For the initial homework of the semester, read this page with your parent or guardian (it's a lot), then the parent/guardian must fill out the popup form at the bottom.  There is a chance, that upon submission, the form will just disappear without a confirmation.  If this happens, just know that I still received the information.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

COMPUTER ESSENTIALS COURSE DESCRIPTION:  Computer Essentials focuses on basic applied computer related skills used throughout a student's school years and skills that continue into the work force or college.  Students electing this course should have the ability to work independently and in small groups, possess a high interest in technology, strong senses of creativity, problem solving, responsibility, and the ability to produce high quality projects.  

Topics to be explored are:  Keyboarding skills (typing) is a large piece of this curriculum.  Students will learn homerow touch typing (the district standard is 25wpm by the end of the class).    Students will also be introduced to all of the features available in Google as well as their tie-in to Microsoft Office products (the industry standard).   Students will also learn the parts and operations of a computer system, including how they are put together with some hands-on experience taking one apart and putting it back together.

DIGITAL MEDIA (MULTIMEDIA II) COURSE DESCRIPTION:  Digital Media is an advanced class that expounds on everything learned in Multimedia and focuses on more advanced skills used in video production.  Students electing this course must have the ability to work collaboratively, possess a high interest in technology, be extremely creative especially when problem solving, and have a passion for movie making.  ALL MEDIA PERMISSIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS CLASS as completed projects may be posted online or on district media outlets.  TIME OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS MAY BE REQUIRED FOR THIS CLASS.

Topics to be explored are:  Production Terminology,  the application and theory in Storytelling, Character Development,  Screenwriting, Story-boarding, Scouting, Lighting, Casting, advanced Camera Operation, Editing, Interviewing, Documentary techniques, advanced Special Effects, Soundtrack Production/Acquisition, Video Evaluation, basic Acting for film, Directing, Scheduling, and possibly,  Live Broadcasting, Budgeting, Purchasing,  3D Modeling, and Event Planning and Operating .

EXPECTATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

This is where I get pretty strict.  My expectations for my students are pretty high.  For most of my students, I have only one semester to try to get them ready for high school, and I take that responsibility very seriously.  I expect them to be respectful, trustworthy, follow ALL of the rules (and I have a lot, but with all of the equipment in my rooms, I need to have a lot), and be prepared for class daily.

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS   Student behavior should reflect respect for the learning process, other students, the instructor, and property.  The equipment that we use in class, from the cameras to the dry erase markers and chairs, are tools, not toys.  Treat them as such.  We always follow the "You break it, you buy it" philosophy.  If you are purposely misusing your computer or filming equipment, you may have consequences that include technology limitations.  STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE FOOD, CANDY, GUM, AND ANY LIQUID OTHER THAN WATER IN ANY COMPUTER LAB AT MRMS.  Please also remember that it is a school rule that YOUR PERSONAL CELLULAR DEVICES MUST BE OFF, AND IN YOUR BACKPACK AT ALL TIMES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.  In my class, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE YOUR PHONE OUT OR EVEN IN YOUR POCKET/HOODIE/ETC.  YOU WILL ALSO NOT BE ALLOWED THE USE OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER.  If you have your phone out your backpack for any reason (other than allowed by school administration) the school procedures/consequences for cell phones will be followed.  Class participation and positive behavior are crucial to student success, as well as the success of the class. All district and school rules concerning behavior and safety will be followed in class (i.e. no foul language, no hats, no personal electronic equipment, no interference with operation, etc.).  If there is a lack of participation and/or behavior is inappropriate, the following list of consequences will be enforced:

1. Warning                                2. Call or email home                                 3. Referral/Sent to main office

Vandalism of the computers or other class equipment, getting into other students' folders or accounts, and any other illegal behaviors, will result in an immediate removal from class, a phone call/email to parents, a meeting with administration and a possible report to the Douglas County Sheriff's Department.  This information has been discussed in class. 

Now, given all of that, below is my rubric for Work Habits in my class. 

NOTE:  It is possible to get a 1 in Work Habits, which equates to a U (meaning Unacceptable).   A few things will automatically get you a U for a week in one or more categories, including misbehaving for a guest teacher, violating the technology expectations, eating food or candy in class, or disrupting other students' work, cheating, etc.

ASSIGNMENTS/GRADING

Assignments:

For COMPUTER ESSENTIALS, students will spend the first quarter focused primarily on keyboarding skills, with interspersed lessons on computer terms, usage, and applications.  The second quarter of the class, students will spend their time learning the Google suite of applications and their MS Office counterparts, utilizing what they have learned in the first quarter and putting those skills and knowledge to practice.  Due to the nature of the technology we use, students are given enough time in class to complete MOST assignments.

For DIGITAL MEDIA, students will work on assignments in class that may be aligned with a learning path of their choice (when available).  The purpose of this class is to move beyond Multimedia and create a project or projects for a public audience.  Assignments will be determined by student choice, so the assignments may be more fluid, but difficult to determine ahead of time.   Time may  be required outside of school hours for students to complete their chosen assignments.   Each student in Digital Media may need to attend at least one after school performance to film.  There are a few opportunities throughout the year (but don't wait til the end of the year as only 5 students are needed for each performance).

 ALL STUDENTS: If a student needs more time prior to the due date or deadline, it is the responsibility of the student to set up an appointment with the teacher to complete the assignment before or after school. If a student misses a day of class, it is his/her responsibility to find out what material and assignments need to be made up.  Any work due the day of an excused absence is due the number of days absent plus one, after the student returns to school (per district policy).  Since most work is done in groups, this shouldn't be too much of an issue.  

Grading:   HUGELY IMPORTANT!

For grades in COMPUTER ESSENTIALS CONTENT KNOWLEDGE, students are graded according to their scores on keyboarding lessons, computer components, applications, etc.  For grades in DIGITAL MEDIA CONTENT KNOWLEDGE, a lot of the workload is chosen by the student based on what they are interested in pursuing, so not every student works on every assignment.  As a result, some students are "exempt" from certain assignments.  Rubrics are available for some assignments, but for others, scoring will be based on individual "interpretation" of students, sometimes based on class discussion. 

 For ALL CLASSES AND GRADES keep in mind that the standards based grading that DCSD middle schools are required to use may not align with what parents are familiar with, and is not in direct line or correlation with the grading systems of the high schools.  Scores for assignments are 4, 3, 2, 1, or 0, which align with a grade of A, B, C, D or I, and U.   For your information, most students get B's in class for Content Knowledge AND Work Habits (which is normal and expected in middle school) per the district scales below.

4 = Quality of work consistently and independently EXCEEDS class expectations        3 = Quality of work consistently meets class expectations                                           2= Quality of work inconsistently meets class expectations                                                                                    1 = Quality of work frequently does not meet class expectations                             0 = Quality of work does not meet class expectations / Insufficient evidence

In all of my classes, including RAM/ACCESS,  I am very strict with WORK HABITS grading (see the rubric above in the EXPECTATIONS section).  The scale is as follows.   Grades may be updated either weekly or bi-weekly.   FOR RAM/ACCESS, STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE A PASS/FAIL GRADE DEPENDENT ON THE FOLLOWING SCORES.    A 1 IS A FAILING GRADE.

4 = Student works consistently and independently to exceed class expectations                                           3 = Student works consistently to meet class expectations                                       2 = Student works inconsistently to meet class expectations                                                                                     1= Student works at an unsatisfactory level 

STANDARDS

Grading and Standards...  Grading of assignments will place them into one particular category for standard alignment, even though an assignment may very well fit into many of the standards.   The standards for computer based curricula come from the NETS (National Educational Technology Standards) developed by ISTE (International Society for Technology Education).     Details can be found here on their webpage.     In a nutshell, the standards are as follows:

1.    Creativity and Innovation                       Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.      

a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes             b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression       c. Use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues             d. Identify trends and forecast possibilities

2. Communication and Collaboration                             Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.

a. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media                b. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats               c. Develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures         d. Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems

3. Research and Information Fluency                           Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.

a. Plan strategies to guide inquiry          b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media               c. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks                d. Process data and report results

4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving,and Decision Making              Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

a. Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation          b. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project         c. Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions               d. Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions

5.    Digital Citizenship               Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.

a. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology             b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity               c. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning               d. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship

6.    Technology Operations and Concepts               Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations.

a. Understand and use technology systems               b. Select and use applications effectively and productively               c. Troubleshoot systems and applications            d. Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies

We also incorporate some Language Arts standards as well as systems thinking, resiliency, and perseverance.  

NOW THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS PAGE WITH YOUR PARENT/GUARDIAN, THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN MUST FILL OUT THE FOLLOWING FORM "SIGNING" THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS INFORMATION.