About Computer Literacy

Goal Setting / Good Habits / Organization:

• Covers locker organization, helpful techniques for the use of your assignment notebook, and proper use and upkeep of a class folder (all graded periodically during the quarter/semester). Additionally, is a foundational piece in responsibility and has great routines to follow each week.

• Further encourages the ideas of good habits, how to better manage one’s time, go over ideas about completing homework more efficiently and reviewing test preparation techniques, following directions, and following through with activities promoting great survival skills needed for success at BCMS.

Internet Safety / Web Critic

• Promoting web safety, website analysis, and project-based learning. Students will review what they need to know for navigating the internet: online research, protecting their identity, social networking, and computer maintenance. These ideas will be reinforced by a guest visit from our School Resource Officer- Detective Whitely!  Promoting a partnership between school and home to keep kids safe.

Library Media and Research Skills:

• Designed to help students better know their Library Media Center at our middle school. These items include the proper use of books, encyclopedias, periodicals, web resources, techniques for the collection of data, and the proper citation of sources. This will be followed by a collaborative group project using Google Drive-- a piece of a pre-assigned Google Apps account. This function promotes innovative collaboration and allows students to store their class and homework online and share ideas with other colleagues when working on group presentations.

Keyboarding:

• The Focus of the Keyboarding component is on developing proper keyboarding techniques using the "touch" method.  Students will use a word processing program (Microsoft Word) and a keyboarding program (Typing Club).  Students learn to key, without looking at the keyboard, all the alphabetic letters and several punctuation keys.

Foundations:

• Foundations in this course include computer keyboarding, computer coding, and other topics designed to adapt and reinforce items related to academics and technologies being taught by the core subjects (math, science, English, social studies) on the team. As I work with teams over the school year, some of the needs of the 6th-grade students change with each semester.  Therefore, I adapt lessons, work collaboratively with other teachers, and add items based on needs requested by the team.

Quia Time!:

• Students will also be working with vocabulary for each unit and be assessed on their retention of these definitions through practice assessments. To help improve their recall and test prep skills we will be using Quia.com.  Each student will be given an account and be required to spend a certain amount of time each

Keying:

Computer Applications:

Students will be introduced to the following: Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Multi-Media Presentation, and Desktop Publishing.  These applications will be utilized through various class and interdisciplinary projects. 

Google Apps:

Due to the ever-changing technological world, students will be given a Google Apps account for this course. A unique feature called Google Docs allows students to store their class and homework online and share ideas with other students when working on group presentations.  Students who do not have access to the internet at home will be allowed for ample time to complete any online work.  Google Apps is an outstanding opportunity for students to be more innovative with their ideas and more efficient in managing their course work.