Computer Science

Course Description: 
The focus of the 6th grade Computer Skills course is skill-oriented. The main objective is to teach students to touch-key at an ending rate of 25 to 30 words per minute with an accuracy range of 90 to 95%. Secondary objectives include teaching students how to touch-key the numeric keypad. They will also learn the fundamentals of Microsoft software (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), how to write an expository essay formatted according to the Modern Language Association guidelines.
Grade: 6
 

Academic Goals:

1. Knowledge: Students will gain a basic to intermediate level of knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet software from completing exercises and/or projects in the following content areas:
   1. Document processing: saving, opening, and printing documents.
   2. Editing documents.
   3. Creating and formatting tables.
   4. Creating and formatting charts (graphs)
2. Students will gain a basic understanding of document formatting based on MLA guidelines through the process of completing the following documents:
   1. an expository essay.
3. Attitudes: Students will:
   1. Develop a persistence in reaching goals by completing homework and class assignments and scheduling timed writing retests if necessary.
   2. Demonstrate joyful curiosity through the process of self-discovery.
   3. Exhibit a willingness to participate in class question and answer sessions.
   4. Develop an understanding of the connection between computer use and ethical responsibility.

Instructional Methods:

1. Students will participate in question and answer sessions as part of the review process.
2. Students will be asked to search for other methods for completing certain functions or processes other than the ones presented in class.
3. Students will complete projects that use the skills presented in their daily lessons.
4. Students will complete course-specific crossword puzzles to enhance the review process.
5. Students will compete in "Keyboarding Jeopardy" as another review method.
6. Use of white board: Technical jargon, functions, keyboard shortcut commands, and outlines of project assignments will be recorded on the board as an aid to note taking and task implementation.
7. Homework assignments: Assignments will primarily involve reinforcement of the weekly timed writing tests.

Evaluation:

1. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of content through periodic quizzes, tests, short editing exerceises, and timed writings. The quizzes and tests will include multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blanks, and short answer.
2. Students will actively participate in question and answer sessions. A daily grade or a portion of the student's daily grade will be based on their participation. This involves active listening as well as asking questions and volunteering responses to questions.
3. Students will demonstrate responsibility in the timely completion of class, homework, and project assignments.

Course Description: 
An Introduction to Visual Basic presents the basics of writing a computer program using the event-driven programming language, Visual Basic. This elective course will be the choice for students who have an interest in learning to program. The course begins with an introduction to and an explanation of the graphic user interface. The course content includes adding controls and menus to forms, the syntax of writing code, working with variables, input and feedback, loops and logic, arrays, working with procedures, and data access. (Half-year, 7th and 8th Grade)
 

Academic Goals:

1. Knowledge: Students will learn from completing exercises and/or projects in the following content areas:
   1. forms: standard, splash, open file, about, and MDIs.
   2. writing code: the syntax, variables, constants, logic and loops, arrays, randomization, and procedures.
   3. controls: command buttons, menus, list boxes, etc.
2. Attitudes: Students will:
   1. Develop a persistence in reaching goals by completing homework, class assignments, and projects by a target date.
   2. Demonstrate joyful curiosity through the process of self-discovery.
   3. Exhibit a willingness to participate in class question and answer sessions.
3. Skills: Students will
   1. Actively and respectfully listen to the teacher as well as to fellow students.
   2. Develop and improve note-taking ability.
   3. Work cooperatively and collaboratively on common tasks.
   4. Retain and recall basic information from the content areas of the course.
   5. Create a form and add controls to it.
   6. Write code that Visual Basic 6.0 can interpret and process.

Instructional Methods:

1. Students will participate in question and answer sessions as part of the review process.
2. Use of white board: Technical jargon, functions, keyboard shortcut commands, and outlines of project assignments will be recorded on the board as an aid to note taking and task implementation.
3. Epson projector: The introduction to the VB program and its components as well as certain tasks, code examples, and/or processes will be visually demonstrated.
   1. Students will explore ways to complete certain functions or processes other than the methods taught in class or in the text.
   2. Homework assignments will primarily involve reinforcement of current content.
   3. Students will complete lab projects that use the skills presented in their daily lessons.
   4. Cooperative/collaborative exercises: Students will work in small groups of two to three students on one programming project.

Evaluation:

1. Students will actively participate in question and answer sessions. A daily grade or a portion of the student's daily grade will be based on their participation. This involves active listening as well as asking questions and volunteering responses to questions.
2. Students will demonstrate responsibility in the timely completion of class, homework, and project assignments.
3. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of content through lab assignments, short critical thinking programming projects, periodic quizzes, and tests. Quizzes and tests will include multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blanks, short answer, and the completion of code structures.
4. The exam at the end of the semester will consist of the creation of a program following the guidelines in the exam rubric. This will be an independent project. The presentation of the project will take place during the scheduled two-hour to three-hour time period for the middle school Visual Basic exam.

Course Description: 

This is the first semester Robotics class for 8th graders.

Course Description: 

This is the second semester Robotics class for 8th graders.