§126.6. Technology Applications, Kindergarten-Grade 2, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013.

(a) Introduction.

(1) The technology applications curriculum has six strands based on the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS•S) and performance indicators developed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE): creativity and innovation; communication and collaboration; research and information fluency; critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making; digital citizenship; and technology operations and concepts.

(2) Through the study of the six strands in technology applications, students use creative thinking and innovative processes to construct knowledge and develop products. Students communicate and collaborate both locally and globally to reinforce and promote learning. Research and information fluency includes the acquisition and evaluation of digital content. Students develop critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills by collecting, analyzing, and reporting digital information. Students practice digital citizenship by behaving responsibly while using technology tools and resources. Through the study of technology operations and concepts, students learn technology related terms, concepts, and data input strategies.

(3) Statements that contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.

(b) Knowledge and skills.

(1) Creativity and innovation. The student uses creative thinking and innovative processes to construct knowledge and develop digital products. The student is expected to:

(A) apply prior knowledge to develop new ideas, products, and processes;

(B) create original products using a variety of resources;

(C) explore virtual environments, simulations, models, and programming languages to enhance learning;

(D) create and execute steps to accomplish a task; and

(E) evaluate and modify steps to accomplish a task.

(2) Communication and collaboration. The student collaborates and communicates both locally and globally using digital tools and resources to reinforce and promote learning. The student is expected to:

(A) use communication tools that allow for anytime, anywhere access to interact, collaborate, or publish with peers locally and globally;

(B) participate in digital environments to develop cultural understanding by interacting with learners of multiple cultures;

(C) format digital information, including font attributes, color, white space, graphics, and animation, for a defined audience and communication medium; and

(D) select, store, and deliver products using a variety of media, formats, devices, and virtual environments.

(3) Research and information fluency. The student acquires and evaluates digital content. The student is expected to:

(A) use search strategies to access information to guide inquiry;

(B) use research skills to build a knowledge base regarding a topic, task, or assignment; and

(C) evaluate the usefulness of acquired digital content.

(4) Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. The student applies critical-thinking skills to solve problems, guide research, and evaluate projects using digital tools and resources. The student is expected to:

(A) identify what is known and unknown and what needs to be known regarding a problem and explain the steps to solve the problem;

(B) evaluate the appropriateness of a digital tool to achieve the desired product;

(C) evaluate products prior to final submission; and

(D) collect, analyze, and represent data using tools such as word processing, spreadsheets, graphic organizers, charts, multimedia, simulations, models, and programming languages.

(5) Digital citizenship. The student practices safe, responsible, legal, and ethical behavior while using digital tools and resources. The student is expected to:

(A) adhere to acceptable use policies reflecting appropriate behavior in a digital environment;

(B) comply with acceptable digital safety rules, fair use guidelines, and copyright laws; and

(C) practice the responsible use of digital information regarding intellectual property, including software, text, images, audio, and video.

(6) Technology operations and concepts. The student demonstrates knowledge and appropriate use of technology systems, concepts, and operations. The student is expected to:

(A) use appropriate terminology regarding basic hardware, software applications, programs, networking, virtual environments, and emerging technologies;

(B) use appropriate digital tools and resources for storage, access, file management, collaboration, and designing solutions to problems;

(C) perform basic software application functions, including opening an application and creating, modifying, printing, and saving files;

(D) use a variety of input, output, and storage devices;

(E) use proper keyboarding techniques such as ergonomically correct hand and body positions appropriate for Kindergarten-Grade 2 learning;

(F) demonstrate keyboarding techniques for operating the alphabetic, numeric, punctuation, and symbol keys appropriate for Kindergarten-Grade 2 learning; and

(G) use the help feature online and in applications.

Source: The provisions of this §126.6 adopted to be effective September 26, 2011, 36 TexReg 6263.