Computer 8

Course Description

The 8th grade computer applications course provides students with the opportunity to become proficient in the management of information using computer software and hardware. The students will gain a beginning/intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office, be exposed to computer science through programming software and beginning concepts in graphic and web development. Students will learn to maintain a professional electronic portfolio of their work.

Instructor

Mr. Dixon

Course Content

Week 1 - Instructional Focus is File Management and Microsoft Word
Overview of Springfield's network and file management
Intermediate features of MS Word; formatting and document enhancement

Week 2 - Instructional Focus is Microsoft Excel 2003
Introduction to spreadsheets and functions
Create graphs to visually represent data

Week 3 - Introduction to Computer Science Programming
Exposure to 'Alice' computer science programming
Create a program that animates objects in a virtual world

Week 4 - Instructional Focus is Graphics for Print and Web
Graphic manipulation on the computer
Introduction to Adobe Photoshop
Advanced features of PowerPoint to learn hyperlinking

Week 5 - Introduction to Web Design
Introduction to HTML 4.0
Exposure to Flash - animation for the web

Grades

Assessments:
10% - Maintenance of electronic portfolio
70% - Quizzes, class work and projects
20% - Participation and lab time management

Cheating and plagiarism will result in a grade of zero for the project and the assignment may not be made up.

Student excused absence - student is responsible for making up assignments.