Student+Technology+Course

//*Download as a Word Doc //
 * Middle/High School Technology Class **


 * //Overview//**: This class will explore the various ways students can lead a safe and productive life online, while personalizing technology to suit their needs. The emphasis is not on learning specific software, but rather on consuming, creating, collaborating and contributing online content through the use of digital tools (this includes online web tools, software, and digital devices). The class will explore categories of digital tools and some specific examples of those tools that can be used for these purposes.

The goals of the class are that students will come away with;
 * An understanding of what it means to be a good digital citizen
 * A clear idea of digital literacy
 * Personal criteria for selecting various tools to meet their needs for consuming, creating, contributing, and collaborating
 * Critical thinking skills that will enable them to use digital tools to learn and solve problems

// *from the 21st Century Fluencies Project //
 * Ultimately, a long-range goal for students is not as much about developing technical prowess, as it is about becoming //fluent// in critical thinking skills essential to living in a multimedia world. To be literate means to have knowledge or competence. To be //fluent// is to demonstrate mastery and to do so unconsciously and smoothly. The use of the tool is transparent. This is the level of proficiency we will need to thrive in this digital landscape and is what we strive to develop in today's learners.


 * __Unit 1: Internet Safety/Internet Savvy and Digital Citizenship__**


 * //Dangers online//:** Online predators, viruses, hacking, gambling, fraud, identity theft, inappropriate material, illegal copy of software or other copy righted material, and spyware. Students will learn what forms these dangers can take, and how to take steps to avoid them.


 * //Privacy//**: Students will learn what is ok to share, what is worth sharing, and what not to share online, and why. Learn to look for privacy settings on any social networking site, or any site you visit or contribute to online. Respecting the privacy of others – your friends and family - is also an important consideration when sharing online.


 * //Cyberbullying//**: Students will learn what forms cyber bullying can take, and how to avoid it, or stop it.


 * //Online Etiquette://** Students will learn criteria for communicating and sharing in an appropriate manner through email, text, chat, social networking. Students will learn to discern which medium is most appropriate for communicating their message or idea in order to get what they want from the exchange.


 * //Password Safety//**//:// Students will learn the importance of passwords, how to generate new passwords, and how to manage their passwords.


 * //Social Networking//:** Students will learn how to use FB, and other social sites properly/appropriately.


 * //Digital Footprint//:** Students will understand ways they need to be conscientious of the online persona they are building every time they contribute or receive material online. Look forward to understand the immediate and far-reaching ramifications of their actions online.


 * //Determining validity of websites, emails, and other digital content://** Students will learn tips for how to spot invalid or non-scholarly websites through the use of new web 2.0 tools, and through a set of criteria. Students will understand skills they need to be digitally literate so that they can use the internet, and the internet does not use them.


 * __Unit 2: Managing a Digital Life__**


 * //Bookmarking//**: Students will learn the importance of bookmarking to manage information in both their personal and school/work lives. Students will learn how to manage and save bookmarks within browsers (Firefox, Safari), and on the web (Delicious, Diigo, etc.).


 * //Tagging//**: Students will understand how tagging is an effective and efficient way to manage the massive amounts of material and information that they create, contribute, and receive online.


 * //Managing Gmail Accounts://** Students will learn how to manage contact lists, and how to set up folders and smart folders for easy management of the information they send and receive from their account. Students will also learn how Gmail can interact with Google calendar.


 * //RSS/Readers//**: Students will learn how to use RSS feeds and various readers to manage subscriptions and stay current with items of interest.


 * //Advanced Searches/Semantic Web://** Students will learn methods for making the most of Google search options, as well as how to perform Boolyen searches. Students will understand how the semantic web is evolving, and how to make use of it.


 * __Unit 3: Mobile Devices__**


 * //Optimizing Cell Phones and Smart Phones://** Students will explore their own mobile devices (cell phones/smart phones) to determine what features are available to them under their current plan (calendars, planners, alarms, contact lists, internet, camera, calculator, etc). Students will learn how to use those features, and how those features can interact with other devices.


 * //Using the iPod and iPod Touch, and iPad://** A brief exploration of these devices, and how they can be used for learning. Students will understand how these interact with a computer.


 * __Unit 4: Web 2.0 Tools for Creation and Collaboration__**


 * //Critiquing Browsers://** Students will explore Firefox, Safari, and Google Chrome browsers, and be able to understand the features of each. Students will be able to critique the pros and cons of each browser with regard to speed, functionality, safety, and personalization.


 * //Blogging//**: Students will understand how blogging can be presentation of information, and part of a conversation. Students will explore blogging platforms of Blogger and Wordpress. Students will understand how to interact/comment to blogs in a way that is appropriate and contributes to the conversation.


 * //Links//**: Students will understand the vital importance of using and creating links in their online contributions. Students will be able to explain how links deepen a conversation or give depth or bring a particular perspective to a topic.


 * //Wikis//**: Students will understand the flexible functions of wikis both as tools of collaboration, and as a more flowing, organic webpage. Students will explore wiki platform Wikispaces.


 * //Slide Shows//:** Students will understand how slideshows can enhance any conversation or topic through visual impact. Being able to get a message or idea across visually is a vital online communications skill, and students will understand the skills necessary for making the most of a slideshow. Students will explore various online slideshow creators (VoiceThread, Google Presentations, Prezi, etc.) and online slideshow converters (Slideshare, Quicktime, etc.). Students will be able to come up with criteria to select the appropriate slideshow tool to fit their needs.


 * //Screen Casting//**: Students will understand the basic concept of screen casting, and the purposes of screen casting. Students will explore screen casting through online tools such as Jing, and ScreenCastoMatic. Students will be able to come up with criteria to select the appropriate screen casting tool to fit their needs.


 * //Mind Mapping//:** Students will learn how to organize thoughts, ideas, and themes visually using online graphic organizing tools such as MyWebspiration, and Bubbl. Students will understand how to work collaboratively with these tools.
 * //Photo Sharing Tools://** Students will explore online photosharing communities such as Photobucket, Picassa, and Flickr. Students will understand how to use these tools to save and share their own photos, contribute photos to groups in order to participate in the growth of ideas or memes, and select, use and attribute credit to the photos of others that they want to use.


 * //Collaboration Tools://** Students will explore tools such as Google Docs, Evernote, and Wikispaces as platforms for collaboration and historical documentation of ideas. Students will understand skills for being a valuable collaborator. Students will understand the value of both real-time and off-time collaboration using these platforms.


 * //Time Management Tools://** Students will explore tools such as Google Calendar, Evernote, Remember the Milk, and Track Class to manage their daily obligations, responsibilities, and flow of information. Students will understand the benefit of using tools that can share among users and devices.


 * __Unit 5: Google__**

Students will explore the Google suite of applications and labs. Students will be able to explain how the tools are beneficial individually, and how they can work together.


 * __Unit 6: Apple Suite__**


 * //Filming//**: Students will understand that being able to communicate a message visually is a crucial digital skill. There is a lot of information on the internet, and in order to get their idea or message across visually, it needs to be clear and impactful. This section will begin with a how-to section so that students will understand the types of things they may want or need to film (a current happening, a news report, a skit, a tutorial, a montage, a music video, stop motion, etc.). Students will learn filming techniques for various genres, and why those particular techniques make a difference to the message. Students will learn how to use a basic flip camera and a web cam for filming.


 * //iMovie//**: Students will learn how to put their filmed images on iMovie, and how editing techniques and the features of iMovie can help create an impactful and entertaining visual message or idea.


 * //Sharing Video://** Students will learn various ways to share video online through blogs, wikis, websites, etc. Students will learn how to upload and embed video using various web tools. Students will learn how to use video to contribute to a conversation, idea, or meme on social video sites such as YouTube and Vimeo.


 * //Garage Band- Podcasting://** Students will get an overall view of the features of Garage Band, with a specific focus on podcasting. Students will understand the various ways in which podcasts can be used effectively to communicate or to create in a way that is impactful. Students will learn the various platforms that can utilize podcasting such as blogs, wikis, and websites. Students will also understand how to utilize some phone-casting tools on the web for more flexibility.


 * //iWork//**: Students will learn the basics of how to utilize the iWork suite of tools including Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. Students will be able to compare and critique these tools with other similar tools, and develop personal selection criteria for their own use of these types of tools.


 * __Unit 7: Programming__**


 * //Scratch//**: Students will explore Logo programming language through Scratch – a system developed at MIT to easily utilize Logo. Students will learn to use and combine various functions and commands to write games, quizzes, and other interactives that support their ideas or message they are communicating. Students will learn how to utilize the online Scratch programming community for ideas and help. Students will learn how to contribute to the online Scratch programming community, and how to post their interactives online to their own blogs, wikis, or websites.


 * //GoogleApps//:** Students will utilize the Google App Writer to learn how to write their own Google Apps. Students will understand how to use and contribute to the Apps written in Google Labs.


 * __Unit 8: Video Communication__**


 * //Video Chats://** Students will understand the types of situations in which the most effective and appropriate communication would be via video chat. Students will learn how to use Skype and Google video chat. Students will learn how to interact effectively with people they don’t know personally on a video chat. Students will be able to explain why a video chat is an impactful and useful way to get information and communicate ideas.


 * //Streaming Video://** Students will learn how creating streaming video can be a useful and effective way to communicate to a wider audience. Students will learn about the situations that would be most effectively broadcast via a video stream (sporting events, assemblies, speeches, interviews, regular programming such as a web programming, newscasts, interviews, etc.). Students will learn how to stream video using UStream, a free web-based streaming tool.


 * __Unit 9: Basics of Productivity Tools__**


 * //Word Processing//**//:// Students by now will have had much experience with various word processing tools. In this unit, they will focus on learning the basic features of word processing tools such as Word, Pages, and GoogleDocs. Students will be able to describe their personal criteria for choosing a particular tool for various purposes.


 * //Spreadsheets//**: Students by now will have had much experience with various spreadsheet tools. In this unit, they will focus on learning the specific features of spreadsheet tools such as Excel, Numbers, and Google Spreadsheets. Students will focus on understanding the capabilities of a spreadsheet to organize and display data. Students will learn how to write basic formulas to perform various functions within a spreadsheet and make use of data.