Web Design Election Fun #webdesign #busedu

So, after the debates last night, I felt compelled to create an "Election 2016" activity for my Web Design kiddos. I figured I'd share it with you.

I believe it is important that students learn to think critically, especially in web design. So, for this activity, I had them copy a folder (this folder if you'd like to use the activity) with images and an html file inside.

I provided a screenshot inside and they were to try to make the html file match the screenshot. The html file was riddled with errors. And, the images were not all "ready" to be used, so they had to resize some of them, remove backgrounds and "know" to change them to PNG files for transparency, etc.). The heading image, for example, was way too big. And, they had to look at the image below it and use it as a reference to know how big to resize it to be. Lots of thinking! Finding all of the coding errors first was also important... looking for misspelled words, missing quotation marks, missing file extensions, etc., and having to review the contents of the folder were all good skills to help them to be better coders.

This was completed at the end of Unit G if you have used my new Web Design curriculum resource.

Fun stuff! And most of them got it done in a class period (not all... a good chunk were pretty close though!).

I Love Teaching Microsoft Access! #sothere #sorrynotsorry #busedu

In my school district, we offer Computer Applications and Advanced Computer Applications (the latter can be taken for dual college credit). In my many years of teaching, I have run across so many business teachers who "hate" Microsoft Access. They seem to get easily frustrated or even skip it altogether. What a terrible thing to do!!!

I used to teach junior high. My 8th graders learned Microsoft Access (beautifully, I might add) and I always enjoyed teaching it. Right now, in my high school class, we are doing filters and queries, some of my favorite stuff.

In anticipation of doing a quiz on this topic later in the week (using a big ol' database found off the internet from the great state of Massachusetts--of sex offenders)  I wanted to create a review activity using a random database of stuff I created. And, I didn't really want to grade it. I was going to just post the answer key, but (though I trust my kiddos) I wanted a little bit more accountability. So, I thought, how about a Google Form? With data validation! I know some of the electronic "breakout boxes" are done using this technique, so how about a worksheet? :)

Take a look--> https://goo.gl/forms/DiBLkxwhZz89jzNG3  

A few things I learned:

1. This is so easy. There is a little "three dot" spot you click to add on data validation. You can set what the answer has to be equal to (or other parameters). 
2. One big issue... if you don't add the "error text" it will basically give away the answer. So, put in some error text (Try Again, for example). Good thing I tested this out!

So, tomorrow, they will do the activity (without paper) and type answers in the boxes to see if they got the correct number of results. 

And, I guess I'll do the quiz the same way (except no data validation since it will be for a grade). I just love GOOGLE! 

Please tell me someone else loves queries, though!  Oh, if you do, here is a Google Folder with my two databases and the activities. :) Enjoy!

FOLDER WITH QUERY FUN!