March 16, 2009

Dear Carmody Computer Parents and Their Students:

Four important points to emphasize in this, the ninth 2009 winter semester newsletter before Spring Fever Arrives!

1. All of Dr. Data's courseware are actually on-line for 24/7 use in completing any and/or all class assignments and projects at home, public library, parent's work place, relative's neighbor's and friend's computers. 
   
   
• 7th grade "Computer Literacy and Beyond!" URL is:  http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/Curriculum_Preview88.html and the class has just started the very first database assignment today.
• 8th grade URL is "How To Start A Teenage Business!" for the entire semester lesson plans along with all class assignments and projects: Please be aware that there will be updating all semester at: http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/business/Lesson_Plans.html. The 8th grade class is currently on Week 8 this week with Monday's optional assignment today..
  
  
2. Beware: both 7th and 8th grade classes are in new units of instructiion and you guessed it, middle school students don't always like change in curriculum that are different near spring break!! Please assist your child where appropriate in catching some of the basic concepts of their new units of instructions. Once they catch on, they will both enjoy and master these essebtuak business-oriented units of instruction quickly.
   
   
• 7th Garde: Database management at: Database Management: 2 weeks You will find lots of tutorial instruction on-line at that web site. All assignments can be done at home at: http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/database_syllabus.html#Management

  On-Line Database Assignments for Home Use

  The link for the instant web publishing for your class databases. http://www.adlineagency.com/kuzmich. Use the following account information and you have access to all of the database assignments that can be done at home. You do not have to have Clarisworks or Appleworks on your home computer in order to do the assignments on your home computer.

  Account Name: john (be sure lower case for j in John)
  Password: drdata (be sure it is lower case)

• Go to layout to find specific database file to work on. This on-line database works just like Clarisworks or Appleworks on our PC lab computers and your child can makeup class work at home in a seamless manner.
  
  
3. 8th Grade classes are into spreadsheets in Week 8 at: http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/business/Week8.html.. There are lots of tutorials on this web site plus the assignments are all listed under Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday options. Select the second options as I feel they are generally easier to learn for entry-level spreadsheet usage.
   
   
• Due on Monday: you need to submit a bill to the customer. Here's a sample view at: http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/business/Invoice.pdf. This is to be done in a spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel. Simply put all text into a separate cell. The key point is you must add the totals of expenses and display a formula. No formula, no grade. To create a formula, go to the cell that needs to add up all the columns. Type =SUM(. Then click on the first cell to be added and drag to the last one and close with right parenthesis. Hit return key and you have answer displayed. After completing the spreadsheet, here's how to display a formula so you get credit for the spreadsheet. Normally, you would print it out, but today without printing capabilities, just show the formula to Dr. Data for a grade.



• Go to the Tools pull down menu
• Select Options
• Click on the box that says formula and all formulas will be displayed.
• Grid box should also be displayed.



Second Choice due on Monday: "In Search of the Wild West." at: http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/Spreadsheets/WildWest.pdf

Objectives:

• Changing column width of cells
• Pasting and copying from the clipboard
• Multitasking (using more than one program at the same time)
  
  
• Due on Tuesday: Family Budget Spreadsheet - Assignment #4. Printout Family Budget Original and Family Budget Formula

Second Choice due on Tuesday: "How Many Pets Does Our Class Own? " at" http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/Spreadsheets/Pets.pdf

Objectives:

• Demonstrate basic spreadsheet concepts by constructing a spreadsheet. Terms used will be a cell, X-Axis and Y-Axis
• Entering data into a spreadsheet
• Copying and pasting clip art from another program. The clip art should be their favorite animal
• Create three different Charts by going to the Insert menu and selecting Chart and continuing through the different screens to full label everything.
  
  
• Due on Wednesday and Thursday, select and do several spreadsheets at 25 points per spreadsheet, go to: http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/spreadsheet_syllabus.html#Required
  
  
• Second and Third Choices due on Wednesday and Thursday: "Studying Weather With Internet Penpals" at: http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/Spreadsheets/Internet_PenPals.pdf, "Computing Multiplication Facts" at http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/Spreadsheets/Multiplication.pdf or "Animal "Speeds" at http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/Spreadsheets/AnimalSpeeds.pdf

Objectives:

• Understanding the basics of a spreadsheet such as a cell, the name of teach cell (A1 or C8), etc.
• Entering data into the cells on a spreadsheet
• Entering the correct formulas on a spreadsheet starting with the equals sign.
• Making a bar graph with labels.
  
  
• Due on Friday: makeup work or you now are ready for Week 9 which focuses in on the finances of your business plan, go to: http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/business/Week9.html
  
  
4. Success Guaranteed in Dr. Data's 7th & 8th Grade Computer Classes if Students/Parents Follow These Guidelines! Very important web page for both parents and students. Students can't fail if parents and students do their fair-share!  With parent involvement success is guaranteed as students are more engaged with parent collaboration since almost all unfinished class assignments can be completed as homework at home without any penalty.

Hope this helps.

Till next time,

Dr. Data