This is a lesson with a focus on current events. In this case, we're looking at file sharing, and in particular, Limewire.

Because we've covered this lesson with grade 6, 7, and 8, I would encourage all of you to have a listen:

Topics covered:
- What is peer-to-peer sharing?
- Is Limwire legal/illegal?
- What does the interface mean? What about bitrates?
- What are *we* sharing with the rest of the world?
- How could our information be used for identity theft?
- How do we un-share folders?
- Where can we get legal music?

Click here to listen

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Click here to listen to today's lesson.

Just a quick recap around the room on what we're doing:

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There was no podcast today. You are moving along at a great pace with your databases. Next week we will be creating reports based off of the information you have put in, and then creating a new database to cater to persons with the disability you have chosen.

Don't forget - phone numbers can exists and display properly if the field type is a text format.

Changes you make when defining the database will not be immediately reflected in how the database entry screen is displayed. This is one of the main differences between Browse Mode (where you input your data and perform searches) and Layout Mode (where you change the look and interface of your database). Get familiar with Layout Mode - you can move any of the database fields around and make them larger or smaller. This is especially handy if you have included a database field to hold a picture. One last point - a picture field in a database must be of a type called "container" (it contains a picture). You can copy and paste into that field at will.

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You will have spent the majority of today's class researching more on your disabilities. The majority of you are at the planning phase and starting to put your ideas into a brainstorm. Don't forget to take into account any allowances or constraints your product might have. If you feel that your product is too specific for a particular group of people, you should consider either narrowing the focus of your target group, or expanding the purpose of your product.

Which do you feel would be more advantageous?

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There was no recording today, as you were carrying out research on your disability.

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Click here Click here to download today's lesson.

Today we recapped some Filemaker basics and discussed how much detail we need to go into when creating a database. You started creating a contacts database, as well as value lists for fields such as "Title" and "Gender".

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There is no recording for today's lesson, as it is a repeat of the 8MU lesson from last week.

You are carrying out more research for your interfaces project, which will involve you choosing a disability you will specialise in, and finding/improving upon existing usability interfaces for them.

Click here to listen to 8MU's lesson from January 17th.

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Click here to listen today's lesson.

Because we spent last week catching up with our documentation, today we looked at the beginning of our Interfaces project. More information is available in the Interfaces category on the Westminster Tech Weblog.

Today you will have used our past weblog entries to look at computer facilities for disabled users. You will be researching existing solutions for those who are hindered when they need to use computers. Research will go into a Word file, with properly cited references.

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Click here to download today's lesson.

This is the video of both 8th grade classes testing their flying toys in Regent's Park.

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Download file

I'm posting this file here as a resource for some Grade 8s who need some help with a presentation. Please feel free to download and view it.

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