8th Grade Technology

Touch System Data Entry and Professional Communication

Instructor: Antoinette Barnes (Mrs. Barnes)

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday 12:10 - 4:00pm

School Phone: 817-815-4200

Email: antoinette.barnes@fwisd.org

Course Description

In this course the students will begin learning the fundamentals of touch typing. Students will be given many opportunities to practice as they work on improving their speed and accuracy. We will focus on keyboarding technique, word processing, desktop and online publishing, production of business documents, and networking. Students will learn how to apply their enhanced reading, writing, computing, communication, and reasoning skills to a business environment.

Students will be given the opportunity to explore various careers as they begin developing a professional road map to success. Students will learn to highlight character traits, accomplishments, skill sets, and educational history that makes them stand out to recruiters and future employers. Students learn to articulate why they are the best fit for the opportunities presented to them. Basic coding and web design skills will be used to develop an online portfolio for their final exam in the course.

Course Units

Unit 1: Digital Communication Tools and Keyboarding

  • Computer Hardware/Software and Information Management

  • Connecting to the World's Information

  • Letter Keys

  • Numbers and Symbol Keys

Unit 2: Word Processing, Desktop Publishing and Document Formatting

  • Reports

  • Emails and Letters

  • Table

  • Templates

  • Presentations

  • Worksheets

Unit 3 Web Design

  • What Is the Web?

  • Structuring Websites

  • Styling Websites

  • Project - Create Your Homepage

Unit 4 College and Career Readiness

  • Careers and You

  • Career Preparation

  • Career Development

  • Financial Management

  • Transitioning to High School

Student Evaluation

Daily Assignments:

These assignments will be given to students daily. Provides students with extra practice on the skills and materials being learned in the classroom.

Projects

This course is a project based course. Students will have many opportunities to apply what they have learned through a series of many minor projects and 2 major projects.

Formative Assessments

This will measure scholars comprehension and retention of the material taught. Example: Quizzes, Smart Starts, Exit Tickets, and Discussion Post

Summative Assessment

This is an end of instructional unit evaluation.

Grading Scale

Make-Up Work Due to Absence

Students are responsible for obtaining and completing the makeup work in a satisfactory manner and within the time specified by the teacher. The student will be allowed no less than one day for each day absent, but may be allowed more time depending on the assignment and at the teacher's discretion. A student who does not make up assigned work within the time allotted will receive a grade of zero for the assignment.


If a student knows ahead of time that they will be absent ahead of time, speak with the teacher. This will allow the student and teacher to plan work that can be completed before or shortly after the absence.

Late Work

Students are expected to complete all their assignments in a timely manner. If a student does not turn in their work they will receive a letter grade of ZERO for the assignment. If the work is turned in late it will receive a daily deduction.


Days Late Highest Score Due By

1 80% Beginning of Class

2 70% Beginning of Class

3 60% Beginning of Class



*Work turned in with NO NAME will not be graded and will be discarded.

Tutoring

If you need tutoring click on the button and fill in the information. Provide me with a brief description on what you will need assistance with.

  • Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are setup in 30 minute increments.

  • Tuesday and Thursday are setup in 15 minute increments.

  • If you need more time then the allotted time, sign up for more than one time slots.

Class Expectations

  • Always be PREPARED for class.

  • Always be ON TIME to class.

  • Always INVEST in your education by participating daily.

  • Be in APPROPRIATE dress for class.

  • Stay FOCUSED and eliminate all distractions.

  • Follow all classroom PROCEDURES.

  • Be OPEN-MINDED and ready to learn.

  • RESPECT yourself and your peers in you learning environment.

  • Always DO YOUR BEST and don't be afraid to ask questions

Online Etiquette

  • Be present and participate in class with your camera on.

  • Dress Appropriately while on camera.

  • Mute your mic while in class online and unmute when it is your turn to talk.

  • Use your real name and your face (no selfies). It is important to see your real face in order to count you present.

  • Ask questions in the chat area unless asked to unmute your mic to ask aloud. (Chat is not for use to chat with friends)

  • Avoid eating or behaving inappropriately while on camera.

  • In order to reduce distractions and background noise, use headphones or ear buds and/or find a quite place.

Lab Procedures

The computer equipment is school property, and is here for your learning. You will use it with care.

  1. Food and drinks are not permitted in the classroom.

  2. Chewing gum will not be tolerated in the classroom.

  3. Do not change the settings on the computers. It is a direct violation of the Acceptable Use Policy. Settings include and is not limited to:

    • installing additional software,

    • Customize features: Backgrounds, screen resolution, screen layout, brightness etc.

    • Pinning objects/games to the desktop

    • Volume

  4. Personal Electronic devices are to be put away in your backpack unless otherwise authorized by the teacher. (There will be opportunities when students can earn free time and personal electronics may be permitted at that time.)

Violations:

1st time: Verbal warning

2nd time: Writing task or the electronic will be picked up and given back to the student at the end of the day.

3rd time: Parents will be notified via Email or Phone, Device will be picked up and given back to the student at the end of class.

4th time: Office Referral

Academic Dishonesty

It is any type of cheating that occurs in relation to a formal academic assignment. Examples of academic dishonesty: unauthorized collaboration of students on an assignment, copying answers, plagiarism, allowing someone to copy your answers, deception, sabotage, using unauthorized sources on a test/quiz, and having someone else complete an assignment for you.

Violations:

  • 1st time: You will be given an alternate assignment, plus your parents will be notified. The alternate assignment will receive a maximum grade of a 70.

  • 2nd time: You will be given an automatic zero, plus your parents will be notified, and you will receive an office referral.