Computer Technology Unit Offerings
by Brenda Gronewold
NAME OF COURSES: COMPUTER
TECHNOLOGY I, II, III, and IV.
LENGTH OF CLASSES: 5.0 Credit (approximately one
semester)
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY COURSES
This course is designed to be flexible in both scheduling and
credit. In order to meet the scheduling needs of the students at
BHS, you will be allowed to enroll in Computer Technology any
period that it is offered.
Also, in an effort to meet the various needs and computer abilities
of our students, this course has been designed to be a course of
your choice. You, the student will choose the content as well as
the extent of your learning. Various independent units have been
developed for you to choose from to complete your study. Each unit
is awarded credit based on the difficulty of it's content and the
time needed to complete the unit. The number of units you complete
will determine the number of credits awarded for this course. Thus,
the credit that you earn will be the credit that you receive in
this course.
A major goal of this course to allow and encourage the students of
BHS to pursue the use of computers and technology in all areas of
your study i.e. English, Math, History, etc. By offering Computer
Technology, in this flexible manner, we hope to more efficiently
meet the needs of our schedule as well as to better utilize the
technology equipment available to our students.
Students who satisfactorily complete the offered Win95, MICROSOFT
ACCESS 1 & 2, MICROSOFT EXCEL 1 & 2, and MICROSOFT WORD 1,
2 & 3 Units, and who receive at least 196 points on their
complete Computer Competency Profile, may receive advanced
placement** and credit in the computer programs at Southeast
Community College- Beatrice Campus.
**Advanced Placement at SCC in the program identified above means a
student is exempt from enrolling in BUE 141 - Into to Micro
(2Credit Hours) at SCC if a "B" average has been earned
in the parallel units at the high school level. The student will
receive credit for the college course on the college transcript. No
tuition or fee payment will be required. The advanced placement
credit hours will be counted toward college graduation, but will
not be counted in the college grade point average.
Course content will be composed from the following options:
Please note: **These units may change; as their availability is
directly associated with the availability/reliability of district
hardware and software.
Additional units expected to be available during the 2004-05 school
year include:
o Speech recognition
o PC tablet unit.
CLAY ANIMATION UNIT ~ (After PowerPoint/Digital Camera)
In this unit students will use their imagination to develop a story
line. Their storyline is then brought to life in three to five
pictures (more detailed storylines my using clay, a digital camera
and a presentation program (PowerPoint). Students should complete
both the PowerPoint and Digital Camera Units before completing this
unit.
DESKTOP PUBLISHING UNITS ~ Adobe PageMaker
Desktop Publishing (DTP) is using a personal computer to produce
professional-looking publications. Before DTP, a publication was
prepared for printing using a process of cutting and pasting. These
units will cover many aspects of DTP, including: general design
concepts; basics of PageMaker~ the software; design and typography
of publications; keys to manipulating text; working with graphics;
basic layout techniques; appropriate use of colors; designing
advertisements, brochures, newsletters; working with long
publications; and developing prepress techniques
DIGITAL CAMERA
This unit combines the use of a Sony Mavica Camera, and a computer.
By using a digital camera, the user gains the ability take pictures
and then to transfer the pictures to computer files, without the
timely processes of photo developing and scanning. After the
pictures have been captured and formatted, the user has the ability
to manipulate the images by enhancement (changing the lighting),
cropping, resizing, or a variety of other editing tools. Final
images can then be imported into other documents or files.
GEN Y
This unit is part of a nation-wide program called Generation YES
(Youth and Educators Succeeding) that students and teachers at BHS
are taking part in. Gen Y will link a student's knowledge of
technology with a partner-teacher, together the team will develop a
project that will be used by the staff member in their classroom. A
major goal of this program is to enhance student learning. As a
student member of Gen Y, the user will be responsible for creating
a valuable curriculum tool for their partner-teachers curricular
area, as well as develop a partnership with their partner-teacher.
This unit is available to a limited number of students who must
have special permission from the instructor to participate.
IMAGE BLENDER ~GRAPHIC EDITING
This unit combines the use of a graphic file such as digital
pictures, clip art, a scanned image, and the Image Blender
software. Image Blender is an interfaced program that is designed
to give you access to image editing options beyond cropping,
resizing and text options. At the push of a button, the user will
be able to alter backgrounds, the shape of the picture's edge, the
appearance of the edge, shadows and other picture attributes. Image
Blender allows a user to quickly obtain professional looking
graphics for use in many documents.
INTERNET UNITS
Students will be introduced to many aspects of the World Wide Web,
including experience using the Internet for academic research.
Activities will include researching a job opportunity, purchasing a
car, researching a topic: (gathering information, evaluating this
information, and correctly cite the sources); creating a document
using word processing, spreadsheets databases, telecommunications,
desktop publishing, presentation, and other applications software.
Advanced projects on the Internet will be available. Hyperlinks
will be used and information cannot be 'cut' and 'pasted' from the
sources. Direct quotes from the Internet WILL NOT be allowed for
your unit work.
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS UNIT TAKE~HOME UNIT
Intro to Computers is a unit that looks at the development of our
modern day computer system. Users will study; the history of
computers, the components of a computer system, what a computer is,
how a computer works, the advantages of using a computer, hardware,
software, inventors, dates, languages, memory, as well as many
other contributing elements to today's computer system. Additional
topics will include networks, the Internet, telecommunications and
the social and ethical implications of computers, and IT
careers.
MICROSOFT ACCESS UNITS
Microsoft Access is an electronic database program. An electronic
database program lets you use the computer to collect, locate,
update, and report information. There are thousands of uses for
such a program, including managing payroll, personnel, sales,
production, inventory, marketing, or patient information. With
Access you enter information into the computer only once, and then
let the program manage the work. You can locate needed entries in
seconds, update entries easily, view entries in various ways and
produce professional-looking reports.
MICROSOFT EXCEL UNITS
Microsoft Excel is an electronic worksheet program that let's you
use the computer to create, change, save, and print worksheets. You
create the worksheet using the keyboard while the worksheet
provides methods for storing words, numbers and the calculations
based on those entries. Since the worksheet is electronic, it is
easy to make corrections or to change your mind. For example you
can add or remove entries, move entries from one place to another,
and even create attractive-looking charts. Excel also gives you the
ability to print and save your work.
MICROSOFT FRONTPAGE (Web Authoring) UNIT
FrontPage is a program for creating Web pages and managing Web
sites without having to learn complicated computer code. It's
designed with some very powerful features, but it's as easy to use
as clicking a mouse. Not only will you learn the basics for
FrontPage by creating a simple web page, but also you will then
edit your page, adding information and special effects. Later, you
will create a Web page using templates, wizards, themes, bullets,
hyperlinks, hotspots, counters, marquee text, tables and more.
MICROSOFT POWERPOINT UNITS
Microsoft PowerPoint is an electronic presentation program. A
presentation program lets you use the computer to create
presentation material to use as visual aids, or to create an
automatic presentation, which would run on the computer. You can
select any of PowerPoint's professional created slides and layouts
to which you simply need to add your information. This information
can include text, drawings, charts, and graphs as well as any
combination of the over 1000 pictures included in this program.
Special features of this program also help the user create
organization charts, many types of graphs or charts, and bulleted
lists.
MICROSOFT WINDOWS UNIT(S) TAKE~HOME ONLY UNIT
CURRENT WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM ARE CONTINUALLY CHANGING. WHILE
OUR DISTRICT RECOGNIZES THE NEED TO MAINTAIN CURRENT TECHNOLOGY WE
CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO PURCHASE AND MAINTAIN EVERY AVIALBABLE
OPERATING SYSTEM. IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE THIS UNIT AVAILABLE FOR THE
LAREST NUMBER OF STUDENTS, THERE ARE MULTIPLE WINDOWS UNITS FROM
WHICH TO SELECT.
In this unit the user will be introduced to a Windows operating
system. Microsoft Windows is one operating system that is used on
many IBM and IBM compatible computers. Students will select their
choice of Windows units from those available. They will be
introduced to their choice of operating systems. These units will
discuss the use of menus, toolbars, and dialog boxes. These units
will also discuss how to work with, organize and search for files.
Currently, Windows units include:
· Windows 95 ~ The user will learn the basics required to
operate the mouse, windows and dialog boxes. Proper handling and
formatting of a diskette, making backups of a file, and using
Windows 95 tools are also introduced. *Students must have access to
a machine which using Microsoft Windows 95 operating system. This
is a unit that is designed for "TAKE HOME" work
ONLY!!
· Windows 98 ~ The user will learn the basics required to
operate the mouse, windows and dialog boxes. Proper handling and
formatting of a diskette, making backups of a file, and using
Windows 98 tools are also introduced. *Students must have access to
a machine which using Microsoft Windows 95 operating system. This
is a unit that is designed for "TAKE HOME" work
ONLY!!
· Windows 2000 ~ The user will learn the basics required to
operate the mouse, windows and dialog boxes. Proper handling and
formatting of a diskette, making backups of a file, and using
Windows 2000 tools are also introduced. Our current machines use
Windows 2000 as an operating system, but our local network force
some options to be unavailable. Any student, who is interested in
completing this unit, should have outside (away from school) access
to a machine with the Windows 2000 operating system.
· Windows XP ~ The user will learn the basics required to
operate Windows XP applications, menus, toolbars, and dialog boxes.
Students will also be expected to organize and search for
files.
MICROSOFT WORD UNITS
Microsoft Word is an electronic word processing program, which lets
you use the computer to create, edit, revise, print and save word
processing documents. Throughout word you will begin to learn basic
word processing features like moving, copying, annotations, find
and replace, and sorting. More advanced features include using
templates, multiple column documents, outlines, tables, and
inserting charts and graphs. Intermediate and advanced projects
will be available.
MOVIE MAKER UNITS
Movie Maker is digital editing software that allows the user to
create a homemade movie. This digital creation will include;
pictures, digital video, sound and animation. Students should have
access to the above materials from the personal library and will be
required to bring these materials from home. Students will also
need to have a story line or 'plan' before they begin this unit.
The Movie Maker unit will take about twice as long as other units
plan to spend about three weeks for this unit.
PAINT UNIT
Paint is an accessory program that typically is included in most
windows operating systems when you purchase them. This program lets
you create edit, save and print computer drawings. Your drawings
can range from very simple stick figures, to a very complex drawing
with many elements. Paint also allows you to use your drawings in
other software packages or even as screen savers on your computer
system.
PERSONAL DATA ASSISTANT (PDA) UNIT
This unit on Personal Data Assistants (PDA's) was developed to give
students an opportunity to utilize a tool common in today's
workforce. Throughout this unit you will work with a personal data
assistant learning graffiti, create an appointment calendar,
maintain a date book, to-do lists, and establish an address book
and learn to 'hot sync' your PDA and computer desktop. Students
will be asked to create and edit entries in each of these features.
Students will have the ability to enter data through a stylus,
portable keyboard and the basic computer. Output will be generated
through the use of a printer.
PRINTSHOP UNIT
Print Shop Premier is a versatile program that enables you to crate
professional-looking printed materials for every occasion. The
Print Shop Deluxe projects include Greeting Cards, Signs,
Letterhead, Banners, Calendars, Envelopes and address and mailing
labels. That's just the beginning, the program's wide range of
features and wide variety of design elements allow you to create
your own, or edit pre-designed projects to 'fit' your need.
Everything from cards and announcements to menus, posters, coloring
books, magnets, bookmarks, notepads, stationery, even bumper
stickers and fax cover sheets.
ROBOTICS ~ LEGOS
This unit is available for students to test their creativity and
programming logic. Students will experience "Lego
robotics" during this unit. The user will use a set of
instructions to create an object from Lego's and then 'program' the
object to complete a variety of tasks such as: move, stop, and play
music. An advanced activity will require the student to create
their own object and program the object using a set of
instructions.
SCANNER - UNIT
Using a scanner adds a whole new dimension to computer editing.
This tool enables the user to create, view, edit, save and print
scanned images. Our scanner can capture any flat object that fits
on the flatbed-scanning surface of the equipment. High-resolution
scanning allows you to produce high-quality images with the click
of a single button on our machines. Users can dramatically enhance
the impact of their communication by including images in any
document: newsletters, reports, presentations, and brochures,
personal letters, you name it, it can contain a graphic.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS (The Future of Computers) UNIT TAKE~HOME
UNIT
In this unit the user will look at the future of computing,
including the effects on computers of various technological
developments, the career possibilities created by computers, and
the social and ethical consequences of living in a computerized
society. Elements of the future that will be studied include:
modems, electronic bulletin boards, E-mail, microprocessors,
artificial intelligence, expert computer systems, robotics, and
careers in the computer area.
TOUCH-TYPING (KEYBOARDING) SKILLS
In this unit students will review touch-typing techniques. This
unit may prove valuable if you are not a proficient typist. Do you
look at the keyboard when you type? Do you use only one hand or
only one or two fingers from each hand to type? Can you write
faster with a pen or pencil than you can type? (If you answered yes
to any of these questions, you are NOT a proficient typist.)
