testing strategies.
We're now offering Website Optimizer Seminars for Success with four sessions scheduled around the US:
If you want to learn about website testing and how to increase your website's effectiveness, then this course is for you. The course covers how to run your first experiment, best practices in landing page design, and advanced testing strategies.
Website Optimizer Seminars for Success are led by Google authorized Seminar Leaders. They're experts in the field of website testing and on Website Optimizer. If you want to start increasing your conversion rates, now is the time to sign up.
Course materials will be provided to all that attend. And, if you sign up at least 7 days in advance of a Seminar, you'll receive a $50 AdWords credit. The Washington DC Seminar is coming up next week, so be sure to register your spot.
If you'd like to be notified when Seminars for Success are happening in your area, you can fill out this form.
Clustermap
I'm pretty proud of my clustrmap on the right side of this blog. You can see the last years clustrmap at the bottom of this blog. We seem to get hit pretty regularly. If you search for "web design assignment" or "web design exam" we come up near the top.
How did this happen? Not sure. But its cool.
So they archive the map soon and I lose all my red dots and have to start fresh again. I'm a bit melancholy as we turn over into a new chapter, but I'm excited about the new challenge of filling a fresh map.
How are your maps developing? Are you writing so people want to return?
Getting Answers -- Fast
It's 10am, you've got a fresh cup of coffee, and you're excited to implement your latest Google Analytics-related idea. Today, you'll be setting up your ecommerce reporting or perhaps re-examining all of your keywords with the help of Motion Charts. You begin working and suddenly, you're not sure how to proceed. You have a question, and you need an answer -- hopefully before your coffee gets cold and your inspiration runs out.
A quick search of the Help Center yields an article that only partially addresses your question. You need help from someone who has already worked through this particular roadblock.
We're pleased to announce that, as of today, you have a new way of quickly getting the help you need. We've launched a new Forum within Google Help that allows you to ask questions about Google Analytics and have them answered by both Google employees and other Google Analytics users. You can easily identify answers from Google Employees, top contributors, seasoned posters, or new posters. The "Best Answers" (as voted by the community) gain the most visibility so that everyone can share valuable information. And a list of "Related Questions" comes up even as you are typing your question.
If you are in the forum to help other users, it's easy to find questions that need answers. Based on your contributions, you can be distinguished as a Top Contributor or seasoned poster. The old Analytics Help Group will still be accessible for information searches, but is closed for additional posts. This will allow the Google Analytics support staff to focus all their efforts on your new forum.
Now, back to work, before your coffee gets cold!
A quick search of the Help Center yields an article that only partially addresses your question. You need help from someone who has already worked through this particular roadblock.
We're pleased to announce that, as of today, you have a new way of quickly getting the help you need. We've launched a new Forum within Google Help that allows you to ask questions about Google Analytics and have them answered by both Google employees and other Google Analytics users. You can easily identify answers from Google Employees, top contributors, seasoned posters, or new posters. The "Best Answers" (as voted by the community) gain the most visibility so that everyone can share valuable information. And a list of "Related Questions" comes up even as you are typing your question.
If you are in the forum to help other users, it's easy to find questions that need answers. Based on your contributions, you can be distinguished as a Top Contributor or seasoned poster. The old Analytics Help Group will still be accessible for information searches, but is closed for additional posts. This will allow the Google Analytics support staff to focus all their efforts on your new forum.
Now, back to work, before your coffee gets cold!
Quiz: Reflection
Today we will reflect on the past week. I have asked you to look at several websites and in some way (design, podcast, making connections) improve your own sites. Hopefully we all learned something. Many of you have finally accepted some design mantras I have been spewing (font size, logo placement, do the layout first).
So....
1. What have you learned?
2. List three qualities of an effective website.
3. Provide an example of an effective website.
Each question should be answered in 4-5 sentences. Focus on your writing. We have much fewer grades this marking period so each little quiz has a large impact on your grade.
So....
1. What have you learned?
2. List three qualities of an effective website.
3. Provide an example of an effective website.
Each question should be answered in 4-5 sentences. Focus on your writing. We have much fewer grades this marking period so each little quiz has a large impact on your grade.
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