6th Grade Computers

Mrs. Nancy Donlon
ndonlon@stccs.com

view the Middle School Computer Curriculum

CLASS POLICIES

• Attendance at all classes is required. Almost all work for this class is done in class and it may be necessary for you to make-up missed classes in the morning before school to keep up with the work – APPOINTMENTS ONLY.
  
• Late assignments must be completed but will only receive ½ credit unless specific arrangements are made with me prior to the due date.
  
• Grades are based on participation, worksheet completion, website reviews (Spotlights), tests, continued improvement on your typing skills and assigned projects.
  
• You will show respect for your peers, teacher and the equipment. (Use your DWP skills.)
  
• Supplies for this class: A 2 inch-3 ring binder, a pocket folder, lined paper, pencils and markers.
  
• You will need a CD-R disk for 3^rd trimester or a flashdrive for storage of your completed portfolio.

Units addressed include:

1. Online safety, risky behavior and strategies for ethical and responsible use.

• Online behavior/risks & consequences
• SCCS Acceptable Use Policy
• Accuracy and Authority
• Search strategies
• Creating an internet safety brochure will be part of this unit.

• touch typing and proper ergonomics are required.

3. Application of font/style/format guidelines into your writing assignments and project development.

• Classify fonts into different sets and make appropriate choices.
• Identify and apply proper formats for various documents.
• Become skilled at citing resources in the MLA format.
• Develop awareness of design problems and strategies for avoiding these problems.

4. Word Processing - MSWord

• Spelling and grammar checks, thesaurus, borders and bullets, margins, tabs and indents.
• Column breaks & page breaks.
• Personal and business letters, brochure & newsletter will be created this year.

5. Create your own clipart for use in your documents and projects.

• Paint vrs. Draw tools
• Pixel editing and adding textures / colors.
• Saving and formatting options.
• You will create original computer artwork as part of this unit. (Cards)

6. Career Investigation

• Examine your interests & abilities.
• Explore different careers and employment possibilities.
• Identify skills required for specific occupations and high school courses that can put you on track.
• A research paper will be required as part of this unit.

7. PowerPoint Basic & Advanced

• Adding Slides & Editing – Spelling & Grammar
• Adding Life to Your Presentation - Movement & Sound, Transitions and Effects
• Linear/Nonlinear presentations - Action Buttons/Settings, Custom Animation, Hyperlinks
• Saving Your Presentation as a Presentation, QuickTime Movie, Web Page and Outline.
• Creating a nonlinear PowerPoint Game Show will be part of this unit.

8. Web Page Creation

• Webpage Design with an open source webpage editor.
• Constructing a web page student portfolio with your own computer class artifacts will be a required element of this course.

9. Spreadsheet – Excel

• Create and use simple spreadsheets for tracking purchases, creating a listing of recommended websites and designing a simple mathematics game
• Formulas and conditional formatting / Charts and their uses
• Budget Spreadsheets & Charts will be created as part of this unit.

10. iMovie

• Basic Techniques for shooting video and importing video to computer
• Transitions, Editing and Saving iMovies
• Developing a Group Promotion Video will be a part of this unit.

11. Inside the Computer

• Historical overview and highlights
• Basic components and processes arithmetic/control/decode
• Instructions and Binary Information
• Network - Intranet/ Internet
• Small group role-play will be part of this unit.

12. Robotics

• Introduction and basic definition of a robot and Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics
• Explore and define Artificial Intelligence
• Examine the moral, social and economic impact of Robotics on society
• A group PowerPoint presentation will be required as part of this unit.

13. Spotlights

• You are required to present 2 spotlights during the course of the year. A spotlight is a summary of a new technology or an article about technology. It can be about how something works or how something is used and changing society. For instance, agricultural technology, space technology, PDA’s, flash drives, iPOD’s, digital camera’s or something as simple as how a mouse works.
• One spotlight is due this first trimester and one more before the end of 2^nd trimester. Please schedule yours at least a week ahead of time. Spotlight presentations should be 3-5 minutes in length.