Ed-Tech Curriculum Matrix

Access to technology resources

Weekly 40 minute classes in computer lab beginning in January (13-14 students per group) taught by homeroom teacher, assisted by technologist. One computer in each homeroom.

Weekly 30 minute classes in computer lab all year (13-14 students per group), taught by technologist. One computer in each homeroom.

Several integrated projects during the year scheduled in the computer lab, taught by homeroom or specialist teachers. One computer in each homeroom.

Weekly 40 minute classes in computer lab (more as needed) with homeroom teacher. Three computers in each homeroom. Math teachers schedule lab time for graphing project.

Computer lab time scheduled by homeroom and specialist teachers as needed. Three computers in each homeroom.

Laptop carts in each classroom with a 2:1 ratio. Carts are borrowed to achieve a 1:1 ratio. Students may sign out the laptops to take home overnight. Classes also use the labs. Students have access to digital cameras, projectors, scanners, and CD burners.

Students each have their own laptop leased or purchased from the school. Classes also use the labs. Students have access to digital cameras, projectors, scanners, and CD burners.

Summary

Activities are designed to introduce and familiarize students with basic computer skills (clicking, dragging, pull-down menus, etc), working on projects that relate to the core curriculum. Activities requiring counting, sorting, color, and shape identification, etc., and are geared toward developing the mechanical skills required to successfully use a computer.

First grade students focus on the use of graphics and word processing tools for productivity and creativity. Technology tools are introduced as means for exploring new ways of accomplishing familiar, practical taks. Most activities allow students to print a document to take home. Students learn to save documents in their network folder.

Second grade uses technology to enrich & extend several classroom projects during the year: stamp research and design, kente cloth design and quilt patterning, haiku poetry, and foreign language slide shows. Risk-taking and exploration are encouraged during the creative process since technology allows its users to easily manipulate designs.

Third graders learn proper keyboarding skills using “Type to Learn” – a computer program that teaches touch-typing. By third grade students show increasing strength in written expression, thus word processing is introduced and used to facilitate the writing, editing and publishing process. Students are also introduced to internet research tools

Fourth graders are expected to apply basic word processing and graphics skills in different contexts. In addition, they should be able to work independently at the computer during class periods scheduled in the lab. In fourth grade, students begin to expand their use of technology to include internet research and multimedia publishing.

5^th-8^th grade students have individual network accounts and teachers post all homework assignments on the school’s web site. FileServer and email access is available off-site.

Fifth grade students play an expanding role in determining how to use technology to organize, analyze, and display what they have learned. They learn how to integrate different technologies to take best advantage of the suite of tools available. Students make greater use of multimedia and internet tools, including email.

Sixth graders exhibit fluency and responsibility in the use of many different technologies. They are given opportunities to choose the most appropriate technology tools for a given project and are expected to apply those tools effectively.

In seventh grade students have their own laptops which enables “anytime-anywhere” access to their files and the internet. The laptops are used in many subjects for writing, note-taking, research, analysis, organizational and communications purposes.

Eighth graders engage in increasingly sophisticated electronic learning activities and telecommunications in a variety of subject areas across the curriculum.

Approach to projects

Projects are contained to a single period, and introduce computers as a creative and fun tool. Students create and print pictures, use educational software, and become comfortable with the equipment.

Students continue using a variety of educational software for creativity and basic skills. Projects may span several weeks. Students learn how to save and retrieve files in their network folder.

Most activities are prepared in advance and presented to students as a template found in their network folder.

Much of 3^rd grade tech-time is devoted to typing practice. Other activities are prepared in advance as a template, and students do some projects from scratch. Students use the classroom computers.

In general, students follow prepared instructions when designing projects, and do not work from templates. Students often use the classroom computers.

Using laptops in fifth grade introduces students to the use of technology in a much more integrated manner.

Given appropriate instruction, students utilize the tools to individualize their assignments.

Sixth grade builds on integrated technology use with more opportunities for fluid and dynamic use of technology during everyday classroom activity.

Students use technology for most computing tasks without specific tech- related instruction.

Basic Operations and Concepts Computer Literacy

· Use mouse to:

- launch and manipulate programs.

- select and use drawing/painting tools

- Move objects around on the screen

· Delete objects or text

· Open and close previously saved files.

· Access menu items to copy, paste, print, save.

· Use scroll bars and mouse wheel.

· Use file and edit menus in various applications.

· Introduction to concept of computer networks.

· Create sub-folders within network space to organize files.

· Move files into appropriate sub-folders.

· Scale the screen (magnify or compress) to work more efficiently on a given project.

· Identify the components of a computer: cpu, monitor, keyboard, disk drive, etc)

· Power on/off and log on/off computers.

· Open and close applications as needed.

· Introduction to keyboard shortcuts for common menu items.

· Identify and use CD-ROM and floppy disk drives.

· Use of alpha-smart keyboarding devices for students with handwriting challenges.

· Introduction to laptop computing.

· Work with multiple files simultaneously.

· Manage files through use of folder hierarchy.

· Transfer files to/from floppy or zip disks.

· Reboot computer to fix errors.

· Access shared files stored on the network.

· Access files remotely (from home) using MS “web folders.”

· Integrate different file formats (word processing, graphics, spreadsheet) in single document

· Use menus proficiently

· Use contextual menus (right-click menus)

· Students are multi-tasking everyday - using various applications simultaneously, switching between multiple windows.

· Accessing the internet through a dial-up connection.

· Use a database to store personal address book

· Use application’s help menus.

· Save documents in multiple formats

· Apply strategies for identifying and solving routine hardware and software problems that occur during everyday use.

· Demonstrate an understanding of concepts underlying hardware, software, and connectivity.

· Select and use appropriate tools and technology resources to solve problems.

· Save a portfolio of work onto CD

Printing

· Use “File… Print” command with teacher direction.

· Use “File… Print” command.

· Choose between color or black&white printer.

· Print in landscape vs. portrait orientation.

· Refill printer with paper when needed.

· Selecting various printers on network.

· Clearing a simple paper jam.

· Delete documents from print queue.

· Use “Add Printer” wizard

· “Offline” vs. “Ready” state.

· Adding home printers.

· Printing scanned images (dpi resolution issues)

Word Processing

· Type name, simple words, or numbers.

· Capital letters type some words.

· Change text size.

· Type short poem. Introduction to select & change: font, size, style, color; centering text on page (haiku project).

· Use center alignment for titles, indent paragraphs, single space after punctuation, spell-checking, backspace & delete keys.

· Use spell-check to edit own writing. Use grammar-check with teacher supervision, change magnification.

· Adjust line spacing, modify page layout, use synonym function, shift-click to select portion of text.

· Find/replace text, use columns, headers/footers, word-art.

· Introduction to commenting feature.

· Use commenting & track changes feature in Word during editing process.

· Automatic page numbering, insert date/time. Master pages.

· Introduction to page layout program

Typing

· Introduction to the keyboard - letters.

· Use of keyboard for letters and numbers, shift key, enter key, control key.

· Introduction to home row finger positions.

· Type sentence from paper (stamp commemoration).

· After 15-20 weeks of systematic practice (using Type to Learn 40 min/week) students type 10-20 words per minute.

· By end of fourth grade: minimum of 15 wpm.

· By end of fifth grade: minimum of 20 wpm. Fifth grade has a three week typing “boot camp” at the beginning of the year.

· Minimum of 25 wpm.

· Minimum of 30 wpm.

· Minimum of 35 wpm.

Graphics

· Create basic geometric shapes.

· Color (“fill”) existing objects, or change colors.

· Use mouse and arrow keys to move objects.

· Resize objects.

· Filling closed shapes in bitmapped graphics.

· Transfer paper designs to computer.

· Geometric shapes, color fill, and line tools.

· Copy & paste graphic objects.

· Inserting a picture into a Word document.

· Wrapping text around the graphic.

· Using MS Word “WordArt” in titles of stories.

· Graphics: use clip art when appropriate, resize and wrap text.

· Scanning and saving (file formats)

· Manipulate scanned files in graphics software.

· Opportunity to take elective class for advanced graphic skills

Spreadsheets

· Introduction to graphing using GraphClub

· Introduction to data entry and graphing using GraphClub and GraphMaster

· Data entry (postcard project)

· Input data into an Excel spreadsheet.

· Input data into spreadsheet, adjust cell size, text alignment & size.

· Adjust height/width of spreadsheet cells, insert/delete rows/columns.

· Introduction to formulas.

· Equals sign in formulas

· Design a spreadsheet to manage complex data.

· Use formulas to sum or average data.

· Introduction to copying formulas

· Sorting data

· Median & mode.

· Manipulate variables and formulas.

· Keyboard shortcuts: copy, block, forward.

· Use lines of best fit to interpolate and predict from data.

Charts & Graphs

· Introduction to pictographs using GraphClub

· Construct and interpret pictographs in GraphClub.

· Interpret bar graph (postcard project)

· Create bar graphs and line graphs in Excel.

· Interpret and predict data on graphs.

· Construct, read, and interpret displays of data such as bar graphs, circle graphs, tables, and lists.

· Graphs of data sets over time

· Science probe graphing

· Stock market project: choosing the “best” graphic representation.

· Independently create and incorporate a variety of charts/graphs when useful in projects.