Lights On! Afterschool

The Lights On Afterschool event, hosted by Youth Development Commission, was a great success. I wish that more of you would have been able to attend. Lights on Afterschool is a national event that puts the focus on the need for afterschool programs. Our clubhouse was invited to participate in an Art Show and Sale, in which all proceeds would go to our program. I, along with Mrs. Pope, the Girls Day volunteer mentor, Bryan, Kelly, Keyona, and Jessica attended. We sold craft items created in the clubhouse. We made $17.25. Plans are to use these funds for the Halloween party on Friday, October 31. Now $17.25 will not buy very much, so if you plan to attend, you need to plan to bring something. (See me to sign up for what you will bring). Costumes are optional.

Everyone should know that they must have a three-ring binder. You should have completed the following projects or instructions:

1. You should have a cover page that you created using The Print Shop or MS Publisher.
2. You should be using the typing tutor program during every clubhouse visit and logging the results of the typing test on the Typing Test Log sheet (located on the front table). This sheet is to be kept in your binder.
3. You should have a folder on the network in the Members folder and know how to navigate to it. Remember: "public on Nwac-svr" (Example: p:\members\cblue)
4. You should have at least 10 pictures of you in your folder. You can be in a picture with other people. If you don't have at least 10 pictures, see me for a camera so you can get to shooting.
5. You should know how to manipulate a photo using Adobe Photoshop.
6. All teens should have started a resume. If you have not, see me for help. It is not hard to do. You should be preparing yourself to be ready to job hunt for a summer job (in the spring).
7. Lastly, You should have started a PowerPoint presentation that documents your experiences in the NWAC Intel Computer Clubhouse.

If you want to remain a member of the clubhouse, these things are required to be completed. If you need any help, just ask. There are several members, in addition to me, who can assist you to do these projects.

The purpose of today's blog is to tell you about the Lights On Afterschool event. I hope that you enjoy this reading. Please note that the photographs were taken by Bryan Lee and Keyona Lee.

Lights On Afterschool was held on October 16 at the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit located in the "Cultural Center" across from the DIA. We were directed to our table to set up our crafts for sale. The room had several selling/display tables as well as a stage and chairs aligned auditorium style.Our table was sandwiched between a very creative clown and a gentleman who created puppets. The clown was busy making balloon characters for all the kids. There was a line of about 50 kids waiting patiently to get their choice of creation. Some kids had the clown make them hats, others chose to have a bracelet or a sword. No matter what the request, Mr. Clown responded with a balloon twisted to the desired request. I saw Bryan with a sword and a hat. Kelly also had a hat, while Keyona and Jessica each were made a lovely bracelet.

Of course the clown was not the only entertainment, there were several live performances, including singing, dancing, African drumming. There was even a young lady who did a dramatic dance as a mime.

The entire event was fun for all. We certainly would like to thank the Youth Development Commission for inviting our clubhouse to participate.

We Do Multimedia

I'm very pleased that so many members have set up and started using a gmail account. I informed several members that they are required to write at least two paragraphs. I'm hoping that this writing practice will help improve your writing skills, so pay attention to punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, etc. Try to write your best each time.

The Computer Clubhouse is a place where you learn to use the computer to design, create, invent and explore. We do this through multimedia - writing, drawing, photography, recording audio and video, making movies, and creating animation. We have spent September working with alot of text projects - typing practice and writing email/chat messages. October will have us adding graphic design projects. Our goals this month are to create at least two projects using Microsoft PowerPoint, The Print Shop, and Adobe Photoshop. We will be using the digital camera to get pictures for our projects. You may also bring in photos to scan into the computer for use in projects. These photos can be of you, your family members, or even from your favorite magazine. Remember that the projects that you create can be posted on the Clubhouse Village. If you do not have a Village username and password, you need to let me know so it can be set up.

Girls Day - Great Day!

Girls Day had the same number of girls as last week (4), but they weren't the same girls. This week there were: Destiny, Keyona, Kelly and Jessica. I hope that Liz, Keyah, Diamond and Domonek will return next week. It would be great to have 8 - 10 girls on Girls Day.

To Destiny, Keyona, Kelly and Jessica
Now that you have a Google account, you can provide a comment after reading this, just enter your username and password. How did you like this Girls Day? What did you learn? What do you want to learn or do in the clubhouse? I'm glad we were able to learn about gmail and chatting. We will be using our Google account for many other things (See below "Google Offers a Lot"). Remember to read every posting and write a comment by clicking on the comment link. Your comment must pertain to the specific post. You can tell me what you think of it and ask any questions you have regarding it.

I know that we have not had time to do any crafts on Girls Day, but it is important for you to learn the software and hardware that is in the clubhouse. You should know how to use the microscope, the blue video camera, the white digital camera, the microphone and the scanner. (If you have not been introduced to these devices, please tell me in your comment.) In the past two weeks, we have also learned about Typing Quick and Easy, KidPix, MS Word, The Print Shop, Photoshop, the Clubhouse Village, and navigating to and saving to your folder. Let me know if you have never used any of these programs. If you need any help on using these, let me know.

This week (and pretty much, every week) we will be taking pictures. We will be learning a lot of techniques by using Adobe Photoshop. Look on the bookshelf for a step-by-step training book for a Photoshop project. There are several to choose from, such as Creating a Personal Logo. You can also get an idea for a project by checking out some of the example on the wall. Send me an email (or put it in your comment) stating what project you want to do. Our plan for next Girls Day is to Upload a Picture or Project to Your Village Account (everyone should already have a username and password for the Village).

Teens & Pre-teens

I have posted my email and blog addresses in the clubhouse. They are also included in the orientation information.

All members are required to send to me, at least once every week, a personally written email message. This should be a minimum of two (2) paragraphs and you can write to me about whatever you like. You are also required to read this blog and write a comment.

The NWAC Intel Computer Clubhouse is a place to learn. I will not repeatedly explain to any member that you must follow the rules and expectations of the clubhouse The computers are used to design, create, invent and explore. If you come to the clubhouse expecting to sit in front of the screen and watch youtube, music videos, or cartoons, your membership will be terminated. When you come to the clubhouse you are expected to do projects. If you complete the project, try to do another project. Your goal is to learn about the various software and hardware in the clubhouse. You should look on the bookshelf, on the Village, or google search for a tutorial that you can try to complete. You should be able to listen to music and create and design at the same time.

There is a difference between teenagers and pre-teenagers. I expect teenagers to take on more responsibility for their own learning. This is why I have different days for different age groups to come to the clubhouse. The following is what I expect from each group.

Clubhouse Pre-teens (ages 8 - 12)
I (or a clubhouse mentor) will always provide an instructional project that the entire clubhouse will do step-by-step. This lesson will begin at 5:00pm and may not end until after 6:00pm. If you want to know in advance what the project will be (and you have access to a computer) you can check this blog on Sunday evening and I will have a list for the week. Remember, if you miss the lesson and you attend the clubhouse on that week's Friday, I (or a clubhouse mentor) will be happy to help you do the project.

Clubhouse Teens (ages 13-18)
You have a greater responsibility when you come into the clubhouse because I expect you to be able to follow written and video instructions. I will provide tutorials for various projects that you are required to complete and put in your portfolio. Each time you come to the clubhouse you are required to work on a project. If you have a preference, such as writing, recording, drawing, etc., than you can work on the project you choose. Otherwise, you must complete the assigned project for that day. Everyone should have a clear-view, 3-ring binder. You should have received the Portfolio Requirements hand-out. This is your guide. This is your goal. I am here to assist you. If you are not in the clubhouse to improve yourself. If you want to treat the computer like it is a television. If you are not interested in learning to use the computer to design, create, invent, and explore. You don't want to be a member of the NWAC Intel Computer Clubhouse. I wish you the best, but you will not be "hanging out" in this clubhouse.

For Clubhouse Members

This website's goal is to provide information to, for and about the members of the NWAC Intel Computer Clubhouse. All members will read the daily posting and provide a comment. Remember that your comment can be a question, or suggestion about doing things in the clubhouse. Everyone must have a clubhouse village username and password (http://www.clubhousevillage.org/). If you don't have this, please let me know so I can set it up. Over the next week, I want everyone to update their profile on the village; upload a picture for your profile; and upload at least one project. It is important that you introduce yourself to members in the clubhouse that you don't know or who don't know you. If you have not sat at the green table and received the information that "Every Clubhouse Member Must Know" than you need to see me right away. It is important for you to know the clubhouse rules. This is not the library. You cannot come into the clubhouse and just "use" a computer. You must do clubhouse activities using the software on the computers.

Google Offers a Lot

Girls Day was great. I was glad to have Keyah, Lizzie, Domonek, Diamond and Arica in the clubhouse, today. They were introduced to the peripherals attached to various computers. They learned to use the QX3 Microscope, the Digital Blue Movie Maker, the Intel Create and Share Digital Camera, and the Epson scanner. I demonstrated, after using the camera and the scanner, how to put the file in your folder. They are just learning about navigating to their folder, so I can't wait to see who can copy/move a file to their folder without my help. I, also, set up a gmail account for all, except Arica. They each have an igoogle page. We had a lot of fun deciding what to add. We have only just begun our venture into the offerings of Google. I know we have to pace ourselves, but I can't wait to show them the calendar, chat, books, photos, documents, blogs and more. I know that as our girls day members increase, they will help to teach new members.

Welcome Clubhouse Members

September 8th was the start of the NWAC Intel Computer Clubhouse 2008-2009 program. All members will view this blog and provide comments as they deem appropriate. Remember, the clubhouse wants to guide you to become designers, creators, inventors and explorers. Each visit use your time in the clubhouse to explore software applications. There are many features and abilities to Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere. The computers in the clubhouse have software for writing, drawing, designing, creating and much more. Try to learn or do something new each time you come to the clubhouse.
Mrs. Blue