Kindergarten – Second Grade Overview
Students in primary grades are developing self-concepts, motor skills, and social relationships. They need opportunities for first-hand experiences in solving problems and manipulating real objects. Language development is an integral part of their learning experience.
Young students learn best through exploration and interaction with peers and adults. Technology lends itself to this style of learning. Developmentally appropriate activities should be planned to provide students with opportunities to utilize technology skills as they accomplish curriculum objectives.
Digital media content provides broad experiences through video, images, and sounds from around the world. Open-ended software allows students to practice problem solving in safe, creative environments. The use of interactive Web sites creates interest in reading and develops decoding and comprehension skills. Written and verbal expression is enhanced through multimedia presentations; desktop publishing of students’ creative writing; and videotaping of show and tell, drama, and poetry recitations. Students become accustomed to utilizing technology tools when technology is integrated into a variety of learning situations.
Effective teachers help students construct knowledge from information gathered from online curriculum projects, electronic databases, and other technology resources supported by productivity software such as graphing and drawing tools. Responsible, ethical, and safe use of technology systems is modeled by the teacher and internalized by students as they begin their journey into the global community as digital citizens.
The inherent motivation created by using digital tools can increase students’ interest and excitement for learning. Technology education equips them with skills that will enhance not only their formal educational years but also their professional and personal lives.
Kindergarten – Second Grade
Technology Operations and Concepts
Students will:
1. Identify basic parts of various technology systems.
· Naming input and output devices
Examples: input—keyboard, stylus
output—printer
2. Identify applications and operations of various technology systems.
Examples: applications—word processing, multimedia presentation software
operations—opening, closing, and saving files
· Using accurate terminology related to technology
Example: “press,” not “hit,” keys
· Using input devices to enter letters, numbers, and symbols
· Using special functions of input devices
Example: keyboard shortcuts
· Labeling storage media
· Removing storage media safely
3. Demonstrate correct posture and finger placement while using a technology system.
Digital Citizenship
4. Identify safe use of technology systems and applications.
Examples: protecting personal information online, avoiding inappropriate sites, exiting inappropriate sites
5. Practice responsible use of technology systems and applications.
Example: maintaining proper settings
· Demonstrating care of digital equipment and media
Examples: washing hands before use, cleaning work area before and after use
· Distinguishing between ethical and unethical uses of others’ work
Examples: avoiding plagiarism, avoiding manipulation of others’ work without
permission
6. Identify uses of technology systems in daily living.
Research and Information Fluency
7. Use digital tools to access and retrieve information.
Examples: online libraries, multimedia dictionaries, search engines, directories
· Evaluating accuracy of digital content
Example: determining fact versus opinion
Communication and Collaboration
8. Use digital environments to exchange ideas with individuals or groups.
Examples: other states, other countries
· Producing digital works collaboratively
Examples: developing shared writing projects, creating language experience stories
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
9. Identify digital tools used for problem solving.
Examples: spell check, digital graphic organizers, electronic drawing programs, simulation software
Creativity and Innovation
10. Design original works using digital tools.
Examples: tools—digital drawing tools, music software, word processing software, digital cameras
Third – Fifth Grade Overview
Students in Grades 3-5 begin to expand their horizons and exercise more independent thought and action. Many opportunities to utilize technology should be provided for students to work collaboratively and independently to accomplish authentic tasks. Research conducted through digital communities and interaction with experts in specialized fields of study sharpens skills needed across all curriculum areas, including data analysis, problem solving, reading for meaning, organizing information, and drawing conclusions. Students begin to use digital resources more independently to conduct searches required for completing task assignments. This naturally leads to discussion of safe, legal, and ethical use of information and judgments as to the value of information found in digital sources.
Activities using information drawn from digital sources lend structure to projects while remaining open-ended enough to encourage critical thinking and allow for pursuit of individual interests. Students at this age are becoming more literate regarding the use of a variety of technology that enables them to express themselves through original compositions and illustrations.
A technology-infused curriculum cultivates an atmosphere rich with motivation and interest in which students thrive intellectually and emotionally. Technology and academic skills mastered at this level provide the basis for future learning experiences.
Third – Fifth Grade
Technology Operations and Concepts
Students will:
1. Use input and output devices of technology systems.
Examples: input—recording devices, keyboards, touchscreeens
output—printers
· Demonstrating ergonomics relative to technology systems
· Demonstrating correct keyboarding techniques
· Demonstrating safe removal of storage media
2. Use various technology applications, including word processing and multimedia software.
· Using navigational features commonly found in technology applications
· Identifying digital file types
3. Identify common hardware and software problems.
· Determining basic troubleshooting strategies to correct hardware and software problems
4. Identify various operating systems of technology devices.
Digital Citizenship
5. Practice safe use of technology systems and applications.
Examples: protecting personal information online, avoiding inappropriate sites, exiting inappropriate sites
6. Describe social and ethical behaviors related to technology use.
Examples: social—developing positive attitudes towards using technology collaboratively
ethical—citing sources of text and digital content, avoiding plagiarism, avoiding manipulation of others’ work without permission
· Describing the global nature of the Internet
· Following local acceptable use policies regarding technology
· Identifying intrusive applications, including worms, viruses, spyware, and pop-up advertisements
7. Explain the influence of technology on society.
Examples: multiple digital communities, medical and agricultural advancements
Research and Information Fluency
8. Collect information from a variety of digital sources.
Examples: online libraries, multimedia dictionaries
· Using technology tools to organize information
· Demonstrating efficient Internet search strategies
Example: keyword search
· Evaluating electronic resources for reliability based on publication date, bias, accuracy, and source credibility
9. Use technology tools to organize, interpret, and display data.
Examples: spreadsheets, databases, electronic graphing tools
Communication and Collaboration
10. Use digital environments to collaborate and communicate.
Examples: publishing online journals, sharing presentations, contributing to online discussions, communicating with experts
· Producing digital works collaboratively
Examples: developing shared writing projects and group multimedia projects
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
11. Use digital tools to analyze authentic problems.
Examples: electronic graphing tools, concept mapping software
12. Create a product using digital tools.
Examples: products—digital story, podcast, digital artwork
Sixth – Eighth Grade Overview
Students in Grades 6-8 possess a wide range of intellectual abilities, learning styles, talents, and interests. These students are experiencing a transitional period that includes physical, social, emotional, and intellectual changes. In addition, students are developing skills to function in a technological society.
The technology content standards for Grades 6-8 are designed to complement all areas of the academic curriculum. In a world where information increases exponentially, students are expected to develop and use critical-thinking and decision-making skills. Digital tools enhance middle school students’ emerging abilities to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information. The integration of technology systems expands and optimizes their ability to use information and to communicate and collaborate with diverse individuals. It is critical for students at these grade levels to expand the knowledge and skills necessary for solving both hypothetical and authentic problems.
In a global world community, students are expected to be responsible digital citizens who practice safe, legal, and responsible use of technology systems and digital media. Students must comprehend the impact of technology on the cultural, social, economic, environmental, and political aspects of society. Positive attitudes toward technology use are essential to support collaboration, learning, and productivity for success in the twenty-first century.
Sixth – Eighth Grade
Technology Operations and Concepts
Students will:
1. Appraise technology systems to determine software and hardware compatibility.
2. Publish digital products that communicate curriculum concepts.
Examples: Web pages, videos, podcasts, multimedia presentations
3. Explain how network systems are connected and used.
Examples: file sharing, collaborating, wireless networking
4. Determine basic troubleshooting strategies to correct common hardware and software problems.
Examples: checking connections, restarting equipment, creating a backup copy of digital data
· Describing the importance of antivirus and security software
5. Use basic features of word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentation software.
Examples: word processing—reports, letters, brochures
spreadsheets—discovering patterns, tracking spending, creating budgets
databases—contact list of addresses and phone numbers
presentation software—slideshow
6. Select specific digital tools for completing curriculum-related tasks.
Examples: spreadsheet for budgets, word processing software for essays, probes for data collection
7. Demonstrate correct keyboarding techniques.
Digital Citizenship
8. Identify safe uses of social networking and electronic communication.
· Recognizing dangers of online predators
· Protecting personal information online
9. Practice responsible and legal use of technology systems and digital content.
Examples: avoiding plagiarism; complying with acceptable use policies, copyright laws, and fair use standards; recognizing secure Web sites
· Identifying examples of computer crime and related penalties
Examples: computer crime—phishing, spoofing, virus and worm
dissemination, cyberbullying
penalties—fines, incarceration
· Citing sources of digital content
10. Describe advances in technology and the effects of each on the workplace and society.
Examples: agriculture, manufacturing, medicine, warfare, transportation, communication, education
Research and Information Fluency
11. Use digital tools and strategies to locate, collect, organize, evaluate, and synthesize information.
Examples: locate—Boolean searches, graphic organizers, spreadsheets, databases
collect—probeware, graphing calculators
organize—graphic organizers, spreadsheet
evaluate—reviewing publication dates, determining credibility
synthesize—word processing software, concept-mapping software
Communication and Collaboration
12. Use digital tools to communicate and collaborate at all levels from interpersonal to global.
Examples: instant messages, e-mail, blogs, wikis, collaborative authoring tools, online learning communities
· Demonstrating digital file transfer
Examples: attaching, uploading, downloading
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
13. Use digital tools to formulate solutions to authentic problems.
Examples: electronic graphing tools, probes, spreadsheets
Creativity and Innovation
14. Use digital tools to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
Examples: ideas—predictions, trends
products—animation, video
processes—models, simulations