Philosophy  
Interested in one of the fastest growing industries in the world? This course is designed to develop and enhance computer science and application skills that are needed by all students as they prepare for high school, college, and future careers.  Students will be introduced to basic coding and networking concepts.  Career fields such as cyber security, networking, and programming will be explored.  The functionality of Microsoft Office spreadsheets, documents, and presentations will be used to increase productivity and enhance critical thinking.  

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Time Frame 
Computer Exploration is a nine weeks class open

to all seventh graders.

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Click here to see the class flyer

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Areas of Study 

1. Touch Typing

Our area of study is the standard QWERTY keyboard & numeric keypad. Emphasis, during the first weeks, is on technique and a quest for perfection, while typing speed is de-emphasized. The emphasis of the later weeks in on building speed by applying our proper technique. Students apply their skills to classroom activities that include drill lines, practice paragraphs & timed writings and the creation of documents.

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2. Documents

• Google Docs

• Microsoft Word

• Saving and Naming

• Basic formatting - alignment, margins, styles, fonts, colors, bullets and numbering, tabs, line spacing

• Tables

• Insert Pictures

• Insert and Format Shapes

• Overall Presentation

• Citing Sources

• Keyboard Shortcuts

• Printing

• How do computers work?

• Knowledge of the Internet

• Parts of a Computer

• Computer Basics

• Word Basics #1

• Word Basics #2

• Letter Writing: Block Style

• Proof Reading

• Composition Exercise

• Composing at the Computer

• Class Culminating Project: You Newspaper

 

3. Computer Science

• Computer Science and Society, Careers

• Coding

• Logo (Turtle Academy)

• SCRATCH

• Lightbot

• Code Combat

• Code Academy

• Hour of Code

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 4. Computer Usage

• File Management

  • Naming, saving, sharing, file extensions, folder organization, downloading, uploading, Google Drive conversion

• Digital Citizenship

  • Sharing guidelines, academic integrity, digital footprint, privacy issues, copyright.

• Computer Hardware Components

• Networking Components & Basics

 

5. Spreadsheets

• Google Sheets

• Terminology (cell, worksheet, workbook, function, mouse pointer options)

• Saving and Naming

• Data entry/input

• Simple formulas (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, order of operations)

• Simple functions (sum, average, min, max)

• Insert and Format Graphs

• Text Formatting

• Inserting Cells/Rows/Columns

• Sheet Tabs

• Views

• Printing

 

6. Presentations

• Google Slides

• Microsoft PowerPoint

• Saving and Naming

• Slide creation

• Formatting backgrounds

• Inserting elements

• Slide Transitions/Animations

• Printing

 

Learning targets

1. Student will learn the keys of the  QWERTY keyboard.

2. Students will type-by-touch using the QWERTY keyboard

3. Student will apply appropriate keyboarding technique.

4. Student will identify the parts of the computer.

5. Student will identify and use computer technology.

6. Student will apply  appropriate keyboarding technique concepts when creating documents.

7. Student will format documents,  insert and manipulate graphics.

8. Student will organize computer files, folders & drives.

9. Students will practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.

10. Students will create graphical and multimedia elements.

11. Students will be able to identify and understand the basic components of a computer and network function.

12.  Students will understand and use the basic steps of algorithmic problem solving

13. Students will utilize sequencing to execute instructions.

 

Software  

• Google Drive 

• Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides

• Microsoft Word

• Microsoft Excel

• Microsoft PowerPoint

• Microtype Multimedia

• Microtype Keypad

• Internet

• Coding (on-line)

  • Code Academy

  • Lightbot

  • Turtle Academy

  • Hour of Code

  • Code Combat

  • SCRATCH

 

Visit my Computer Exploration web page

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