Monthly Archives: November 2011

Using Moodle

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This week, I am writing my blog about my thoughts on Moodle, and how I will use it in my classes.  I like to say that I look at things optimistically, and at first I was not too nervous about installing Moodle and exploring some of the features on it.  When I first went to install it on Wednesday, I thought that I was following the correct procedure, and installing the correct version of Moodle.  However, somewhere along the process, and after rereading some things, I realized that I had to go back and install a different version of Moodle.  I did this, and then went on to install Jing.  I have to say that I think that Jing is pretty cool, and I really like what I have seen of it.  I did, however have to install it twice to get it to work.

After reading some of my colleagues’ posts in section 5.1, and discovering that I was not the only one who had difficulty with Moodle, I immediately thought to myself: I either did this wrong, or I got really lucky.  I think I got lucky, and after installing the correct version of Moodle, I was able to explore some of the features of it.  One thing that I especially like is the calendar where you can add events.  I love being able to see events and have reminders when items are approaching.

As I explored some other features of Moodle, I found some that I think I would use in my Tech Ed classes, but I think that I need to explore them a little further.  I do like what I saw of the grading system.  Right now, I use Power School at my school district, and I find that an online grading system is extremely beneficial.  Although this grading system is a bit different, I think it can be adjusted to suit my needs for my classes.

Another feature that one of my colleagues brought to my attention in a 5.1 post was the feature that lets you insert comments.  Any type of feedback is essential to have a productive learning environment.  Being able to insert a quick comment is a great way to let students know a teacher’s thoughts on their work.

I can also see myself using Jing when I make instruction packets for students.  It is a great feature to further illustrate key points when explaining a lesson.  For example, check out the screen shot below.

Besides teaching wood shop, I also teach drafting. In both subject areas, I am constantly creating project instructions and many times have to focus on key details that really impact the projects.  In the picture above, if the angle is slightly off, then the picture will be distorted.  It is a small detail that plays a large part.  The link below contains the full lesson of creating two dimensional drawings from a three dimensional object.

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=199067&title=The_fundamentals_of_Orthographic_drawings

I can honestly say that I do not completely understand how to use Moodle.  I am sure that over the next couple of weeks, I will understand Moodle a little better, and hopefully the outcome will be successful.

Resources:

Cooch, M. (2011).Moodle 2.0 First Look. Birmingham-Mumbai: PACKT Publishing

The Fundamentals of Orthographic Drawings. Teacher Tube. Retrieved on November 26, 2011 From http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=199067&title=The_fundamentals_of_Orthographic_drawings

 

 

 

 

 

Before You Build

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Before we can begin talking about any type of woodworking project, it is important that we learn about the journey of our lumber.  From the forest to the lumberyard, there is a complex journey which turns logs into lumber.

We have different types of lumber that come from different types of trees.  When classifying lumber, we have two major groups, hardwoods and softwoods.  Hardwoods come from deciduous trees, broad leaved trees which loose their leaves in the fall.  Also, the cells in hardwoods are packed closely together.  Some examples of hardwoods are oak, maple, and hickory.

Softwoods comes from coniferous or cone bearing trees.  These trees are evergreens.  They have needle-like leaves which they do not loose in the fall.  The cells in softwoods are more spread out than those in hardwoods.  Some examples of softwoods are pine, fir, and cedar.

The process of cutting down trees is called felling.  Although the use of man and chainsaw is still found today, there are machines which can harvest lumber more efficiently and leave less damage in the forest.  Once the logs are on the ground the limbs are cut off, and the logs are cut to a specified length.  Trucks are then loaded, and the lumber is taken to the mill to be processed.  Once the lumber is cut, it is placed into a kiln, which dries the wood to a specific moisture content.

Click the link below to check out how a lumber mill operates!

Deconstruction: Building a House: Wood Processing

When selecting lumber, it is important to take in some considerations.  Be sure to check for defects in the lumber.  Some defects to avoid when purchasing lumber would be: bows, warps, and cups.  These defects can affect the outcome of your projects.  It might be worth the extra time that it takes to pick through the piles of lumber and be sure that you are purchasing quality material.

Another important aspect of preparing a project is being sure that you have the proper plans.  Whether you are coming up with your own creative designs, or changing an existing plan, it is important to take the time to plan out your projects.  It is much easier to make changes on a piece of paper, not in the middle of construction in the shop.

One last item to consider before beginning your woodworking project: make sure all of your tools and machines are functioning properly.  SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR!  Working in a shop setting is dangerous enough as at is, so please take the time to check your equipment.

Safety..First, last, and always!

Over the next few weeks, I will be posting a lesson on safe working habits while in the shop.  For now, you have a little knowledge about types of wood, the milling process, and some basic tips on beginning a project.  Keep in mind, that the steps in beginning a project can be applied for many different woodworking projects.  Good luck, and stay safe when working!

References:

Deconstruction: Building a House: Wood Processing. Retrieved November 16, 2011 from http://videos.howstuffworks.com/science-channel/36912-deconstruction-building-a-house-wood-processing-video.htm

Hacker, M. and Burghardt, D. (2004). Technology Education Learning by Design. New Jersey: Pearson-Prentice Hall.

Log Image. Retrieved November 16, 2011 from www.fordaq.com

Safety First Image.  Retrieved November 16, 2011 from:bigstock_Safety_First_Vector_7506065