TOWER HILL SCHOOL Middle School Curriculum

2012-2013  

Middle School Computer Curriculum

Computer 5 The fifth grade computer curriculum includes the utilization of students’ Tower Hill School logins and the continued exploration of Google Documents as well as our online Typing Club program. This typing program is web based and does not require any downloads. The web address to access this site ishttp://towerhill.typingclub.com/ and the student must enter their Tower Hill username and password. The students must complete each lesson with an average of 20 wpm and 90% accuracy. The student must earn five stars prior to moving onto the next lesson. The typing program may be done at school, and/or at home. In addition to the typing program, the students will learn more about the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and how to safely manage client account information (email). The students will also learn additional programs through Microsoft Office, focusing on PowerPoint, and iMovie. The students will employ all of this technology for vocabulary, word processing, presentation skills, and research. The students will be creating projects from various teacher-specific websites, and will be incorporating their technology skills into a variety of projects across the fifth grade curriculum.

Computer 6 The sixth grade computer curriculum is designed to teach computer software skills that students will need to use in core subjects. These skills will be introduced and reviewed in mini lessons and then applied to real life applications. The students will continue to work with Google Documents and our online Typing Club program. This is the same program utilized in fifth grade and it is web based and does not require any downloads. The web address to access this site ishttp://towerhill.typingclub.com/ and the student must enter their Tower Hill username and password. The students must complete each lesson with an average of 25 wpm and 90% accuracy. The student must earn five stars prior to moving onto the next lesson. The typing program may be done at school, and/or at home. In addition to the typing program, the students will explore digital photography along with animation. The students will also learn more about various Microsoft Office programs, focusing on Excel. Sixth graders will apply the technology used in computers throughout a variety of their classes, forming a partnership with technology across the sixth grade curriculum.

Communications 8 This course is designed to teach students several important technologies used to communicate in the 21st century. Students will be responsible for researching a relevant current topic on the Internet while critically analyzing all the various free and subscription resources available to them on the web. By the end of the class, each student will present the topic to the class in three ways: a website about the topic, a speech with PowerPoint, and a digital video.