COMPUTERS AND TECHNOLOGY - SPRING, 2026

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DATE	Information/Activities/Projects and Assignments
TUESDAY- WEDNESDAY 4/28-29/2026	BELLRINGER: Let's start by gathering some elements for our project. Please complete the STARTING TO GATHER MEDIA MINI-PROJECT. Save these files to a FOLDER THAT YOU CREATE IN YOUR DOWNLOAD FOLDER. NAME THE FOLDER "YOURNAME." OUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR TODAY: SECOND SESSION: Students should be working on their AI STORY PROJECT. For today, you should be working on putting together your STORYBOARD for your video. The STORYBOARD will be a 50 point assignment for this project. If you are done with your storyboard, please show it to Mrs. Elder, who will decide if you have all of the elements in place and will give you a grade. ONLY 50/50 GRADES WILL BE ACCEPTED ON THE STORYBOARD BEFORE YOU CAN MOVE ON. DONE WITH YOUR STORYBOARD? Start putting together your video elements: Music, Visuals, Titles, Images, Sound Effects.
TUESDAY- WEDNESDAY 4/28-29/2026	BELLRINGER: Let's start by gathering some elements for our project. Please complete the STARTING TO GATHER MEDIA MINI-PROJECT. Save these files to a FOLDER THAT YOU CREATE IN YOUR DOWNLOAD FOLDER. NAME THE FOLDER "YOURNAME." OUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR TODAY: SECOND SESSION: Students should be working on their AI STORY PROJECT. For today, you should be working on putting together your STORYBOARD for your video. The STORYBOARD will be a 50 point assignment for this project. If you are done with your storyboard, please show it to Mrs. Elder, who will decide if you have all of the elements in place and will give you a grade. ONLY 50/50 GRADES WILL BE ACCEPTED ON THE STORYBOARD BEFORE YOU CAN MOVE ON. DONE WITH YOUR STORYBOARD? Start putting together your video elements: Music, Visuals, Titles, Images, Sound Effects.
MONDAY 4/27/2026	OUR SESSIONS: FIRST SESSION- Time for test to see what we have learned- THE AI FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION. You will be completing this on the computer, but I will be grading this with the help of AI, which will also be checking for YOU using AI in your answers. You MUST complete at least 3 paragraphs to receive a passing grade on this exam. OUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR TODAY: SECOND SESSION: After completing the AI FUNDAMENTALS EXAM, students should be working on their AI STORY PROJECT. Last class period, you wrote your story and created your VOICEOVER file for the story. For today, you should be working on putting together your STORYBOARD for your video. The STORYBOARD will be a 50 point assignment for this project and will be grading it this week in class.
THURSDAY and FRIDAY 4/23-24/2026	OUR SESSIONS: FIRST SESSION-Time to finally submit the DO SOMETHING NICE MINI PROJECT. This is a 100 point project, Please do not make up answers for this, if you did not do ANYTHING nice for anyone in the last 9 days, please have the GUTS to just say that and take a zero on this project. ALSO: Please rank some SLOTH IMAGES for me. Please DEDUCT A POINT if an element looks weird, DEDUCT TWO POINTS, if an element is missing! PLEASE BE HONEST IN YOUR RATINGS! Here is the SPACE SLOTH RATING FORM. ONE MORE THING: Please upload your completed EXPLAIN AI VIDEO by completing the EXPLAIN AI VIDEO UPLOAD FORM. We review our AI TOOLS EXPLAINED videos as a class. There WILL BE an exam covering the HOW AI WORKS information on Monday of next week. You will be asked to explain an AI Tool, the difference between GENERATIVE and PREDICTIVE AI and how the INPUT>PROCESSING>OUTPUT loop works in AI. It will be a handwritten, 100 point exam. OUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR TODAY: SECOND SESSION: Starting today, we are working on the AI STORY PROJECT. For today, please select your genre and your critical elements, then work on creating and editing your story. SAVE YOUR STORY to a GOOGLE DOC in your COMPTECH folder and COPY IT TO MINI-PROJECT: WRITING THE AI STORY for grading. When you are done, please start working on creating your story, your TEXT TO SPEECH voiceover and your storyboard.
TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY 4/21-22/2026	OUR SESSIONS: FIRST SESSION- Just for something FUN and DIFFERENT, why don't we do Mr. Burkhard's Annual Horror Film Festival! Yay! That'll be SO fun. Please complete the questions on the LOVEFIELD THINKING SHEET. This will be a 10 point assignment. SECOND SESSION- Time to test your ACTUAL AI IMAGE QUERY SKILLS. Please complete the MINI-PROJECT: THE "SPACE SLOTH CONTEST." PLEASE NOTE: I have extended the "DO SOMETHING NICE" MINI-PROJECT until the start of next class period, due to PSAT Testing. This is a 100 point project and will be due first thing next class period. OUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR TODAY: THIRD SESSION- OUR PROJECT: Our current project is the "EXPLAIN AI LIKE A YOUTUBER" PROJECT. For the last 30 minutes or so of class, you will need to FINISHING UP your video. You will have added your voiceover of your script and your 12-24 different AI IMAGES that will help you explain your AI TOOL on your video. You will have to also include MUSIC, OPENING TITLE and CLOSING CREDITS. This will be a 50 point project and it is due before the start of next class period by completing THE EXPLAIN AI VIDEO UPLOAD FORM. EXTRA TIME? If you happen to finish your EXPLAIN AI PROJECT before the end of class, you should go to your INFINITE CAMPUS LOGIN and see if there are any projects or mini-projects that you have missed in this class over the last few weeks. I would recommend completing any missing work and sending me an email about it. The FUTURE WARS PROJECT and the ANIMATED SOCIAL MEDIA POST are two recent projects that many students did not properly complete! PLEASE NOTE: You can find ALL of our past projects by clicking on the RESOURCES link at the top of the page.
THURSDAY and FRIDAY 4/16-17 /2026	OUR SESSIONS: FIRST SESSION- I just want to talk for a few minutes about something. Please meet me at my Discussion Circle. SECOND SESSION- Something weird happened last class period and we need to find out why. We will complete the MINI-PROJECT: THE "MAYA PROBLEM." OUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR TODAY: THIRD SESSION- OUR PROJECT: Our current project is the "EXPLAIN AI LIKE A YOUTUBER" PROJECT. For the last 30 minutes or so of class, you will need to develop a script for your video, as well as a voiceover of the script and use your AI image creation skills to make AT LEAST 12-24 different IMAGES that will help you explain your AI TOOL on your video. This will be a 50 point project and it is due next TUESDAY or WEDNESDAY.
WEDNESDAY 4/15/2026	OUR SESSIONS: FIRST SESSION- We have been doing a LOT of AI stuff lately. Time for a TEST! This will be a 60 point assessment score in the gradebook. Please complete the AI TOOLS TEST. You have 30 minutes to complete this before we move to our next session for today. SECOND SESSION- Time to start putting together information for our new project by completing the MINI-PROJECT: THE AI ANALOGY. OUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR TODAY: THIRD SESSION- OUR PROJECT: Our current project is the "EXPLAIN AI LIKE A YOUTUBER" PROJECT. For the last 30 minutes or so of class, you need check out which AI tool you need to explain and start researching and putting together the elements for your project. You will need to develop a script for your video, as well as a voiceover of the script and AT LEAST 12-24 different IMAGES that will help you explain your AI TOOL on your video. This will be a 50 point project and it is due next MONDAY.
TUESDAY 4/14/2026	FOR OUR BELLRINGERS: FIRST- Complete the MINI-PROJECT from yesterday, the MINI-PROJECT: TEXT TO SPEECH UPLOAD. DO NOT SIGN IN ON THIS WEBSITE, just use it! We have been doing a LOT of AI stuff lately. Time for a TEST! This will be a 60 point assessment score in the gradebook. Please complete the AI TOOLS TEST. You have 30 minutes to complete this before we move to our next session for today. SECOND- Time to start putting together information for our new project by completing the MINI-PROJECT: THE AI ANALOGY. OUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR TODAY: TODAY'S PROJECT: Our next project is the "EXPLAIN AI LIKE A YOUTUBER" PROJECT. Please check out which AI tool you need to explain, then complete the MINI-PROJECT THE AI ANALOGY. When you are done with that, please start researching and putting together your project. You will need to develop a script for your video, as well as a voiceover of the script and AT LEAST 12-24 different IMAGES for your video. This will be a 50 point project and it is due next MONDAY.
MONDAY 4/13/2026	FOR OUR BELLRINGERS: FIRST- We discuss a completely different DAILY EXERCISE for this coming week. Mr. Burkhard goes over the MINI-PROJECT: SOMETHING NICE. You have ALL week through NEXT MONDAY, so please give this some thought and DO SOMETHING NICE FOR A CHANGE. This is a 100 point project. (BY THE WAY: DO NOT fake this assignment. If you honestly can't do ONE nice thing for someone in an entire week, you should really reconsider how you are conducting yourself in your journey through life.) SECOND- Time to take a look at another AI TOOL- TEXT TO SPEECH GENERATION. For this MINI-PROJECT, you will be taking the first two paragraphs of your FUTURE WAR HISTORY and converting it to speech by completing the MINI-PROJECT: TEXT TO SPEECH DOWNLOAD. PLEASE NOTE, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LOG IN TO USE THIS TOOL! IF YOU TRY TO LOG IN, YOU WILL BE DENIED! JUST GENERATE YOUR TEXT TO SPEECH AND MOVE ON! OUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR TODAY: ASSIGNMENT ONE: Today, we are finishing up our large FUTURE WAR TIMELINE AND ANALYSIS PROJECT by completing the FUTURE WAR TIMELINE ANALYSIS FORM. Unless you had excused absences last class period, this project is due today and it is worth 100+ points. ASSIGNMENT TWO: Our next project is the "EXPLAIN AI LIKE A YOUTUBER" PROJECT. If you have time today, I would recommend checking out which AI tool you need to explain and start working with AI to develop your SCRIPT for your video. This will be a 50 point project.
FRIDAY 4/10/2026	FOR OUR BELLRINGERS: FIRST- We look our FIRST MINI-PROJECT for today- AI GLASSES AND SPOTIFY SCAMMING. We will be watching a video about these cases. Answer the questions! If you don't know an answer, use AI to help find the answer! This assignment will be worth 25 points. SECOND- We take a look at our SECOND MINI PROJECT, which is also due today: THE B-SIDES RESEARCH MINI-PROJECT. This will be worth 25 points. ALSO: Mr. Burkhard will also be previewing how to use time.graphics for your FUTURE WAR TIMELINE PROJECT. OUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR TODAY: The FUTURE WAR TIMELINE AND ANALYSIS PROJECT. For today, you need to be figuring out what your SEVEN TIMELINE EVENTS will be that include a MILITARY EVENT, A SOCIAL EVENT, A POLITICAL EVENT, AN ECONOMIC EVENT, A TECHNOLOGICAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL EVENT and an EVENT THAT INCLUDES YOUR ARTIFACT. Once you have these events decided, start creating your AI IMAGES to match. When you have all of your events and images created, begin creating your timeline on time.graphics. ANALYSIS: Don't forget, when you are done completing your time.graphics TIMELINE, you will need to complete and submit the project by doing the FUTURE WARS TIMELINE ANALYSIS FORM.
THURSDAY 4/9/2026	BELLRINGERS: FIRST, please use the ANIMATED SOCIAL MEDIA POST UPLOAD FORM to upload your animated social media post for grading. This was to have been completed LAST WEEK. FOR OUR BELLRINGER We take a look at our MINI PROJECT, which is due today: THE B-SIDES RESEARCH MINI-PROJECT. This will be worth 25 points. OUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR TODAY: ASSIGNMENT ONE: The FUTURE WAR TIMELINE AND ANALYSIS PROJECT. For today, you need to be figuring out what your SEVEN TIMELINE EVENTS will be that include a MILITARY EVENT, A SOCIAL EVENT, A POLITICAL EVENT, AN ECONOMIC EVENT, A TECHNOLOGICAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL EVENT and an EVENT THAT INCLUDES YOUR ARTIFACT. Once you have these events decided, start creating your AI IMAGES to match. When you have all of your events and images created, begin creating your timeline on time.graphics. ASSIGNMENT TWO: To be completed halfway through class to break up the class period: THE NON-HUSKY MASCOT PROJECT. You will need to haul out your "MASCOT CREATOR" GEM from a few weeks ago to make some "Non-Husky" Mascots. This is due TODAY and you will need to UPLOAD YOUR MASCOT USING THIS NON-HUSKY MASCOT UPLOAD FORM.
WEDNESDAY 4/8/2026	BELLRINGERS: FIRST, please use the ANIMATED SOCIAL MEDIA POST UPLOAD FORM to upload your animated social media post for grading. This was to have been completed LAST WEEK. Then, Mr. Burkhard previews the FUTURE WAR TIMELINE AND ANALYSIS PROJECT. and how to ACTUALLY use AI to help you get things done. Here are the AI conversations that Mr. Burkhard covers for this discussion: PART ONE- Building the narrative. PART TWO- Building the images- AI fails at the task. Remember, the point of the FUTURE WARS project is for you to INTERACT with the AI, talk with it, learn with it, figure things out together. Create something TOGETHER that is interesting and thought provoking. We also go over a few things about the NOT OPTIONAL EXTRA CREDIT PORTION OF THIS PROJECT, the ARTIFACTS. FOR OUR BELLRINGER, please complete the MINI-PROJECT- THE FUTURE WAR DEBRIEF. This will be a 25 point assignment. OUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR TODAY: ASSIGNMENT ONE: This project is a large one- The FUTURE WAR TIMELINE AND ANALYSIS PROJECT. This is a long project, with a lot of moving parts. Don't be overwhelmed! Just go a step at a time, use AI to help you! Have a conversation with AI, telling it what you need. It will help! DON'T GIVE UP! ASSIGNMENT TWO: To be completed halfway through class to break up the class period: THE NON-HUSKY MASCOT PROJECT. You will need to haul out your "MASCOT CREATOR" GEM from a few weeks ago to make some "Non-Husky" Mascots. This is due TODAY and you will need to UPLOAD YOUR MASCOT USING THIS NON-HUSKY MASCOT UPLOAD FORM.
THURSDAY- FRIDAY 4/2-3/2026	BELLRINGER: MR. BURKHARD IS OUT TODAY. Please complete the MINI PROJECT for today: THE AI WRITING AND ILLUSTRATING MINI-PROJECT. Yes, I absolutely expect for you to write a short story for this mini-project! This will be a 25 point assignment in the gradebook, based upon the quality of your stories and illustrations. OUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR TODAY: ASSIGNMENT ONE: The ANIMATED SOCIAL MEDIA POST. You should be using the music that you created last class period when you did the MINI-PROJECT- AI ANIMATED SOCIAL MEDIA POST MUSIC. This project needs to be completed today and saved into your COMPTECH folder for grading! ASSIGNMENT TWO: What is next? Our next project is a large one- The FUTURE WAR TIMELINE AND ANALYSIS PROJECT. This is a long project, with a lot of moving parts. Don't be overwhelmed! Just go a step at a time, use AI to help you! Have a conversation with AI, telling it what you need. It will help! DON'T GIVE UP! We will be previewing this project in class next class period.
TUESDAY- WEDNESDAY 3/31 AND 4/1/2026	BELLRINGER: We review class grading for this quarter. So far, about 25 percent of students in each class are not turning in any work. We should start finishing our work in class. This class is required for graduation and you WILL have to take it again next year if you fail. With 8th Graders! Then, we preview our most comprehensive AI IMAGE GENERATION tool yet, ADOBE FIRFLY. We preview and then play around some while completing the INTRODUCTION TO ADOBE FIREFLY. This will be a 25 point assignment, graded on your ability to create exact images using Firefly queries. OUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR TODAY: ASSIGNMENT ONE: I will be calling you up to the desk today to grade the INTERNET SAFETY POSTER, so you should have it completed, along with the INTERNET SAFETY PRELIMINARY DATA FORM. Make sure you have included your MESSAGE and a CALL TO ACTION! ASSIGNMENT TWO: The ANIMATED SOCIAL MEDIA POST. You should be using the music that you created last class period when you did the MINI-PROJECT- AI ANIMATED SOCIAL MEDIA POST MUSIC. ASSIGNMENT THREE: What is next? Our next project is a large one- The FUTURE WAR TIMELINE AND ANALYSIS PROJECT. This is a long project, with a lot of moving parts. Don't be overwhelmed! Just go a step at a time, use AI to help you! Have a conversation with AI, telling it what you need. It will help! DON'T GIVE UP! We will be previewing this project in class next class period.