Primary Grades (k-3) Overview

Classes in the primary grades visit the computer lab weekly where they gain familiarity with various software programs, practice fundamentals of computer network operation, and gather information on the World Wide Web. Technology learning activities in our lab ideally support ongoing curricular projects in the classroom. The Technology Coordinator works in conjunction with primary teachers to design appropriate projects.

Upper Grades (4-6) Overview

Classes in the upper grades also visit the computer lab weekly where they gain familiarity with various software programs, practice fundamentals of computer network operation, and gather information on the World Wide Web. Technology learning activities in our lab ideally support ongoing curricular projects in the classroom. In both the 6 Grade and 5th Grade classrooms, students have new MacBook Laptops. Laptops are used, for the most part, on a daily basis in language arts, social studies, and science instruction.

Grades K and 1

Early Primary Grades Educational Technology (Grades K and 1)
These young students enter our program and immediately learn that there is an important distinction between using computers for school and "playing" with computers as a recreational pastime. Games are not played on school computers during instructional time.
The following objectives guide computer use at this level:

• To have an understanding of the basic parts of a computer and how they are used
• To have an understanding of the computer's desktop icons and upper menubar functions
• To have received an introduction to technologies peripheral to the computer such as scanners, printers, video cameras, and external storage drives
• To have the dexterity and coordination to use the mouse to navigate the computer by pointing, clicking, and dragging within applications or on the desktop
• To have received an introduction and practice with the concept of the clipboard and the skills of selecting, copying, cutting, and pasting
• To know how to open an application, save a file, and quit an application
• To have been introduced to a wide variety of software applications including MicroSoft Word, KidPix, and Garage Band.

Grades 2-3

Prmary Grades Educational Technology (Grades 2-3)

These students have sufficient reading skills to enable them to have a more in- depth understanding of computers and information on the World Wide Web than early primary grade students. Their fine motor skills using the mouse and keyboard are typically stronger than those of the younger students. The middle primary grade students continue to understand that computers are used and not "played with" at school.

Our program sets these ongoing goals for children at this level:
• To have an introduction to multimedia programs and have a beginner's ability to incorporate different files into a simple presentation (PowerPoint, Keynote, and Pages)
• To have an understanding of the computer's desktop and the upper menubar commands
• To have an introduction to the Internet and a beginning understanding of web browser software (Safari, Firefox)
• To have an introduction to beginning word processing software with practice using basic commands (Microsoft Word)
• To have an introduction to beginning use of spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel)
• To have gained exposure to various types of spatial modeling software such as iMovie and Gargage Band.

Grades 4-6

By the time most students are at this level they have been learning with computers for 4-5 years, have an understanding of the resources on the school's network, have satisfactory keyboarding skills, and can find diverse resources and information on the Internet.

Our program sets these ongoing goals for children at this level:

• To have an understanding of icons, upper menubar commands, control panel applications, open application window, the chooser, and operating system
• To have an understanding of the importance of backing-up personal files on school storage devices
• To have an understanding of web browsers and the ability to fashion searches, bookmark URL's, and save text or other resource files
• To have received proper touch-type keyboarding skills and to establish a beginning level word per minute and accuracy rate.
• To use word processing programs with an introduction to some advanced features
• To have an understanding of the numerous functions of a spreadsheet with an introduction to sorting, simple math formulas, and graphing
• To have an understanding of multimedia programs and have the ability to import a wide variety of photo, video, text, graph, sound, and line art files into a presentation or report