Our Gateway computer lab is running Windows XP with the Microsoft Office 2003 suite. All software we use correlates with the current draft of the Massachusetts Department of Education’s Pre-K – 12 Instructional Technology Recommended Standards. Mrs. Jackson participated in several discussion forums last summer sponsored by the DOE and related to educational technology benchmarks for our students.

 

The computer curriculum covered is as follows:

 

Grade 6:

 

§         Computer Basics – parts and terminology

§         An in-depth word processing unit using Word 2003

§         Keyboarding (goal = 10 – 20 wpm with 95% accuracy)

§         Desktop Publishing using Print Shop Ensemble and PowerPoint III

§         Various educational software programs including The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis, Zoombinis Mountain Rescue, Zoombinis Island Odyssey, and Where in the USA and World is Carmen San Diego, Concert Tour Entrepreneur

 

Grade 7:

 

§         A review of word processing skills including importing graphics from

a digital camera, scanner, and the Internet

§         Keyboarding (goal = 20 – 30 wpm with 95% accuracy)

§         Various educational software programs including Tom Snyder’s

Timeliner 5.0, Where in the World is Carmen San Diego,

, and Smart Games (critical thinking series)

§         Internet searching tips and tricks, Fair Use, and Electronic Citation

 

Grade 8:

§         Multimedia presentation software using PowerPoint and MovieWorks

§         More Internet searching tips and tricks, Fair Use, and Electronic Citation

§         Interactive Internet Units including Treasure Hunts and Web Quests

§         Keyboarding (goal = 30 – 40 wpm with 95% accuracy)

 

The Internet:

 

          We will be incorporating the use of the Internet into all aspects of the curriculum. We will be addressing Internet skills including, but not limited to, Internet basics, Netiquette, Browsers, Search engines, Research techniques, and Interactive Global Projects. Please review the “Acceptable Use Policy” included in the Student Handbook.