What does the strand say? Through technology integration, students demonstrate knowledge and appropriate use of technology systems, concepts, and operations.
What does this mean for students? This strand looks at the actual operation of using digital tools and apps. Students should be familiar with the terminology of technology hardware and software, such as keyboard, mouse, Chromebook, etc., and be able to identify what digital tools they would use for saving files, collaboration with other students, and product creation. Students should have practice with proper keyboarding techniques and develop identification of the letters, numbers and symbols on the keyboard through objective-based practice, such as using Google Docs to write a poem or letter.
What does this look like in the classroom?
Students should understand the basic operations of iPads and Chromebooks. Teachers should take time to model for young students how these devices work, such as the Home and volume buttons on an iPad and the touchpad of a Chromebook. Objective based practice, such as logging in to the Chromebook and going to specific app tiles on the CISD Single Sign On are examples of students practicing this strand everyday.
One expectation of this strand is that students should develop over time proper keyboarding skills. This should always develop using a meaningful, content related activity, such as having students write a letter to their principal, keeping a reading journal using Google Docs, or transcribing their written work into a text document. Keyboarding apps do provide some usefulness in that they provide a means for practicing where letters and numbers are on the keyboard, but this should always lead into a content-based activity and never be the primary focus of a lesson.