Preston
Middle School Technology Curriculum
These skills are intended to be the foundation
for each student to meet the challenges of their future personal and professional
life. Because technology is ongoing and rapidly changing with new and improved
technological advances appearing almost daily, the curriculum was designed for
continuous learning, to be applicable to ever-changing innovations and to be integrated
with activities in all subject areas. (Updated March-2006)
Technology Proficiency
Technology-Application of tools, machines, materials and
processes that help to solve human problems.(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology)
Technology in our school refer to computer systems, printers,
scanners, digital cameras, projectors, and software.Therefor - Technology
Proficiency is the ability to independently understand and use current
technology to gather information, solve problems and further self-knowledge.
Technological literacy is the ability to understand, evaluate,
and comprehend the social impact of technology. It complements technological proficiency.
7th Grade Exploratory
Network Navigation
Personal Network Folder-File Organization
Students
will learn how to organize and maintain files and folders in their personal
network folder. This includes; how to label folders and files, and the use of
characters and spaces when labeling.
Media Folder
Students
will be able to navigate and locate the media folder which contains graphics,
audio, and movie clips, and be able to use as a resource.
Printers
Students
will be able to search for and add printers to a computer. Students will also
employ the print preview feature and understand portrait and landscape layout.
Methods of navigation and File Options
Students
will know how to navigate the school's network in at least three different ways;
using URL path, point and click by means of My network Places, and Explore.
LANs, WANs, Internet and intranet
Students
will compare the differences and similarities between navigating LAN or WAN,
Internet and Intranet, the function of back slashes(\)
and forward slashes(/).
Export, Save and Save As:
Comparison/Contrast and Why
It
is important for students to understand the difference and usage of these three
functions. Students will understand when to save
a file and when to perform a save as. Students
will also learn how and when to export files.
File Extensions
Definition
Types
-Graphics
-Sound
-PDF
Understanding
file extensions is necessary when saving and exporting files, uploading and
downloading files, and understanding file and program realtionship.
Students will be able to identify graphic, audio, movie, and PDF files by viewing
the file name. Students will also learn how to turn the file extension viewing
on or off.
File Conversion
Opening documents in different programs
E.g., Saving a file in word as .txt instead of default .doc
When
students have mastered the understanding file extensions and exporting/saving
files, they will be able to convert files. Converting files is essential in
opening and working a file with a variety of programs. Students will be acquainted
with each program in respect with what each will open.
Keyboard Shortcuts and the Mouse Right Click
Cut, Copy, Paste, Print, Save, Open, Undo, and Redo.
Students
will incorporate keyboard shortcuts with their keyboarding skills. Cut,
Copy, Paste, Print, Save, Open, Undo, and Redo are the
basics for almost all programs. Students will also learn to find additional
keyboards with each program they encounter. Students will master the use of
the right-click button.
Using Internet Resources
Search Strategies.
Students
will learn how to use e-Library, EBSCO, schools.clipart.com, and other educational
and legitimate resources as opposed to commercial search engines. Students will
compare/contrast search engines and internet resources. Student will learn how
to evaluate web sites to determine legitimacy as a resource. Students will also
learn how to cite internet resources.
Basic HTML
Learning
basic HTML will lay the foundation for understanding the concept of scripting
or coding. Students will be able to recognize HTML
and understand basic functions of tags and attributes to create tables and links.
Find and Replace
Using
Notepad, students will master the use of Find and Replace,
which is useful tool in many programs used for word processing.
Spell check
Using
Microsoft Word, students will master in using the spell
check feature, and to also find this feature in many other programs.
Using the Scanner
Using
Macromedia Fireworks, students will earn how to scan photographs, save /or export
the images to the desired file type into their network folder.
Using a Digital Camera
Students
will understand the basics of a digital camera and its operation. They will
also learn to upload the dif\gital images onto a computer to the their network
folder.
Programs
Students will learn to use and identify suites and programs.
Word Processing OpenOffice
Writer -Word
processor. Students will learn the basic use of this application.
Spreadsheet OpenOffice
Calc-Spreadsheet
application. Students will learn the basic use of cells and functions.
Presentation OpenOffice-Presentation
Software. Students will learn how to put together a slide show using images
and text.
Graphic Editor Macromedia
Fireworks-Graphics/Image Editor. Students will learn how to manipulate/edit
images.
Desktop Publications Macromedia
Freehand-Graphics and Text Layout application. Students will learn the basics
of desktop publishing.
Vocabulary 7th
Grade Vocabulary-These are common computer-related terms heard or published
every day.
URL
World Wide Web
Virus/Anti-Virus
Trojan
Hardware
Application/Software
Database
Code
Input/Output
Network
Upload/Download
Operating System(OS)
Link
Network
Toggle
HTML Review
Students
will review and reinforce their knowledge and use of HTML
tags, attributes to create simple web pages with links,
images, and tables.
Databases: XML
XML
will be used to introduce the raw database. Students will learn how to create
a simple XML database using the HTML
concept of tags. Students will also learn how databases are used by by other
applications and web page
Programs to Review
and additional features.
Word Processing OpenOffice
Writer -Students will learn some advanced features of word processing,
Spreadsheet OpenOffice
Calc-Students will learn some advanced spreadsheet functions.
Presentation OPenOffice
Impress t-Students will learn some advanced features in creating a slide show.
Macromedia Fireworks Macromedia
Fireworks-Students will acquire additional skills in graphics/photo editing.
Macromedia Freehand Macromedia
Freehand-Students will learn more about desktop publishing.
New Programs
Macromedia Flash Macromedia
Flash-Students will be introduced to vector graphics
and computer animation. Students will learn the concept
of using a timeline and why it is an important component in how computers work.
Movie Maker Microsoft
MovieMaker-Movie Clip Editor. Students will learn how to edit and manipulate
video clips.
Macromedia Dreamweaver Macromedia
Dreamweaver-HTML Editor, web page creator, WYSIWYG
Application. Students will use this program to create their portfolio. Students
will discover the purpose of programs. Dreamweaver is an example of a non-tangible
technological advanacement. Dreamweaver was developed to replace labor intensive
coding of HTML pages.
How to Learn New
Programs
Basic Things that all programs have
Understanding GUI (Graphic User Interface.)
Help features
Use on-line help and documentation and
Internet Resources (Atomic Learning, Forums)
Students
will learn how to efficiently learn new software by focusing on what almost
all programs have in common; Help, program resource, graphical interfaces, and
on-line documentation. There are a number of programs that perform the same
tasks. E.g., Fireworks, PhotoShop and CorelDraw are all graphic/photo editors.
By learning how to use a new program via building on similarities(keyboard shortcuts,
find and replace, similar commands such as insert, export, etc.), using resources,
and the concept of GUI, students will become more
efficient learners of technology.
Public Domain Software: Freeware and Shareware
Student
will learn the purpose of beta version software,
the consequences of copying copyrighted software, and how to locate legitimate
freeware. Students will be able differentiate between freeware, shareware and
demo applications.
Portfolio
Design
and Layout
Using Multiple Programs
Student
will create a web based portfolio using Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash at a minimum.
They will learn how to design a simple template to be applied to a larger site
design. SIte navigation, overall site design and layout will be the included
in the criteria. Students will learn how to use several programs towards a single
project, and learn the value of communication on the internet.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary-These
are common computer-related terms heard or published every day.
Bitmap
Vector
GUI
WYSIWYG
Record
Boolean
Value
Default
CPU
RAM
ROM
Motherboard
Multimedia
3-D