We'll repeat the online Zoom meeting tomorrow, April 9th, at 10:00 a.m.

Updated 4/13/20 to add link for how to use Zoom meetings on iPad (see below)

Remember that Friday, April 10th, is a holiday, so there will be no assignments or blog posts.

If you received any emails Wednesday evening that said you're registered at Zoom or that a Zoom meeting was canceled, just ignore them and delete them. Like I said, I'm still learning. 

We are meeting online again on Zoom tomorrow (Thursday, April 9th). 

Use the same link, meeting ID, and password that we used yesterday. I cannot post them here on the blog for security reasons, so open the same invitation to Zoom email or text that I sent yesterday. The link, meeting ID, and password are there.

Congratulations to those of you who were able to participate in the online Zoom meeting this morning! 

We had some trouble, but we managed to see and hear each other. I'm still learning how to do things like share my computer screen with everyone during a meeting. Hopefully I'll get better at it.

Below I have posted some links to YouTube videos that give instructions for using a cell phone to join a Zoom meeting.

Click the links below to watch videos on how to install the Zoom app and join a meeting on a Samsung phone, which uses the Android operating system (1st and 2nd links) or on an iPhone (3rd link) or iPad (4th link).

At the end of the post, there are also instructions for how to chat on Zoom if you have an Android phone like the Samsung. 

LINK: How to install Zoom on Samsung phones

LINK: How to join a meeting on Zoom with an Android phone

LINK: How to join a Zoom meeting on an iPhone

LINK: How to use Zoom meeting on iPad

How to chat in Zoom (mobile app)

1. Download the Zoom app for iOS or Android.
2. Open the app and start or join a meeting.
3. Tap the screen to make the controls bar appear. 
4. Tap on Participants. 
5. At the bottom of the list, tap Chat.
6. Type your message and tap Send. If you want to send to a specific person, tap the arrow next to "Send to:" and choose from the list.
7. When new chat messages are sent, they will be displayed at the bottom of the screen. Tap Participants, then Chat to view them.

The above instructions were found at this link: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/how-to-chat-in-zoom

Online meetings start Wednesday, April 8, at 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Remember, there will be no class, homework, or blog post on Friday, April 10 (Good Friday).

Today I sent out an invitation (both by text and by email)  to join our online meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, 4/8/20) at 10:00 a.m. I look forward to seeing and talking to you tomorrow. I included instructions in the invitation message, but below are some direction with pictures that might be helpful. 

I probably forgot something in these instructions. If you don't understand them or have any kind of trouble when you try to join the meeting at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, simply call me on my cell phone (309) 948-9615 and I will help you.

1) A few minutes before 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, open the text or email with the invitation and click on the link I provided. The link will take you to the Zoom website.*

*If you have trouble getting the link to work, simply open the web browser on your computer or smart phone (Chrome, Explorer, Safari, etc.) and type Zoom.com in the address window. At the Zoom website you will then click Join a Meeting at the top of the screen. You will be asked to type in the meeting I.D. and then the password (you will find these in your invitation message). The screen on your device will look like this:

2) If the link works, it will automatically take you to the meeting site at Zoom.com. Click where it says Open Zoom in the smaller box at the top of your computer or phone screen.

4) If you have never used Zoom before, you will probably have to download Zoom to your computer or phone. If you need to download Zoom, click on the screen where you see the words download & run Zoom. After that you can click Open Zoom again.

5) When the meeting screen opens, you may need to click a box that says Connect with Video. You will then be able to see the people in the meeting. 

6) You may see a box that looks like this:

On your screen, click the box that says Join with Computer Audio     

If you have trouble with the audio, there is also a way to use the audio on your smart phone. On your computer or phone, click Phone Call (upper left of the box). Then you will call a number with your smart phone. You will be asked to type in the meeting I.D. and then the password (these are provided in your invitation). The phone number to dial is (312) 626-6799.

I probably forgot something in these instructions. If you don't understand them or have any kind of trouble, simply call me on my cell phone: (309) 948-9615 and I will help you.

Monday, April 6, 2020 Announcements and Assignments Updated

 Monday, April 6, 2020

This Friday, April 10th, is a holiday on the Black Hawk College school calendar (Good Friday). There will be no online class or homework assignments on Friday.

Announcements (updated)

NOTE: As you read the information below, do not panic about learning to use your phone , laptop, TV, etc., to enter an online classroom. I am learning too, and we will all help each other!

1) On Tuesday, April 7th, I will send you information by email and text message about how to join our first online meeting. 

In the email and text, you will receive a link. Clicking the link will take you to the online meeting website. We will talk and catch up with each other, answer any questions, and practice using the controls.

I will schedule our first “live” online class for Wednesday, April 8th, at 10 a.m. Online meetings are pretty new to me, too, so I expect that I will make some mistakes as I set this up. I’m sure you will make mistakes too, but we’ll all learn together and help each other. It will last about an hour.

The good thing about having to do class online is that we should all gain a lot more digital literacy. Digital literacy means knowing how to use computers, smartphones, etc., to do different things. I hope we can increase not only your English language skills, but also your technology skills. 


Assignments

1) Please check to see whether you have texted or emailed me the assignments from each day last week that are highlighted in blue-green.

2) You can check the answers to homework assignments #3 and #4 from Friday, 4/3/20 (except for the part I asked you to send to me), by clicking that date under the "Homework Answers" heading on the upper right area of this page. It looks like this:       

 

3) Grammar

There is only one assignment for today (due Tuesday, April 7th), because tomorrow you will receive your directions for preparing to join our online class on Wednesday. That will be plenty for you to work on!

Future English 3 Workbook, p. 145, Exercises C and D
(more practice with past passive verbs)

You do not need to send me your work for this assignment. The answers will be posted tomorrow for you to check your work.

Monday, April 6, 2020 Announcements

Monday, April 6, 2020

Announcements

1) Because I have two online meetings today, I will post today’s assignments later in the day. I will post the answers to Friday’s homework at the same time, under the Homework Answers heading on the right side of the blog page.

2) Here is another link to information about the coronavirus. Most information is in English, but there are news videos in a few other languages. There is also a phone number you can call.

LINK: COVID-19 Crisis Response

What Does Teacher Kathy Always Say?

English hates you and wants to drive you crazy!!!