Course Description

Advanced Technology Tools is an optional elective course developed in accordance with the Commonwealth of Virginia Computer/Technology Standards of Learning to be achieved by the end of grade 8. These standards may be found at (http://www.pen.k12.va.us/go/Sols/english.html#Computer8).

The course provides students with the following:

• Opportunities to plan, produce, edit, and present multimedia productions and web sites of their own creation

• Strategies for developing examples and sharing with others

• Techniques for troubleshooting technology issues

Accepted principles of design are emphasized including pre-planning, organization of content, adherence to copyright rules, graphical design, appropriate text mechanics, screen design and originality.

The course emphasizes collaboration with peers and adults and the use of technology tools for outlining, flowcharting, webbing, and storyboarding. Assessment is based on the student’s ability to demonstrate competencies in meeting the benchmarks under each standard. Students enhance their skills with tool software applications including word processing, databases, spreadsheets, and electronic research applications. The Advanced Technology Tools course is intended to serve as a bridge to the high school business department curriculum.

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Objectives

1. Students acquire the skill to teach others how to use appropriate hardware, software, and peripheral devices.

2. Students apply techniques of planning, producing, editing, and presenting their technological creations.

3. Students develop skills to convey information to a remote audience via web pages on the Internet and in direct presentation to an audience.

4. Students learn a logical systematic process of trouble-shooting in order to resolve common computer problems.

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Standards

• Standard 1: The student will communicate through application software.
  
  
• Standard 2: The student will communicate through networks and telecommunication.
  
  
• Standard 3: The student will have a basic understanding of computer processing, storing, retrieval, and transmission technologies and a practical appreciation of the relevant advantages and disadvantages of various processing, storage, retrieval, and transmission technologies.
  
  
• Standard 4: The student will process, store, retrieve, and transmit electronic information.

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Standard 1

• Benchmark 1-1
  Students demonstrate competency with multimedia peripherals and software and use these to create presentations to share with others.
  
  
• Benchmark 1-2
  Students demonstrate competencies by teaching others how to use hardware, software and peripheral devices.
  
  
• Benchmark 1-3
  Students demonstrate understanding of and adherence to copyright standards via appropriate documentation of all electronic data not personally created but included in their files.
  
  
• Benchmark 1-4
  Students demonstrate proficiency in using outlining, flowcharting, and webbing software.
  
  
• Benchmark 1-5
  Students use graphic software to design visual displays that convey information to others.
  
  
• Benchmark 1-6
  Students evaluate the Standards of Learning Technology practice questions provided by the Virginia Department of Education. Students develop a plan for teaching a particular concept to others.
  
  
• Benchmark 1-7
  Students use software to role-play and solve problems.

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Standard 2

• Benchmark 2-1
  Students demonstrate appropriate technological techniques and procedures for arranging, conducting and filming interviews.
  
  
• Benchmark 2-2
  Students communicate using web page design software.
  
  
• Benchmark 2-3
  Students use procedures of planning, producing, editing and presenting multimedia and web sites of their own creation.
  
  
• Benchmark 2-4
  Students explore the use of technology to convey information to small groups, such as their class, and to large groups, such as the entire school community.

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Standard 3

• Benchmark 3-1
  Students identify basic computer components, including multimedia tools and have knowledge of their function.
  
  
• Benchmark 3-2
  Students apply appropriate trouble-shooting techniques to resolve technological problems.
  
  
• Benchmark 3-3
  Students demonstrate the ability to install software, and download and install software updates over the Internet per staff direction as appropriate.
  
  
• Benchmark 3-4
  Students demonstrate ability to use advanced search strategies to limit electronic search criteria.
  
  
• Benchmark 3-5
  Students use spreadsheets to analyze data and solve problems.
  
  
• Benchmark 3-6
  Students use databases to analyze data and solve problems using sorts and queries.

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Standard 4

• Benchmark 4-1
  Students communicate electronically using an on-line management system.
  
  
• Benchmark 4-2
  Students produce web pages to share information within the school or for the school’s web site subject to teacher and administrative approval

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