Title: Basic Orientation
Course: 21 Things for Students > Section: Basic Orientation

Basic Orientation

Part 1. To begin, you can read the text on this page below or click on the Video to watch and hear the elf Tweone tell you about it. This video is hosted at Vimeo.com (we hope it is not blocked by Control agents).

If you cannot view this video  (blocked by control agents at your location?) you can listen to the audio for it provided below.

basicorientation_20120720_174725_11.mp3

Introduction

Welcome Recruit! There are 3 parts to this adventure.
1. Your first mission, should you accept it, is to complete 4 Quests in the Mission Briefing, earning the rank of "Cadet" and a Badge.

2. Once you are a Cadet, your next mission is called: Undercover Ops, and you can earn the Undercover Ops Badge.

3. After completing these two Basic Orientation Missions, click the link at the bottom of this page indicating you are ready to complete the Basic Orientation activities and apply for 21t4s Agent status and badge.

Mission Briefing

If you are unable to view the Tweone avatar video above hosted in Vimeo.com (due to control agents) the audio for it is provided below as an .mp3 file.

- missionbriefing.mp3

Important Introduction

The "21things" are technology skills to help you do better in school, in jobs, and be smarter about tech things in life

These are likely your first Quests in this site. You are going to be learning about some advanced technology skills to help you in the rest of your missions and in your future.

Earning awards and badges can be a lot of fun and you can earn them as you go on these missions and complete the quests. You will be reporting to and receiving directions from your SSI Department Chief, your important go-to person on site. (Oh, a detail for recruits, SSI stands for Secret School Instructor.)

Right now you are a Recruit working to achieve the Cadet Rank and badge, awarded when you successfully complete the four Quests in this Basic Orientation Mission Briefing.  The Quests are listed here, are you ready?

A special note: Before you begin, check with your SSI Department Chief about the file types and applications you have access to (Word, Excel, OpenOffice, Pages, Google Docs, etc.), and also where your 'secret file space' is located (where to save your documents for these missions and Quests).

Quest 1: Secret Image Capture

Recruit Island Map
Introduction:

Your task for this Quest is to complete a secret image capture of Recruit Island, and save it to your secret document space (check with your SSI Chief).

Important Steps:

1. Watch one of the videos by clicking on the link by the camera below and/or open the .pdf document below titled, "How to do a Secret Screencapture".

2. Practice this skill by doing a screen capture of the Recruit Island Image at the top of this page.

3. Paste the captured image into a document (such as Word, Pages, Open Office...)

4. Save your Recruit Island document as evidence. Remember to use File: Save-As and name it Recruit Island Map with your initials at the end (or follow your SSI Chief directions for naming it).

How to do a Secret Screencapture PC_Mac_iPad

Video tutorials for screencapture

Recruit Bonus - Earn a Gem award:

Tell your SSI Chief what the 'real' name of this island is (located at:  -1.42 latitude 127.33 longitude).

Resources:

Consult with your SSI Chief (your instructor) for a location to securely save your files, post them online, or to an e-portfolio.

21t4s Mission and Quest Tracking Document:

Your next Quest will give you access to a 21t4s Tracking Document. Remember to check this Quest off on the Tracking Document once you have saved it.

Quest 2: 21t4s Tracking Document

A screen capture of a Tracking .pdf Document

Introduction

There are two parts to this Quest. The first one is to download the secret Tracking Document provided by the 21t4s Headquarters. It will help you track your progress through these Missions and Quests and the Badges achieved. The second part is to learn about the 21t4s Agent technology standards and set a personal goal for yourself.

Part 1 Steps to access your special Tracking Document:

Download the Tracking Document provided below and save it to your secret filespace. ***Be sure to use SaveAs (so you know where you are saving the file). Use this document to keep track of your points, progress, and badges!

Cartoon created at marvelkids.marvel.com create_your_own_comic  by c. mccarthy

File format?

We have provided this file in two different file formats, so check with your SSI Department Chief for which one to use if you are not sure. You will learn more about filenames in the next Quest.

- 21t4s tracking.doc  - this is a Microsoft Word document file which can be  checked off, saved to your secret file space, printed, and used to track your progress. (Recommended by the Agency) We also provided spaces for you to make notes, reflections, save favorite web sites, or for your SSI Chief to make comments on your work. Be sure to save it as you check off your assignments!
- 21t4s_tracking.xls       - this is a spreadsheet file which can be opened with Microsoft Excel, or imported into Google docs or Open Office. It has space for you to enter notes, reflections or comments.

Part 2. Secret Agent Technology Standards & Goals [The NETS-S ]

Being able to use technology is a basic skill, but being able to pick the right tool, equipment, or web resource, and being able use it to solve problems, get answers, learn, and explore information are a critical skills. Future jobs, success in school, and communicating with others are key skills we look for in super 21t4s agents. There are six special qualities (called strands by the International Organization called ISTE) which an agent should have today (identified by the ISTE board in this pdf document).

1.  Access these NETS-S standards by clicking this link http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students.aspx . Refer to one of these documents linked to on this page: the NETS-S (PDF) file, or the NETS-S Profiles , or the Essential Conditions (PDF)

2. Now review the standards with these two questions in mind:

A.  Is there one that you feel you are already skilled at performing?

B. Is there one that you feel you should be learning to do more proficiently?

3.  Please use the documents provided below, and list at least one of the standards (in the a.b.c.d. listing from the ISTE list) that you would like to work on this year.  As you write this goal, include a plan, a few specific steps you might take personally to work on this learning standard.

You can download and use this Goal setting document and save it to your secret file space to share with your SSI Chief.

   Goal setting   (Word doc)       Goal setting     (fillable pdf form)

 Check off the first two quests on your 21t4s tracking document when you have downloaded the two files and saved them to your secret file space and completed them. Remember to rename them with your own initials or special name so that they are not confused with the files of other recruits.

Quest 3: Files and Domains

Introduction

 Different agencies and companies around the world like to adopt their own secret naming schemes. They also use special language terms (examples: omg, lol, .jpg, .mp4, etc.). Filenames, formats, and domains are need-to-know information for Recruits.

A Special Note from the Director: You're doing great! There is only one more quest after this one and you will receive your Cadet Rank and badge.

Investigation:

Agent Lurk wrote up some field reports on a laptop at home and saved the report with this name: Lurkinvestigation, and turned off the computer. Lurk's chief operating officer called and ordered the file to be emailed to the office immediately. Agent Lurk said, "Sure right away." Lurk turned on the computer, and noticed that there were 4 files named Lurkinvestigation on the desktop. One was Lurkinvestigation.doc, one was Lurkinvestigation.jpg, one was Lurkinvestigation.xls, and one was Lurkinvestigation.mp3. What to do? Which one was the correct file? Lurk thought about the investigation, of taking a photo of the crime scene, the recording done when interviewing with a witness, making a list of possible suspects, and then a written report. Which one should Lurk send?

Action:

Lurk clicked on the Lurkinvestigation.mp3 file and the computer prompt asked what program to open it with? Lurk didn't know. Lurk selected Microsoft Word from the list. Error! It wouldn't open the file?

 Help! What should Lurk have known and done?

File Names

A file on the computer (or digital device) needs to have a unique name, or filename to identify it and the program used to create it.

Carefully examine these four filenames. What similarities and differences do you see?

aboutme.doc   aboutme.pdf    aboutme.mp4   aboutme.jpg   aboutme.docx

Did you notice the period?
How many letters and/or numbers come after the period?

*Fact 1: The first part of the filename before the period is called the base name, and the part after the period is called the file-ending, type, or also the extension.
*Fact 2: File-endings: Companies that create software programs use a unique file-ending (usually 3 or 4 letters after a period) to indicate what type of content it is. Examples include: .doc, .pdf, .jpg, .mp3

 What happened to Agent Lurk, is that when you click on a filename on your computer (or device), it will automatically try to open the program the computer associates with that file-ending/extension. At times the computer will not know which one and will prompt you.

Caution, Warning:

Avoid using  the following characters in a filename as it may cause an error or not let you save it: / ? \ % * : | " < >

File endings for Images and Photos:

When you take photos with your digital camera, use/create artwork, or images (such as avatars, maps, secret images) you are most likely to have files which end with one of these:  .jpg, jpeg, .png, .tif, .bmp, .gif

Popular file endings:

MailBigFiles has compiled a ranking of the 101 most common file extensionswhich pass through their site for sending large file attachments.  Notice the top 10 most popular extensions used - have you used any of these file types?

When you are trying to locate files on your computer this may help you locate the right kind of file and open it in the correct application!

Here are some other ones you might want to be aware of, especially in creating multimedia projects:

.mp3 and .mp4 | .jpg or .jpeg
.wmv | .doc
.ppt | .flv
.mov | .xls
.txt | .bmp

Domains

A serious agent might take special care to notice which domains are being used when researching informational websites.

What is a domain name? Click here to learn what they are, why they were created, and some different ones (such as .com, .us, .biz, .gov). As you're reading through the information, think about which ones might be most reliable for specific kinds of information.

***While visiting the site, make up a possible domain name for yourself to see which ones would be available for you to purchase if you wanted your own (besides .com, which are often already taken).

Class Discussion about Domains:

Tell which domain you think would have the more reliable information and why - .com, .jobs, .me, or .gov?

If you decided to get your own domain name today, what is available?

 There is only one more quest to complete in the Basic Mission Briefing Quests to achieve your Cadet badge!

Check this Quest off on your Tracking Document

Quest 4: Navigation Tips

Introduction

Navigating around the 21things4students Quests takes powers of observation (top recruits use this skill). Look carefully at all the elements on this page. Can you find different ways to navigate around?

What happens if you click on the map of Michigan? STOP! Wait! How will you get back to this page?

The Video above covers:

1. Top menu items
2. Side menu items
3. Michigan Map that takes you to the main page
4. Tips on how to copy (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C) and paste (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V) the web address (URL)

    Check this off on your 21t4s Tracking Document when you have successfully completed this Quest.

Basic Orientation Question

Please select the domain name which would be used for government web sites.

- michigan.edu
Feedback: try again
- michigan.gov
Feedback: Great job!
- michigan.government
Feedback: try again
- michigan.biz
Feedback: try again

Basic Orientation Question

You have been assigned to create a presentation. Which application would open a file with the following name:  mybio.ppt

- Microsoft Word
Feedback: Try again
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Feedback: Great job!
- Photoshop

Basic Orientation Question

Which of the following web addresses would not be used for a school?

- myschool.edu
- myschool.org
- myschool.com
- myschool.zip
Feedback: Great job!

Basic Orientation Question

You can make up your own domain names for a website if someone else hasn't used it

- True
Feedback: Great job!
- False

Basic Orientation Question

All filename endings only have 3 letters (like .doc, .pdf, .ppt)

- True
- False
Feedback: Great job!

Basic Orientation Question

You can use punctuation like * , : / in a filename

- True
- False
Feedback: Great job!

Basic Orientation Question

Which of the following file types is NOT likely to be a picture or image?

- jpg
- png
- xls
Feedback: Great job!
- bmp

Basic Orientation Question

Which of these is likely to be a music file?

- jpg
- doc
- ppt
- mp3
Feedback: Great job!

Basic Orientation Question

Which of the following file endings would NOT be for an image or picture?

- .jpg
- .tif
- .png
- .picture
Feedback: Great job!

Basic Orientation Question

Which of the following is an example of a domain name?

- google.com
Feedback: Great job!
- delicious
- Simple Simon
- Tweone

Basic Orientation Question

AUP stands for

- Acceptable Use Policy
Feedback: Great job!
- Any Useable Password
- Adaptable Universal Plug
- Acceptable User Procedures

Basic Orientation Question

When you create a password it's good to use

- your birthdate
- 8 or more characters with a capital letter or number
Feedback: Great job!
- street address
- phone number

Basic Orientation Question

A USB flash drive is

- a device to erase memory
- a special program to call a super hero
- a headset with a USB plug
- a storage device
Feedback: Great job!

Cadet Award

Congratulations on successfully completing your first 4 Basic Orientation Mission Briefing Quests. Your SSI Chief is holding your  badge for you.

Cadet Checklist: Please confirm that you have

 Successfully captured a copy of the Recruit Island and saved it to your Secret Filespace.

Have downloaded the Recruit Mission Tracker Document and saved it to your Secret Filespace.

Watched the Secrets of Navigation Video Briefing

Have checked off progress and marked your points on the Tracking Document

Have briefed your SSI Department Chief on completion of these first Quests

Congratulations 21t4s Cadet !

Your SSI Chief has your badge ready to award to you.

Your next Achievement Badge will be awarded at the completion of the Undercover Ops Quests.