How To Edit Your Blog Posts Offline

I originally suggested using MS Word or other similar software to create your blog post project on Light and Color, and then copying to Blogger when you were ready to post. Many students have been struggling with this, especially around the issue of graphics and images.

I ran across one solution that helps a little, and I'm using it to create this post. It's an application called Windows Live Writer that you need to download and install on your computer. You will also need a Windows Live account, if you don't already have one.

Once you have it installed, you can use the "Add Weblog" function to add your class blog as the publishing destination. Stop by for help if you are interested.

Here is a simple cut and paste inserting an image:

Here is an example using one of the other features of Live Writer - The insert map function, locating our school

UPDATE: Here is a link to several other offline blog post editing tools

Slideshare Example

For those who have created a ppt show for your Waves and Light blog post assignment, I've attached an example of how you can transfer your file to the class blog. It uses a service called Slideshare. You need to sign up for an account in order to have access to the "embed in blog" feature.
I'll provide more detailed instructions soon, check it out for yourself or or see me for help.

| View | Upload your own

Check this Out!

Hey Physics Students,
Here is a great description of the educational basis for our physics class blogs, pulled from a recent NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) governing statement:

Twenty-first century readers and writers need to

• Develop proficiency with the tools of technology
• Build relationships with others to pose and solve problems collaboratively and cross-culturally
• Manage, analyze and synthesize multiple streams of simultaneous information
• Create, critique, analyze, and evaluate multi-media texts

Click here for more......

2nd Semester Starts Now!!

I hope everyone was well prepared and as successful as possible on the midterm. I have just begun grading the exams and I will have your score ready on Monday. Also, on Monday we will be kicking off the second semester, and our first topic will be "Waves".
See you soon, and thank you for all of your hard work in the first semester!

PS: To get us started thinking about waves, here's a short video describing big ocean waves:

Great Start!!!

Thanks to all MHS Regents Physics students who have given us a great start on the blogs. We will put the formal scribe posts on hold until after the midterm, but feel free to create new posts on anything related to Physics, and continue to explore and comment.

Roller Coaster!!

Here's the short video we didn't get to see in Thursday's class. Think about how and where the energy is changing form - potential to kinetic and back to potential.....

Maintaining Your Focus

There have been a few comments related to class behavior and student focus, and I just posted the following comment on the P8 Blog. Please read it and take it to heart:

I'll toss another comment in that applies to all students (not just mine), in all classes - if you plan on heading off to a challenging school after you graduate from MHS, remember - it will require all the energy and focus you can muster. Getting IN to a college is the easy part, staying in, doing well, and graduating is the difficult part.
Graduation rates for a bachelor's degree vary from about 1/3 to about 2/3, depending on the state. And that's a six-year rate - that fraction finish a four year degree in six years.
Right now would be a great time for all students in all of their classes to get over the myth of "Senioritis" and focus on the upcoming mid-term and second semester, so you can finish your MHS career strong, and hit the ground running when you head off to college in August.