Week Without Walls

"How can I share my experience of WWW using media tools?"

Create a reflection of your experience using a media tool / tools of your choice. For example, you may decide to create a Voicethread, an iMovie, Animoto or MakeBeliefComix. Whatever you do, remember to think of your audience and the skills of movie and image manipulation you've already learned.

Use your imagination and creativity to create your own brief - there are no restrictions other than finishing it in this lesson.

I have shared the Google Drive folder containing pictures from the week, as well as the blog containing many more photos - select those that match your purpose best.

Embed the finished piece in your blog and submit using the usual form.

Learning to Search Effectively

This section will guide you through more advanced features of Google Search.

Unit Question

"How can I use search operators and advanced options to narrow down my results?"

Google Search Operators

Image from posterenvy.com [Accessed August 2015]

Practice

Try http://www.agoogleaday.com/. What's your highest score?

Google Search Tools

Google Advanced Search

Apart from using operators, you can also use Google's Advanced Search option.

If you click into this page, it gives you a lot more fields to complete before running your search, including usage rights. This is very important if you are looking for images to copy and use.

Types of usage rights:

• Free to use or share: Allows you to copy or redistribute its content if the content remains unchanged.
• Free to use, share, or modify: Allows you to copy, modify, or redistribute in ways specified in the license.
• Commercially: If you want content for commercial use, be sure to select an option that includes the word "commercially."

Practice

Find an image of an activity you are interested in. It must be free to use. Embed it in your blog:

• explaining why you chose it 
• including the URL 
• noting the date you accessed the image online

Image Editing with Pixelmator

In this unit, we will learn how to manipulate images in Pixelmator, which is an alternative program to Photoshop.

Unit Question

"How can I manipulate images to create collages and special effects?"

Begin by downloading a free trial of Pixelmator here. 
NB Once you have downloaded and installed Pixelmator, you will only have 30 days to complete any image editing projects you start!

We cover and try out the following features of Pixelmator in lessons. If you would like to review anything, see below.

Overview of Palette Tools

From http://www.ifrick.ch/2011/06/pixelmator-2-0-sneak-preview-macht-laune/
[Accessed August 2015]

Introduction to Layers

Practice 1

Create an image with at least 3 layers. Post the image in your blog, linking to the original images you used (credits). The title is Layers in Pixelmator and the tags are Pixelmator, Image Layers & Digital Literacy

Customise the Tools Palette

Practice 2

Add 2 things to your palette and remove 2 things from your palette. Post a screen shot of the items in your blog and explain what they do. The title is Pixelmator Palette and the tags are Pixelmator & Digital Literacy.

Blend Images

Practice 3

Blend 2 images - you can use pictures of animals as in the example. Post this to your blog and explain the steps. Remember to include picture credits! The title is Blending Images and the tags is Pixelmator.

Pixelmator Full Tutorial (1 hour)

ASSIGNMENT:

• Create a collage to use as the front cover of your Reader-Writer Notebook
• Use personal images and images from the public domain only, which reflect the important things in your life
• Insert your collage into a blog post
• Title = Collage
• Labels = collage, image editing, Pixelmator, assignment, notebook cover

OS Overview

In this unit, you will learn some of the ways you can customise your Macbook using System Preferences.

Unit Question

"How can I customise my Macbook to suit my work habits and personal preferences?"

General

• Sidebar size  (have Finder visible)
• Default Web Browser

Desktop & Screensaver

• Customise wallpaper & screensaver (optional password protect)
• Hot Corners
• Dock hide / show

Dock

• Remove unnecessary icons
• ‘Keep in dock’ for those most used
• Automatic Hide / Show dock (it can get in the way)
• Minimise window into application icon hides the application then you can get at it by control clicking on the application (right click if you have mouse setup)

Screenshots

• Command-Shift-3 to capture the entire screen
• Command-Shift-4 to capture a highlighted area
• Command-Shift-4 and then hit the spacebar to screenshot a specific window or menu.
• Screenshots are saved to Desktop by default - location can be changed by following these instructions. WARNING: Editing in Terminal must be done carefully to avoid serious problems with your Macbook’s operating system.

Miscellaneous

• CMD + Shift + H - takes you to top level folder of user

Practice

• Take a screenshot of your full screen. 
• Take a screenshot of any part of your screen. 
• Take a screenshot of a menu. 
• Insert all 3 images into a document.

ASSIGNMENT

• Write an entry in your blog with the title 'System Preferences' and the tag 'GTKY Mac'. 
• In your post, explain 4 different ways you can customise your Macbook using the menus in System Preferences. Each explanation is worth 25 points for a total of 100 points. 
• Write in paragraphs and check your post against the rubric below.
• When finished, submit it here.