Due to the strong emphasis placed on technology in every aspect of daily life, today’s students are in need of a structured and well-defined technology curriculum. Students must learn to effectively use the computer as an integral part of meaningful and engaging learning. The basis of the computer lab as a specials class is to teach all grade levels (K-5)technology literacy and worthwhile computer skills, while also challenging students to create content, curate resources, think critically, and collaborate with each other. Students learn basic tasks and uses of programs, research and study skills, internet safety, challenged-based learning approaches and inquiries, and a variety of multimedia tools. My intent is to have students that are technologically literate by the time they go to middle school. This literacy will aid the students in becoming lifelong learners of technology and for teachers of these students to be able to incorporate more technology into their curriculum. Students will be taught a variety of skills over time and integrating them into all curriculum content areas to reinforce academic concepts. The curriculum of the class will be ever-changing as students become more familiar with technology and as technology changes. The technology covered in technology class is based on technology standards. I follow the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards, which outlines student technology abilities by grade level. Each week students will have an Essential Learning component as well as a monthly technological skilled theme which takes longer to master, such as components in Keynote, iMovie, Animations, or Google Docs to name a few. On the home page of this website, you will be able to keep track of what students are learning and I will frequently post examples of student work. Because I try to tie in much of what students are learning in their regular classrooms to technology classes, there will be many meaningful projects your student will be participating in and a variety of ways we will share our work. Remember, technology is a tool and not a learning outcome. I want students to feel inspired and creative! Let the adventure begin!
“It’s not about the technology, it’s what you do with it that matters.”
“It’s not about the technology, it’s what you do with it that matters.”