Middle School Business Technology Applications

Gene Smith

Room: CTE Lab

School Phone Number and Extension: (208) 462-3756 ext. 1081

Email: gsmith@gvsd.net

Course Description

In Business Technology Applications students will learn: Typing skills, ethical use of digital media, computer basics, software applications, object oriented coding, and multimedia production. The course will introduce the students to the computer software technologies that are utilized in the Garden Valley School District as well as in colleges and the workplace. Students will learn industry standard core applications including G Suite (Mail, Drive, Calendar, Sites, Docs, Slides, and Sheets), Adobe CC 2020 (Photoshop and Premiere Zoom), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher), and various web-based applications including object oriented coding software to create basic games and production apps. Students will be guided according to nationally recognized technology standards (see: www.iste.org, NETS for Students) as well as Idaho State Career and Technical Education (CTE) Standards (see cte.idaho.gov) through thematic project-based lessons.


Essential Learning Outcomes

  1. Create original works as a means of personal/group expression for potential commercial use. CTE Standard - (Creativity & Innovation; Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, & Decision Making; Research & Information Fluency; Digital Citizenship)

  2. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats as well as contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems. CTE Standard - (Communication & Collaboration)

  3. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use appropriate information from a variety of sources and media. CTE Standard - (Research & Information Fluency; Digital Citizenship)

  4. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project. CTE Standard - (Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, & Decision Making)

  5. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology. CTE Standard - (Digital Ethics)

  6. Select, use and troubleshoot applications effectively and productively. CTE Standard - (Technology Operations & Concepts)

Course Objectives

The student will be able to demonstrate:

- An understanding of current digital ethics issues.

- An improvement in their keyboarding technique and speed. Target is 40 words per minute with 90% accuracy

- Ability to produce, save, retrieve, edit, and print correctly formatted and error free documents in an integrated software suite (Google Drive / MS Office 2016).

- Ability to use computer terminology and identify microcomputer hardware components.

- Ability to search for, find, and document specific information from the Internet.

- Ability to create effective academic presentations.

- An understanding to basic desktop publishing and graphic design techniques and skills.

- Ability to create, manage, and use a personal Web Portfolio.

- Competency within the Google Apps Domain

- Ability to understand basic video shooting and editing techniques.

Software

The software primarily used in class is: G Suite including Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms. Windows 10, Microsoft Publisher 2016, PowerPoint 2016, Word 2016, Excel 2016.


Process & Methods

Students will become "self-starters" and demonstrate "workability" and "employability" in our classroom. Students will need to pay full attention to all instructions, take notes from discussions and presentations, utilize the Google Classroom website and watch instructional demonstrations from the Internet frequently. The course will be taught using computer assisted instruction, lecture, demonstration, class discussion, individual assistance, hands on activities, homework, independent projects, and online learning.

Materials

The following equipment and materials are recommended for class: Chromebook (school provided), Headphones (USB or mini jack), a pen or pencil, a notebook, and a highlighter. It is recommended that students use Google Calendar and/or their daily planners to keep track of assignments and due dates.

Grading

Students will be evaluated on keyboarding using the typing.com website. Basic computer literacy will be evaluated through quizzes. All other learning outcomes will be assessed using projects with specific rubrics. Grades will be updated in Lumen (Bright Student) each week.

Classwork / Projects / Homework / Tests / Quizzes 60 %

Class participation (includes behavior and attitude) 40 %

Class Participation

Respect everyone and everything! This means yourself, your classmate, your teacher, your school. This should be all you need to know but for further clarification, read the following:

Be in class every day, be on time, and be prepared to learn.

Always cooperate with your teacher and fellow students

Adhere to all school and classroom policies/guidelines

Follow teacher’s directions promptly

Be honest in all that you do. Cheating is never acceptable

Backpacks are to be put on the counter in the lab

All Cell phones, iPods/mp3 players, etc. are to be kept in your lockers. There may be times when we will use the camera function of your device and you will know when that time is. Otherwise, do not bring them to class

For your safety, always sit with the legs of the chairs completely on the floor

Food, drinks, gum, snacks, etc. are not allowed in the CTE Lab unless we have a planned event to include such items

Leave your work area neat and orderly after every period. All trash in the trash cans, and all equipment and tools put away in theirproper place

Deliberate damage to equipment will be paid for by the student and/or student’s parents

Bad language is never OK

Bathroom passes will not be issued during the first or last 15 minutes of class (unless it is a health need)

You are expected to be in class, ready to participate when the bell rings

Students who cannot contribute positively or act in a cooperative manner will receive the following consequences: 1st instance: asked to sit out of a portion of class and have a one on one talk with the teacher; 2nd instance: same as the 1st and their parents/guardians will be contacted by phone or email; 3rd instance: will be asked to go to the office and explain their behavior to the Principal.

Attendance, Make-ups, Homework, & Intervention

Daily class attendance is crucial to the student’s success. New material will be covered every class period. When the student is absent, the student will be responsible for the make-up work by checking the classroom website. Students are expected to make-up any missed assignments at home or on a Part Friday. Tests and quizzes are to be made up as quickly as possible after an absence. Homework includes studying for vocab tests, research, and/or finishing any classwork, projects, or makeup work.

Equipment

Students are required to follow necessary equipment checkout procedures and are responsible to take good care of it and return it in good condition. Students will be responsible for any damaged or lost equipment.