World-Changing+Devices

=Introduction:= Every day we see and use this piece of machinery called a computer. We play games, look for information on th internet, write to people, watch movies, listen to music and do school work on this machine. What is this machine? Why, it's the computer! But, did you ever think where it came from? Did one day a computer just appear by magic? Did we find a computer in the wreckage of an alien spaceship? You will be using the internet to uncover the true origin of the computer. When you are finished, all secrets concerning the creation of the modern computer will be answered.

=Task:=
 * You will be reading and learning about the people and the machines that helped insprie the creation of the modern computer.
 * You will be using the Paint program to construct a timeline with any **four** of the history pieces you have discovered.
 * For each history piece you will include a name, a picture, the year "it" was created or used, and a summary about it or how it influenced the creation of the computer.

=Process:= 1. You will go on the internet and explore the sites listed below. 2. You will see the history of computers broken down in several different ways. 3. As you read through the history of the computer, find four of the pieces of history that interest you. A piece of history could be a piece of hardware, a person, or a company that made computer history. 4. You will need a picture for each piece. Save all pictures in 'My Pictures'. Save each image as a .jpg (.jpeg) or .gif 5. You will need a summary for each piece telling what the piece did or how the piece influenced the creation of the computer. 7. You summary will be word processed using Google Documents. The summary needs to be in your own words. Do not copy someones else' writing. 8. When your four pieces of research are complete, open Paint. Change the page to "Landscape". 9. "Paint" a timeline. 10. Insert your pictues. (Edit -- Paste From -- My Pictures) Resize your pictures as needed. 11. Cut out your timeline from Paint. Paste into your Google Document. 12. Give each picture a name, Identify the year invented/used. 13. Under the timeline, type your summary for each piece.of history. 14. Make sure the timeline and summary fits on one page. 15. Make sure everything is neat, organized and readable. 16. Change the title of the document to "World-Changing Devices" 17. Share with jgrams@hlv.k12.ia.us

18. On a new Google Document, create a list of sources used for research as well as for the pictures you included on your timeline.

__//Examples://__ History of the Computer. Education Department, University of Maryland. Retrieved (current date) from []
 * If No Author:

Jones, D. History of the Computer. Retrived (current date) from []
 * If Author (Last name goes first, then first intial, title of the document, date, URL)

=Sites for Research:= 1. [|Computer History Museum]. You will find many interesting pieces of computer history in this site. It has a timeline to the last 50 years of computer history broken down into years. 2. [|Triumph of the Nerds: A History of the Computer.] You will find the history of computers as presented by PBS. 3. [|Timeline of Computer History] This timeline explores the history of computing from 1945 to 1990.

=Conclusion:= As you have discoverd, this incredible machine that has changed our world has been in the design and construction stage for many years. Do you wonder what would have happened if just one of those pieces of history had not een invented? Would we still have a computer? Would it look and act differntly? 1. On a new Google Document, answer the following questions. Use complete sentences, grammar, spelling and capitalization. 2. Change the title of the doument to "Conclusion Responses" 3. Share with jgrams@hlv.k12.ia.us

Questions:
1. How important is computer history to the future of technology? 2. Do you feel that you could some day play a part in the history of computers? How? Why? 3. To what extent and what roles do you feel computers will play in the future of mankind? Explain. 4. Why do you feel it is important to understand the history and future of computers?

Adapted from: A WebQuest for 7th Grade Computer Skills 1 Designed by Frank Mundi