Computer – Seventh Level

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Course Description — Students will understand basic computer and internet usage and obtain word processing skills as well as practice in-depth with the following: first grade, typing; second grade, Paint, Publisher; third grade, PowerPoint; fourth grade, Scratch (computer programming); fifth grade, WordPress blogs; sixth grade, HTML; seventh grade, graphic design including photo manipulation; eighth grade, spreadsheets; high school computer courses are listed on the high school page. (Equivalent free software can be used for any of the listed programs.)


Week 1

Welcome to your first day of school! I wanted to give you one important reminder before you begin. Many of your lessons below have an internet link for you to click on. When you go to the different internet pages for your lessons, please DO NOT click on anything else on that page except what the directions tell you to. DO NOT click on any advertisements or games. DO NOT click on anything that takes you to a different website. Just stay focused on your lesson and then close that window and you should be right back here for the next lesson. Okay?

Internet Review

  1. If you didn’t get here through My EP Assignments, I suggest you go there and create an account.
  2. Internet Safety Reminders: Do not download anything onto your computer without permission. Do not click on any advertising on a website even if it looks like a game to play. You can also turn off advertising, so you don’t see bad images. Don’t give out your name, address, phone number, email address, photo, etc. online without permission. Do you remember these words: browser, desktop, window, crash, loading, refresh, download? If not, ask someone.
  3. Internet safe search — When you want to find something on the internet, you have to be careful how you look for it. Here are some tips. Be as specific as possible in your search. Type as many words as you know that will help you find what you are looking for. That will help keep things you are not looking for from coming up. Also, use kid-friendly search engines. Here is one place you can go to search.
  4. Internet Safety — Here are some tips for staying safe when you use the internet. Never sign up for anything online without permission. When a site asks for a username, you are not supposed to give your real name. Make up a pretend name for yourself. Never tell anyone online your real name, address, phone number or email address unless your parents tell you it is okay. Even if it’s a friend online, don’t give them information about yourself unless you have permission.
  5. Internet security — There are different tools that are used for security on the internet. One is passwords. A password is a secret word that you use to let the computer or website know that you are you. The best passwords have letters and numbers in them. I use a really good password for important websites (that you don’t use–like for my bank information) but I use a silly password for websites where it is not important, like to play a game. Use only one or two passwords or you’ll forget which password you used where! So many places ask for passwords now. Choose passwords that are at least 6 letters/numbers long. Sometimes 8 is required. Another tool is software that protects your computer from viruses and adware. A computer virus is a command that sneaks into your computer and tells it to do something you don’t want it to do, like erase everything on your computer! Adware sneaks advertisers info onto your computer. You probably have anti-virus software on your computer. A free program is called Avast. Your computer should block ads that are called “pop-ups.” Sometimes you’ll see a note that says a “pop-up” was prevented from opening. This was a website trying to force their advertisement on you. Sometimes worse. Most of the time you don’t want to see the pop-up that was blocked, but sometimes you need that pop-up for whatever you are doing. If you want to see the pop-up that was blocked, go and ask a parent if it is okay.
  6. If something should pop up, just look for an X to close it down. It is often hidden. Look in the top right corner. Sometimes you have to click on “No Thanks.” It’s usually written in smaller letters and in a font that makes it harder to see. They don’t want you to close it and refuse their offer. But you can outsmart them. Don’t let them make you feel forced to accept whatever they are pushing.
  7. This is the end of your work for this course for today. You are allowed to move at your own pace (this is homeschooling), but it’s intended you complete one lesson each week.


Week 2

Word processing review

  1. Choose a template. Change its text — wording, color, font, size.
  2. Make sure you save it in a folder with your name on it.
Week 3
Computer Graphic Design
  1. This year is about graphic design. This is something that can become a career, but it is also useful to anyone. You can save yourself money by learning how to do some of this for yourself. You can design your own cards, fix up pictures, design covers and signs.
  2. We are going to be using free software.
  3. We are going to use a couple different programs this year. The first is Inkscape. You want to download the official release package.
  4. Today download it.  Ask someone to help you choose the right option for your computer.
    • For Windows based:  I clicked on the Windows option, then 64-bit, then “exe format.” (If you are not sure if you need 32-bit or 64-bit, ask for help checking in control panel.) After it downloads, remember to click on “Open.”
    • For older MAC systems, this video may help.
    • There is a browser extension available for Chromebooks.
  5. Then look at the clip art that other people have made with this program.
Week 4
Inkscape
  1. Watch this video for beginners using Inkscape.
  2. Then make a ball. You can make it full screen.


Week 5

  1. Read through Moving, Scaling, Rotating.
  2. Make a variety of shapes and move, scale and rotate them.


Week 6

  1. Read through Fill and Stroke.
  2. Try out the various things thoroughly. Save your work and show your parents what you’ve learned so far.


Week 7

  1. Read through the conclusion.
  2. Try out everything thoroughly. Save your work.


Week 8

  1. Read through the first two pages of this tutorial.
  2. Keep experimenting.


Week 9

  1. Read through the edit tool section of the tutorial.
  2. Try each thing out.


Week 10

  1. Read through the zoom, rectangle and circle tool sections of the tutorial.
  2. Try it all out.


Week 11

  1. Read through the star and spiral tool sections.
  2. Try out all the different kinds.


Week 12

  1. Read through the freehand and line tool sections.
  2. Try it all out.


Week 13

  1. Finish chapter 1 .
  2. Try it all out.


Week 14

  1. Here is a more advanced tutorial. Read and try the pasting techniques.
  2. Start working on a logo for your blog or website. If you are not keeping up with your blog or website, then you can make a logo for EP or for your family or yourself.


Week 15

  1. Read the drawing freehand and editing paths sections and give it a try.
  2. Work on your logo.


Week 16

  1. Read the subpaths and combining sections.
  2. Try it out.


Week 17

  1. Try the Boolean and inset/outset sections.


Week 18

  1. Finish the tutorial today.
Week 19
Gimp
  1. Today we are going to start using a different type of software. It’s called Gimp and it’s for manipulating photos.
  2. There is a Chrome extension that you can use instead of downloading the software.
  3. Today download it and look at examples.
    • It may prompt you that you need to download something else for it to work. Please follow the directions it gives you.
  4. Watch the video on saving your files. Try it out.
  5. Here’s the official Gimp site tutorials.


Week 20

  1. Today watch these tutorials. (These are all from the same video, so when it starts a new section you can stop.)
  2. Upload some photos that you want to work with and explore around a bit.


Week 21

  1. Watch these tutorials.
  2. Try it out. After each tutorial, you have to do it. You haven’t finished your lesson until you’ve tried each thing. Choose an image to work on. If you don’t have one, go to here is clipart you could use.


Week 22

  1. Watch these tutorials. Remember that you can just jump back if you need to review a section.
  2. Try things out.


Week 23

  1. Watch these tutorials.
  2. Try things out.


Week 24

  1. Watch these tutorials.
  2. Try things out. Remember, you aren’t done your lesson until you’ve tried each thing.


Week 25

  1. Watch the tutorials.
  2. Try it out.


Week 26

  1. Watch the tutorials.
  2. Try it out.


Week 27

  1. Watch the tutorials.
  2. Try it out.


Week 28

  1. Watch the tutorials.
  2. Try it out.


Week 29

  1. Watch the tutorials.
  2. Try it out.


Week 30

  1. Watch the tutorials.
  2. Try it out.


Week 31

  1. Watch the video tutorials.
  2. Try it out. Remember, you aren’t done until you’ve tried it all.


Week 32

  1. Watch the video tutorials.
  2. Try it out.


Week 33

  1. Watch the video tutorials.
  2. Try it out.


Week 34

  1. Here is an example of someone making a wallpaper background. They are using an older version of Gimp, but it’s an example.
  2. Decide on a final project. It needs to show off some of what you’ve learned. Maybe you could make a present.
  3. Choose an image or get an image to work on. What are you going to do with it? You’ve been messing around. Now, work with a purpose. Decide on an end goal and think about what you need to do to get there.


Week 35

  1. How to make see through text.
  2. How to remove red eyes.
  3. Watch the video on fancy corners. (This youtube channel has more of these tips and tricks.)
  4. Work on your project.


Week 36

  1. Finish your project. What can you do?

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