This is page is designed to give you a quick overview of some of our routines in the computer lab as well as our overall mission. Each class visits the computer lab one-two times per week, although there is built-in time throughout the week for students to come for additional time as needed.
Here at St. Joe, we use technology to provide experiences for students to collaborate, create, learn from resources outside our school walls and demonstrate learning. We guide our students to advocate and apply positive social and ethical behaviors when using and communicating with technology. Through guidance and practice, students will learn to apply these technological skills and morals to all technological use now and in the future.
Computer grades are based on class projects, in-class assignments and weekly participation grades.
Our projects are multi-disciplinary and typically span over several weeks. These projects create the bulk of our grades in computer class and are graded based on quality of work as well as student use of problem-solving and perseverance. Rubrics and project explanations may be accessed thorough Google Classroom.
In-class assignments are in-class activities that relate to our current area of study and demonstrate student understanding.
Weekly class grades are given for the day-to-day work in the lab, which are based on student participation and work ethic.
Third through fifth graders continue using technology to create, share and also begin to focus on the idea of web literacy: the ability to decipher and evaluate web-based content. Digital citizenship also becomes a topic that is often discussed in class. Students learn that with access to technology and the Internet comes responsibility. Additionally, beginning in third grade, our students begin learning the proper typing method. Though many students come into class fairly proficient in their own typing method, in class, we take time to emphasize the correct hand positions and to encourage students to learn to type without looking at their hands.
Junior high students will continue with many of the skills mentioned for the previous grades. In junior high, students work on month-long projects that are often a collaboration with other classes. Students dive further into the responsibilities of digital citizenship, use Khan Academy and learn computer coding basics.
In all grades, the emphasis is not on how we use technology. As in all of our classrooms here at St. Joe, student learning is our primary focus and our technological tools are integrated in ways that best support the curriculum.