What is Hour of Code?

Hour of code is a worldwide movement that encourages all students to code. It takes place during the Computer Science Education Week. Hour of Code is made for kids and adults alike. Plus, it’s available in over 30 languages, so everyone can participate. You don’t even need previous experience in coding, all you have to do is jump into the website, and start coding at your own pace and skill level. This is great news for students because a number of jobs that require computer science skills are on the rise. The number of students pursuing the field is not as high as the number of jobs available; therefore, there are much more computer science jobs that need to be filled.

How to Get Started

1. Planning: Hour of Code doesn’t have to just be during the Computer Science Education Week. All you have to do is plan where you want to host the hour of code either online or offline. If you don’t have a device that’s alright because coding can be done “unplugged” which means that you can use paper or other items to code. Coding doesn’t even have to be done inside. If you choose to code online, that’s great too. The coding lessons are compatible with phones, tablets, laptops, and PCs.

2. Choosing: The next step is choosing a tutorial. Just go to https://code.org/learn then pick out a lesson. There are three types of coding offered: Javascript, Blocks, and other. Blocks are the easiest and the best way to ease into coding. Javascript involves typing in the code, as opposed to stacking blocks on top of each other like in the block option. You can filter by grade, skill level, duration, and even by the type of technology in the classroom. Hour of Code integrates all different subject areas into coding such as art and history. The website has over 20 tutorials that include iconic characters from Frozen, Star Wars, and Ice Age.

3. The final step is to start coding!

For more information visit: https://hourofcode.com/us   

Gliffy Diagrams is an application for chrome that you can use to create flow charts, Venn diagrams, and even floor plans. Now I know that not most people will use the floor plan option, but Gliffy Diagrams is still a super useful chart creator!

Downloading Gliffy Diagrams

To download Gliffy Diagrams, go to the chrome web store. Once there, click on the search bar and type in “gliffy” and scroll down to the section titled “Apps”. It should be the first option out of the apps. When you have found it, click add to chrome and Gliffy Diagrams will be added to your apps.

Opening Gliffy Diagrams

To access Gliffy Diagrams, click on the circular button at the bottom left of the screen. This will pull up a separate window in which you will click “All Apps” located in the bottom right of the window. After that, find the icon for Gliffy Diagrams and click on it. This will open up the application, and you can begin working.

Getting Started

The first thing that you must do before creating a diagram, is create an account for Gliffy Diagrams. (My advice would be to use your school account) Once you have done so, a window will pop up with some basics on how to work Gliffy.

What Type of Diagram Should I Choose?

Gliffy gives the choice of twelve different types of shapes and icons to use in your diagram. The twelve options are shown below:

• Basic Shapes – this category includes basic shapes such as triangles, squares, and stars.

• Flowchart –  this option has many unique shapes such as arrows, diamonds, and trapezoids.

• Swimlanes – these are commonly used in process flow charts and show different steps (can be positioned vertically or horizontally)

• BPMN – this is a more advanced flowchart. Mostly for describing processes in business.

• Entity-Relationship – this is a graphical representation of an information system that shows the relationship between objects, people, or places.

• Network – graphically displays interdependent relationships between groups, tasks, and steps as they impact a project.

• Venn Diagram – this is used to compare and contrast different topics.

• User Interface – describes how a user interacts with an application or a website. These help improve a user’s overall experience.

• Sitemap – the sitemap option is used to organize information and direct users to certain sites, images, or any other media.

• Floorplan – this is used to make a general outline of a floorplan in a house. You can even select a type of room and choose from a couple of items that are found in that room.

Gliffy Sidebar and Toolbar

Gliffy Diagrams has two different bars that you can use to get the best experience making a diagram; a sidebar and a toolbar. The toolbar is located across the top of the screen and is used to perform functions such as zooming in and out, adding text and shapes, and grouping objects together. The sidebar, on the other hand, is where you can pick out of twelve different categories of shapes and items for your graph.

Printing and Exporting files

Gliffy Diagrams allows you to print out the diagrams you have created or export your file. Diagrams made by Gliffy can exported as PNG, JPG, and  SVG files. To export or print these files, hover your mouse over the tab labeled “File” at the top left of the screen. A menu will drop down in which you will find many options; to print your diagrams, click “Print” at the bottom of the pop up window.

How Do I Save My Diagram?

To save your created diagrams click on the button labeled “File” and then click either save or save as. Same with printing you can save your image to your desktop or Google drive as a PNG, JPG or SVG file.

Why Choose Gliffy Diagrams?

Gliffy Diagrams is a free application that allows you to create all different kinds of charts and diagrams. The best feature about Gliffy is it’s simplicity and easy to use interface. There are a ton of options and possibilities to explore with Gliffy Diagrams!

Click on the link below to read all about our hard-working Google Classroom Team!

https://www.smore.com/avfgm

Chrome Squad Visitors

Last Thursday, October 27, the Chrome Squad was visited by two schools; Mckinney and Sulfur Springs. Both Sulfur Springs and Mckinney have implemented a program of their own which is based on our very own Chrome Squad! The objective of our meeting was for students/administers in both the Chrome Squad and other schools to discuss how each group runs day to day business and answer any questions they had.

The first of the two groups to visit our school was the Technocats from Mckinney. The group consisted of about twenty students , both male and female,  most of which were seniors. All the Chrome Squad members got the chance to socialize with the students from McKinney and learn more about how they conduct their program. Overall the program that McKinney has created works well for their school. Only minor changes need to be made to improve the program they already have.

The second group to visit us was about 12 students from Sulfur Springs. This group was a lot of fun to talk to because they all had so many ideas and questions to bring to us. I enjoyed the discussions that we had concerning the work that we do as teams as well as the work we do to improve the entire Chrome Squad. The only issue that seemed to arise with Sulfur Spring’s program was a lack of organization although this can easily be fixed.

Both groups that came that day were absolutely amazing. It’s extraordinary how other students in different schools are making the same effort as the Chrome Squad is in our school. Even though none of the three programs are perfect, we are all trying to make a difference within our school. I loved this experience because I was able to talk to other people and offer advice on how to make their programs better. I realized that even the Chrome Squad isn’t done growing, because there is still a lot that we can improve on. I believe that this visit was beneficial to all three groups, and our technology programs will continue to grow in the future.

What’s an Extension?

Chrome extensions are small software programs that give more functionality to the Chrome browser. The extensions you download from the Chrome web store show up next to the search bar. There are extensions for basically anything from spell check to super addictive games like Papa’s Pizzeria.

How Can an Extension Help Me?

Extensions are great for quickly accessing things you use daily such as Google Classroom. They come in handy when you do not want to open a new tab. There are a bunch of extensions out there that can help with simple things such as spelling and grammar. Extensions are quick and easy to use. Some of the most useful extensions are notepads and sticky notes which work great as a planner or to-do list.

Which Extensions Should I Use?

The following extensions are ideal for writing essays or making presentations. The specific instructions for how to use each individual extension are on the download page.

• Cite This For Me: Website Citer
  • This is great for when you’re writing an essay, but don’t want to take the time to cite every website. The extension has MLA, Harvard, APA, and Chicago forms of citation.
• Palette Creator
  • To make a dazzling presentation, use this extension to create the perfect color scheme. When you right click on a picture, it gives the option to create a palette. This palette is not only aesthetically pleasing but also creates a better flow and an overall more appealing presentation.
• Grammarly
  • Grammarly checks not only the spelling but also the grammar of your writing. All that you have to do is copy and paste the writing into the extension and recommendations changes will appear.
• Google Dictionary
  • When you’re reading an article, and don’t know the meaning of a word, all you have to do is click the extension for a quick definition.