Suggested Objective a: Course Expectations and Description

Technology Foundations is a technology-rich curriculum that prepares students to function in the 21^st Century environment. This course is designed to provide foundational skills in all relevant areas of technology, including keyboarding, operating systems, word processing, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, multimedia presentations, and social networking. The course also focuses on self- and career development by encouraging students to create a program of study that maps out their high school and postsecondary education.

Technology Foundations is built upon the Common Core Standards, 21^st Century Skills, and the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S). Upon successful completion of the course, students will have been exposed to the latest technology and will be able to make informed decisions on how to ethically interact both online and off.

Upon successful completion of Technology Foundations, students will receive one (1) Carnegie unit to be applied toward the Business and Technology graduation requirement.

Student Prerequisites

Students enrolled in Technology Foundations should be classified as eighth-grade students. Any exception to this rule should be discussed with the Mississippi Department of Education.

Course Outline

There are ten units of information to be covered in Technology Foundations this school year. Students are expected to master all competencies in each unit. The units are listed below.

Unit Number	Unit Name
1	Orientation and Ethics
2	Internet Tools in the Classroom
3	Computing Fundamentals
4	Windows and Operating Systems
5	Keyboarding
6	Word Processing/Desktop Publishing
7	Multimedia Presentations
8	Spreadsheet Applications
9	Social Media
10	Career Exploration

Summary of Standards

The standards to be included in the Technology Foundations curriculum are the 21st Century Skills, the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S), and the Common Core standards. Combining these standards to create this document will result in highly skilled, well-rounded students who are prepared to enter secondary education with the technology and career planning skills necessary.

Academic Infusion

The Technology Foundations curriculum is not only a technology course. Students in this course will research and analyze collected data to make educated decisions about relevant topics. Students will be required to think critically and work together in groups to finalize documents and assignments.

There is also a considerable amount of writing in this curriculum. Students will be required to communicate effectively in the classroom and in the workplace. The Technology Foundations curriculum provides multiple opportunities to enhance these academic skills. Aligning the curriculum to the Common Core standards ensures that students will be practicing these necessary skills that will be helpful to them in all subject areas. In addition, the curriculum prepares students for the 21^st-century workforce by incorporating the 21st Century Literacy Skills. The students will be exposed to all elements of 21^st-century learning: information, culture, visual, and media.

Suggested Objective b: Professional Organizations

Students in Technology Foundations have the opportunity to participate in a professional organization. Our school is affiliated with one of the organizations listed below. Regular meetings are held throughout the school year with our organization. Students interested in participating in the student organization have the ability to compete in district, state, and national events if they qualify.

Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, Inc.
1912 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191-1591

800.325.2946

http://www.fbla-pbl.org/

Connect with FBLA! Join Today

SkillsUSA

14001 SkillsUSA Way

Leesburg, VA 20176

703.777.8810

http://www.skillsusa.org/

What Is SkillsUSA? (Updated, 2012)

Technology Student Association

1914 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191-1540

888.860.9010

http://www.tsaweb.org/

National TSA Type Promo Video

Suggested Objective c: Computer Safety and Care

It is important to maintain safety in a computer lab. This safety applies to people as well as to the computers. Click the link below to visit the GCF Learn Free website to learn more about computer safety and maintenance. Many pages have videos or other activities to complete.

Computer Basics - Computer Safety and Maintenance

Page 1 of the GCF page discusses the importance of keeping the computer clean. Five tips are provided for cleaning the keyboard. Be sure to watch the video on page 1.

Page 2 discusses cleaning the mouse. Four steps for cleaning a mouse are provided. Look closely at the pictures.

Page 3 demonstrates how to clean the monitor. There are three important steps in cleaning a monitor. The most important thing to remember is never to spray glass cleaner or other liquid on the monitor!

Page 4 provides tips for cleaning other computer surfaces and the importance of keeping the computer cool.

Page 5 has information for protecting the computer from viruses and other "bad" software. Click the links to learn more about protecting the computer from internal threats.

Pages 6 and 7 have information for backing up the computer and all information stored on the drives. Make sure that you save your work. You do not want to redo work.

Page 8 warns of the importance of creating a safe workspace. Watch the video on this page. Even sitting incorrectly at a computer can cause injury!

Page 9 asks questions to help you recall important points for computer safety and maintenance. If you do not know the answer to a question on this page, look back in the section to refresh yourself on what was stated. It is imperative that you understand the importance of safety and maintenance in the computer lab.

Look at the PowerPoint and Word documents below. They contain information for computer safety and maintenance expectations as well. You will be tested on the information. Learn it well! You MUST earn a 100 on the safety quiz before you can proceed with the course.

U1_C1_Computer_Safety_and_Care.ppt

LAB Rules.pptx

Computer Safety and Care.doc

Class Lab Rules.docx

(The first PowerPoint and Word documents are provided by Mary Dunaway. The second PowerPoint and Word documents are provided by Dianna Gallagher.)