TECHNOLOGY ELECTIVES

Click to view Technology Electives Course Sequence Diagram

Students are required to complete Technology Applications 6 or Technology Applications 7/8 in middle school unless they have completed a technology elective prior to 2025-2026 school year.  

Technology Applications 

Course: 0747/0748-7/0748-8

Grade 6, 7, 8

This project-based course incorporates the study of digital tools, devices, communication, and programming to empower students to apply current and emerging technologies in their careers, education, and beyond. Technology applications consist of five strands that prepare students including computational thinking; creativity and innovation; data literacy, management, and representation; digital citizenship; and practical technology concepts. Students build their knowledge of software applications and hardware focusing on keyboarding and use of applications and tools. Students also build their knowledge and use of technology systems, creating projects that integrate the use of multiple applications.  Students collect, organize, manage, analyze, and publish various types of data for an audience. Students practice the ethical and effective application of technology and the impact of a digital footprint to become safe, productive, and respectful digital citizens. Students explore the core concepts of computational thinking and the basic fundamentals of computer science through innovative design processes, algorithms, pseudocode, and both block and text-based coding including variables, conditionals, and iteration.  This course is a prerequisite to all other technology electives.

Technology Applications 6 - GT

Course: 0747GT

Grade 6  

Prerequisite:  Gifted and Talented Identification

This project-based course incorporates the same TEKS as Technology Applications 6 while addressing the need for depth and complexity of Gifted and Talented students. This course is only available to identified Gifted and Talented students. Students who take this course can progress into Discovery 7/8. This course is a prerequisite to all other technology electives.

Discovery

Course: 0717/0718

Grade 7, 8

Prerequisite: GT Identification

This year-long elective is an inquiry, project-based course that makes connections across the disciplines and meets the state mandates for the Gifted and Talented. If a student chooses to take this course in 7th & 8th grade, each school year presents new and innovative content and curriculum. This course is only available to identified Gifted and Talented students.

Yearbook

Course: 0700/0800

Grade: 7, 8

Prerequisite:  Technology Applications or Digital Media

In this course, students work in a professional environment to create a quality yearbook that reflects the pictorial history of the school community for the present school year. Students on the yearbook staff are the leaders and decision-makers of the theme, design, and content of the entire publication. This course provides the study of and practice in: gathering and analyzing information, interviewing, note-taking, journalistic writing, and photography. Students will gain valuable skills such as time management and self-direction, business and marketing strategies, teamwork, leadership, and decision-making as individuals and together as a staff.

Broadcast Production (NOT HS CREDIT)  

Course: 0753

Grade 8  

Prerequisite: Principles of Arts, Audio/Visual Technology & Communications

Students will learn to work as a team to produce their campus news shows and other promotional programming. Students taking this course will learn to write for the eye and ear, develop successful techniques for conducting interviews on camera, how to produce programs through story-telling with voice-overs to produce complete video packages. Students will apply their creative and learned skills of photography, videography, editing, and lighting techniques, as well as computer animations, graphic rendering, and special television effects in a variety of class and personal projects. Students must show a strong interest and aptitude for video production and demonstrate maturity with the ability to work outside of the lab/class and instructor purview in order to sign up for the class. Students will be required to participate in all aspects of production, both on-camera and as part of the entire production and reporting team,  including reporting on events in the community and the district, such as new businesses, local events, sporting events, and community groups. Broadcast Production provides a great foundation for the A/V Production sequence of courses available in high school. Campus News Broadcast Production

Course supply requirement: Each student will be required to provide their own SD card as described in the course syllabus.

Career and Technical Education Courses for High School Credit

Middle schools offer five courses within six CTE programs of study. 

Cybersecurity

Programming and Software Development

Engineering Foundations

Robotics and Automation Technology

Graphic Design & Interactive Media

Digital Communications 

Fundamentals of Computer Science

Course: 0744

Grade 7, 8

HS Credit: 1.0

Prerequisite:   Technology Applications

Fundamentals of Computer Science is intended as a first course for those students just beginning the study of computer science. Students will study the history of computing, hardware, software, and internet basics.  Students will foster their creativity and innovation through opportunities to design, implement, and present solutions to real-world problems. Students will learn programming concepts through the creation of websites, animated stories, and games.  They will use block-based and text-based coding techniques.  *Students successfully completing this high school course in middle school will receive 1 high school credit. Grades earned from high school courses taken in middle school will not be included in the high school GPA but the credits and grades will appear on the official high school transcript. 

Principles of Applied Engineering

Course: 0782

Grade 7, 8

HS Credit: 1.0

Prerequisite:   Technology Applications

This is a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Gateway to Technology engineering course that focuses on Design, Modeling, and Automation. The course features a project-based curriculum designed to challenge and engage the natural curiosity and imagination of middle school students.  Students are introduced to engineering and the engineering design process as they explore how ideas become inventions.  Students begin to recognize the value of an engineering notebook to document and capture their ideas.  Students study measurement systems, and sketching techniques, use industry-standard 3D modeling software, learn about mechanical systems, energy transfer, machine automation, and computer control systems. A robust robotics platform will be used to design, build, and program solutions to solve existing problems. Students will be asked to submit a one-time $15 supply fee at the beginning of the year instead of individually buying specific supplies to bring to class.  *Students successfully completing this high school course in middle school will receive 1 high school credit. Grades earned from high school courses taken in middle school will not be included in the high school GPA but the credits and grades will appear on the official high school transcript. 

Principles of Manufacturing

Course: 0784

Grade 8

HS Credit: 1.0

Prerequisite:  Principles of Applied Engineering 

This is a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Gateway to Technology engineering course that focuses on Applied Science and Technology ).  This course continues a project-based curriculum to review and build upon their skills from Principles of Applied Engineering, including the use of an engineering notebook to document and capture their ideas.  Students review the engineering design process to study electricity and build an electromagnet, a DC motor, and a generator. In addition, they will learn about energy, energy conservation, and potential and kinetic energy by designing, building, and testing devices.  Students will have the opportunity to use various tools and equipment in order to complete the projects, including soldering irons.  Appropriate instruction in the safe operation of these tools and equipment will be given.  Students will be required to pass safety assessments and follow lab rules at all times. Students will be asked to submit a one-time $15 supply fee at the beginning of the year instead of individually buying specific supplies to bring to class.  *Students successfully completing this high school course in middle school will receive 1 high school credit. Grades earned from high school courses taken in middle school will not be included in the high school GPA but the credits and grades will appear on the official high school transcript. 

Principles of Arts, Audio/Visual Technology, & Communications   

Course: 0749

Grade 7, 8  

HS Credit: 1.0

Prerequisite:   Technology Applications

This course is designed to provide students an opportunity to develop an understanding of the various and multifaceted career opportunities in audio-visual technologies, digital communications, graphic design, and multimedia arts and develop knowledge and skills related to information management, presentation, animation, video technology, printing, and desktop publishing. Students will learn the fundamentals of Adobe Creative Cloud software.  Students will learn digital video fundamentals, the evolution of technology, digital camera & video camcorder operation, basic shooting and lighting techniques, as well as basic editing and exporting. In addition, students will study digital video production by planning, shooting, editing, and exporting several digital video projects throughout the year. Storyboards, shooting scripts, and cinematographic techniques are learned and employed. *Students successfully completing this high school course in middle school will receive 1 high school credit. Grades earned from high school courses taken in middle school will not be included in the high school GPA but the credits and grades will appear on the official high school transcript. Course supply requirement: Each student will be required to provide their own SD card as described in the course syllabus.

Digital Media

Course: 0738

Grade 7, 8

HS Credit: 1.0

Prerequisite:   Technology Applications

Recommended Prerequisite:   Principles of Arts, Audio-Visual Technology & Communications

Students will focus on fundamental elements and principles of visual art and design. Students will design and create projects using a variety of Adobe Creative Cloud software. Students will explore career opportunities in various creative technological fields of study, as well as demonstrate employability skills and develop a working resumé. Each student will leave with an understanding of the creative technology fields as they pertain to graphic design, photography and animation.  Students will use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Animate, and Premiere.  *Students successfully completing this high school course in middle school will receive 1 high school credit. Grades earned from high school courses taken in middle school will not be included in the high school GPA but the credits and grades will appear on the official high school transcript.