Middle School The goal of the Middle School Computer curriculum is to further develop technology skills for both academic learning and personal productivity in the 21 st century. Students learn the science and engineering behind the internet. Through comprehensive projects, students work to advance their skills in keyboarding, word processing, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, and digital presentations in order to work successfully on technology-based assignments throughout all content areas. In addition, the concept of digital citizen is further illustrated through real-life scenarios demonstrating the importance of responsible decision making when using technology and potential consequences of on-line dangers. Sixth Grade I. Computer Terminology a. Computer Hardware i. Identify the location and role of basic internal tower hardware (CPU, ROM vs RAM, hard drive, motherboard, busses, modem, video card, power supply, optical drive) ii. Identify and characterize data storage devices (magnetic, optical, solid state, bits, bytes, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terrabyte) b. Operating System Software (Microsoft Windows) i. Investigate the role of OS software ii. Independently demonstrate the use of basic software tools (desktop, icons (shortcuts), window, maximize, zoom, close, save, open, start menu, minimize windows, switch between open windows, system tray) iii. Independently demonstrate file organization on a flashdrive (identify storage devices, create folders, move files, rename items) iv. Investigate additional techniques to organize files (select ranges, select nonadjacent items, select all, change views) c. Application The students will independently demonstrate the following: i. Proper use of computer mouse ii. Proper use of headphones iii. Proper technique to start and shut down computer iv. Proper use and care of flashdrives II. Keyboarding (Custom Typing goal 30 AWPM) i. Demonstrate two-handed keyboarding technique III. Word Processing (Microsoft Word) a. Terminology (ribbon, tab, group, dialog box, alignment, horizontal, vertical, orientation, dialog box launcher) b. Editing text (selecting shortcuts, thesaurus, 3 different error underlines) c. Formatting (font, font size, bold, italics, underline, font color, grow font/shrink font, clear formatting, page orientation, page margins, paragraph alignment, page border, show/hide paragraph symbols) d. Objects (ClipArt, Textbox, Shapes, Word Art, text wrapping, sizing handles, outline, fill, bring to front, send to back, align, height, width, free rotate handle, adjustment handle, aligning text vertically and horizontally within objects)
e. Tables (column, row, cell, naming a table, insert, selecting different parts of a table, insert columns and row, delete column and row, merge cells, split cells, row height, column width, borders, text direction, aligning text) f. Other (zoom level, zoom slider, save, save as, open, new, print, print preview) IV. Spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel) a. Terminology (spreadsheet, data, column, row, cell, cell address, formula, function, workbook, worksheet) b. Entering and Formatting Data (number formats, adjust column width, adjust row height, borders, header/footer, merge & center, text orientation, clear, rename sheet tabs, print area, AutoFill) c. Mathematical manipulation of Data (AutoSum, Average function, formulas) d. Charts and Graphs (Column, Bar, Line, Pie, graphing non-adjacent ranges of data) V. Digital Presentations (Microsoft PowerPoint) a. Investigate the elements of a good digital presentation b. Creating slides (slide layout, slide designs, themes, slide backgrounds) c. Slideshow elements (transitions, custom animations, sounds, movies, automatic timings, hyperlinks) d. Slideshow presentation (playing slideshows, printing options) VI. Digital Citizenship a. Care of Computer Hardware i. Examine computer lab rules ii. Explore reasons why we have rules governing computer hardware use b. Appropriate use of School Computers i. Examine what appropriate use of computers means ii. Understand why we have guidelines governing computer use at school c. Computer / Online Dangers The students will investigate the following computer/online dangers: i. Posting personal information ii. Internet predators iii. Appropriate cell phone use
Seventh Grade I. Computer Terminology a. Computer Hardware i. Identify the location and role of basic internal tower hardware (CPU, ROM vs RAM, hard drive, motherboard, busses, modem, video card, power supply, optical drive) ii. Identify and characterize data storage devices (magnetic, optical, solid state, binary) iii. Investigate the history of the internet and how it works (client, server, packets, router, ISP, DNS, IP, URL) b. Operating System Software (Microsoft Windows) i. Independently demonstrate the use of basic software tools (desktop, icons (shortcuts), window, maximize, zoom, close, save, open, start menu, minimize windows, switch between open windows, system tray) ii. Independently demonstrate file organization on a flashdrive (identify storage devices, create folders, move files, rename items, select ranges, select nonadjacent items, select all, change views) c. Application The students will independently demonstrate the following: i. Proper use of computer mouse ii. Proper use of headphones iii. Proper technique to start and shut down computer iv. Proper use and care of flashdrives II. Keyboarding (Custom Typing goal 35 AWPM) i. Demonstrate two-handed keyboarding technique III. Word Processing (Microsoft Word) a. Terminology (ribbon, tab, group, dialog box, alignment, horizontal, vertical, orientation, dialog box launcher) b. Editing text (selecting shortcuts, thesaurus, 3 different error underlines) c. Formatting (font, font size, bold, italics, underline, font color, grow font/shrink font, clear formatting, page orientation, page margins, paragraph alignment, page border, show/hide paragraph symbols) d. Objects (ClipArt, Textbox, Shapes, Word Art, text wrapping, sizing handles, outline, fill, bring to front, send to back, align, height, width, free rotate handle, adjustment handle, aligning text vertically and horizontally within objects, ungrouping ClipArt, aspect ratio) e. Tables (column, row, cell, naming a table, insert, selecting different parts of a table, insert columns and row, delete column and row, merge cells, split cells, row height, column width, borders, text direction, aligning text, repeat header rows, sort, formulas) f. Essay tools (word count, find, replace, cover page, blank page, page break, page numbers, headers & footers, types of paragraph indents, watermarks) g. Other (zoom level, zoom slider, save, save as, open, new, print, print preview) IV. Spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel) a. Terminology (spreadsheet, data, column, row, cell, cell address, formula, function, workbook, worksheet)
b. Entering and Formatting Data (number formats, adjust column width, adjust row height, borders, header/footer, merge & center, text orientation, clear, rename sheet tabs, print area, AutoFill) c. Mathematical manipulation of Data (AutoSum, Average function, formulas, sort, AutoFilter, conditional formatting) d. Charts and Graphs (Column, Bar, Line, Pie, graphing non-adjacent ranges of data) V. Digital Presentations (various on-line presentation software) a. Investigate the elements of a good digital presentation b. Explore the meaning and use of colors and fonts c. Investigate different on-line presentation tools and techniques VI. Digital Citizenship a. Care of Computer Hardware i. Examine computer lab rules ii. Explore reasons why we have rules governing computer hardware use iii. Investigate topics to consider when choosing a computer / cell phone b. Appropriate use of School Computers i. Examine what appropriate use of computers means ii. Understand why we have guidelines governing computer use at school c. Computer / Online Dangers The students will investigate the following computer/online dangers: i. Posting personal information / sexting ii. Internet predators iii. Illegal downloading / copyright infringement / plagiarism iv. Cyberbullying v. Excessive screen time vi. Appropriate cell phone use
Eighth Grade I. Computer Terminology a. Computer Hardware i. Identify and characterize data storage devices (magnetic, optical, solid state) ii. Investigate binary code and how it works iii. Explore the dangers of computer viruses and how they work b. Operating System Software (Microsoft Windows) i. Independently demonstrate the use of basic software tools (desktop, icons (shortcuts), window, maximize, zoom, close, save, open, start menu, minimize windows, switch between open windows, system tray) ii. Independently demonstrate file organization on a flashdrive (identify storage devices, create folders, move files, rename items, select ranges, select nonadjacent items, select all, change views) c. Application The students will independently demonstrate the following: i. Proper use of computer mouse ii. Proper use of headphones iii. Proper technique to start and shut down computer iv. Proper use and care of flashdrives II. Keyboarding (Custom Typing goal 40 AWPM) i. Demonstrate two-handed keyboarding technique III. Word Processing (Microsoft Word) a. Terminology (ribbon, tab, group, dialog box, alignment, horizontal, vertical, orientation, dialog box launcher) b. Editing text (selecting shortcuts, thesaurus, 3 different error underlines) c. Formatting (font, font size, bold, italics, underline, font color, grow font/shrink font, clear formatting, page orientation, page margins, paragraph alignment, page border, show/hide paragraph symbols) d. Objects (ClipArt, Textbox, Shapes, Word Art, text wrapping, sizing handles, outline, fill, bring to front, send to back, align, height, width, free rotate handle, adjustment handle, aligning text vertically and horizontally within objects, ungrouping ClipArt, aspect ratio, brightness, contrast, recolor, change picture, reset picture) e. Essay tools (word count, find, replace, cover page, blank page, page break, page numbers, headers & footers, types of paragraph indents, watermarks) f. Tab Stops (5 different types, setting, deleting and moving tab stops, tab leaders) g. Other (zoom level, zoom slider, save, save as, open, new, print, print preview) IV. Spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel) a. Terminology (spreadsheet, data, column, row, cell, cell address, formula, function, workbook, worksheet) b. Entering and Formatting Data (number formats, adjust column width, adjust row height, borders, header/footer, merge & center, text orientation, clear, rename sheet tabs, print area, AutoFill) c. Mathematical manipulation of Data (AutoSum, Average function, formulas, sort, AutoFilter, conditional formatting) d. Charts and Graphs (Column, Bar, Line, Pie, graphing non-adjacent ranges of data)
V. Digital Presentations (various on-line presentation software) a. Investigate the elements of a good digital presentation b. Explore the meaning and use of colors and fonts c. Investigate different on-line presentation tools and techniques VI. Desktop Publishing (Microsoft Publisher) a. Explore the creation of basic publications (banners, brochures, calendars, flyers, greeting cards) VII. Digital Citizenship a. Care of Computer Hardware i. Examine computer lab rules ii. Explore reasons why we have rules governing computer hardware use b. Appropriate use of School Computers i. Examine what appropriate use of computers means ii. Understand why we have guidelines governing computer use at school c. Computer / Online Dangers The students will investigate the following computer/online dangers: i. Posting personal information / sexting ii. Internet predators iii. Illegal downloading / copyright infringement / plagiarism iv. Cyberbullying v. Excessive screen time vi. Appropriate cell phone use