TSDE–Syllabus
Course Description
Keyboarding (Touch Systems Data Entry) exists to teach students not only mastery techniques in typing with speed and accuracy, but to also address communication skills and basic computer application skills. Most districts offer the course Computer Applications, a.k.a. Technology Applications, to cover all the technology skills the state of Texas requires sixth through eighth graders to know, such as Boolean searches, hardware, networking, etc. (To see a list of these required skills a.k.a. Technology 6-8 TEKS, click here.). I teach all of these skills in the Keyboarding class in addition to the Keyboarding TEKS to give students a denser understanding of technology and to meet No Child Left Behind, which states that all children must be “technology proficient” by the time they leave 8th grade. This course is designed to give students a firm background in computer basics while preparing them for high school and college technology requirements. This class is designed to expand each student”s ability to not only use various common software programs but to understand how a computer works. Students will be taught through a cross-curricular approach, meaning that connections and links will be made quite frequently to not only other classes, but the real world. Students will see how these skills will help them in other classes as well as in their future life, in whatever job they may pursue. There is a strong emphasis on higher-level thinking as well as developing a high level of proficiency in many of these areas, as each contributes to the growth and achievement of the individual student.
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- Keyboarding–both accuracy, posture, & speed
- Hardware Components–including input, output, processing, and storage devices
- Proficient usage of the mouse, keyboard, microphone, digital camera, printer, scanner, discs, and CD-Roms
- The basics of operating systems, software applications, & networks
- Basic Software Applications–opening programs; creating, modifying, printing, and saving documents
- History of Computers–including analog vs. digital technology
- History & Basics of the Internet/Intranet–including email, URLs, LANs, WANs, World Wide Web, HTML, browsers, domains, ethics, reliable sources, keyword & Boolean searches, etc.
- Word Processing–including entering & formatting text; using spell check, tables, graphics, templates, etc.
- Desktop Publishing–including planning, creating, & formatting designs; using templates, etc.
- Spreadsheets–including creation, entering, & editing of spreadsheets using all data types, formulas, functions, & charts; sorting/analyzing data
- Databases–including planning, creating, & editing databases by defining fields, entering data, and designing layouts; sorting records, queries, reports, & templates
- Graphics & Design–including image quality, bitmap/vectors, pixels, horizontal/vertical layouts, design for print/Internet/screen; software programs such as Paint & Photoshop Elements
- Presentations–planning, creating, & formatting information, using slides, frames, boxes, & templates; incorporating video, audio, graphics, transitions, timing, & animation
- Ethics & Futuristic Ideas–including copyright laws, ethical acquisition, citing sources, etiquette, hacking, piracy, viruses, privacy, technological impacts, etc.
- Business documents and formats
- Misc. Topics–including audio, video, CD burning/authoring, researching, participation in electronic communities, online collaboration, wikis, podcasts, Google Earth, etc.
To see the list of technology 6-8 TEKS covered, click here.
To see the list of TSDE/keyboarding TEKS covered, click here and scroll down to Touch System Data Entry.
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Course Goals
By the end of this year, students should be able to:
- Type accurately and with appropriate speed for age level and practice.
- Identify and understand the purpose of major hardware components
- Proficient usage of peripherals
- Proficient usage of operating systems and basic software such as word processors, desktop publishing, spreadsheets, databases, graphic design programs, presentation programs.
- Understand and analyze researching techniques and the ethics behind researching, the Internet, and computing in the 21st century
- Use audio, video, and graphics in a variety of products, depending upon the audience & technology available
- Research appropriately by evaluating sources and using search engines, online libraries, etc.
- Create a variety of business documents such as letters, memos, etc.
General Texts Used
There are no textbooks for this class. Students will instead learn through practice and hands-on application as well as referencing the handouts on this website.
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Required Supplies
These are supplies that are needed for Mrs. Oak’s computer classes.
- 1 pocket divider in your binder for Computer Applications (plus other pocket dividers for other subjects)
- Writing Utensils (any color except for yellow)
School Planner
All students are required to use their planners everyday to copy down the agenda for each class. Using a planner can help students become more organized as they use it to remember what homework they have in each class, project due dates, etc. Students will not be able to go to the water fountain, library, etc. with both a planner and student ID (being worn at all times).
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Assessments
Students are assessed using a variety of methods (teacher observation, evaluation, student/teacher conferencing, peer-responses, practice assignments, quizzes, rubrics, checklists, projects, and tests) by a variety of people (teacher, peer, and self).
Students will also be assessed by semester tests.
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Grading Policy
DISD Grading Policy for Tech. Classes
Daily Grades = 50% of grade
Quizzes/Timed Writings = 20% of grade
Tests/Projects = 30% of grade
Daily work is “homework, classwork, programs, assignments, etc.”; quiz grades are quizzes, homework, and timed writings; and tests/projects are considered “chapter tests, unit tests, announced projects, or papers, etc.”
Per grading period, teachers are required to have a minimum of:
2 Major Grades
6 Daily and/or Quiz Grades
In my classes, you”ll average about 2-3 tests and 7-10 daily/quiz grades, depending upon what we are studying.
Students should keep all of their papers so that they always know their grades. I only tell students their grades before/after school, or before progress reports/report cards if time allows as these grades are accessible online and in their binder.
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Homework Policy
With the large amount of homework students carry home in their core subjects, on top of all of their extra curricular activities, students will only have homework in my class occasionally. Students will be given plenty of time to complete classwork in class, but if a student does not finish classwork in class, for any reason (including talking during work time), then the student must finish it at home or in the computer lab before/after school during posted tutorial times. If your student brings home lots of work for my class everyday, you might ask them what they are doing in class…
In the occasion that students have homework, they will be given 2-3 days to complete it. Sometimes students will have projects in class. Again, they will be given plenty of time to complete the work in class, but occasionally, they might need to take a trip to the library, etc. outside of class. Students also might need to study outside of class for quizzes, tests, or other major grades.
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DISD Absence Policy
Students have the number of absent days, plus one day, to complete and turn in all make up work. That is the district policy. If a student waits two weeks after an absence to complete make-up work, it will not be accepted.
All assignments for a given day are listed on the calendar on this website. Major projects will be available online, but students may need to check on the network drive for daily work. It is the student’s responsibility to write down the assignment and get all make-up work from the network drive or me. It is the students responsibility to copy any missed notes from a classmate, or attend tutorials to obtain notes missed.
If a student is absent the day a major project or presentation is due, students must turn in the project or present immediately upon returning.
Also, since this is a high school class for high school credit, students may not miss more than 10% of class and still receive credit. That means if you miss too many days of class, you won’t get high school credit for the class.
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Late Work Policy
Students will be allowed to turn in one late paper per grading period for a maximum grade of 70. This paper can be turned in within one week of original due date.. This policy covered both daily and major grades. All zeros should be made up during advisory or a working lunch, though arrangements can be made for students to complete missing work before/after school.
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Tardy Policy
School-wide policy (by semester)
First Tardy: Warning
Second Tardy: Warning
Third Tardy: Warning and Phone call home
Fourth Tardy and all after: Office Referral
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Discipline Policy
School-wide policy
a. 1st offense: warning
b. 2nd offense: D-hall (15 min.)
c. 3rd offense: D-hall (30 min.) and Call home
d. 4th offense: office referral
SEVERE OFFENSE POLICY
Be aware that a severe offense may require immediate removal from the classroom.
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Extra Credit Policy
Extra Credit assignments aren’t offered in the Keyboarding/Computer applications class because there is little need for them. By completing work with extra effort, students can earn bonus points. If a student/parent feels an extra credit assignment is needed, please contact me so that we can discuss the matter.
Students are also encouraged to come in to tutorials for help or if they have questions.
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Classroom Rules
Students are expected to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct as well as these classroom rules:
1. Respect all people, places, and things (That means no drinks or food in the lab).
2. Save! And save often to your personal folder.
3. Print only after making sure all is correct (print preview)!
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Classroom Rewards and Consequences
Rewards and Consequences
Rewards
- Smiles
- Praise
- Whole-class or individual free time
- Positive notes
- Positive e-mails/Calls home
- Various other positive perks
- The joy of learning
Consequences
- Warning
- Lunch Detention
- Lunch Detention & a call home
- Referral to Office and a Call Home
Some severe discipline issues will result in an immediate Office Referral and Call Home.
Behavior policy restarts every semester but if a serious problem develops, a new policy will be written up for the students.
Other possible consequences:
Cooling off time
Parent-Teacher conferences
Temporary confiscation of disruptive or banned items
Behavioral contracts
Withdrawal of privileges, such as participation in extra activities
Classroom Procedures
LEAVING THE ROOM DURING CLASS: To leave during class, students MUST
ask permission. Students aren’t limited on their trips to the restroom, water fountain, etc. but if it becomes a habit to leave class often, then the student will lose their right to leave class.
ENTERING CLASS / LEAVING CLASS: Upon entering class, the students are to begin whatever warm-up or assignment is posted on the board.
Students are to be ready and working when the tardy bell rings, not after. Also, the teacher dismisses the class, NOT the bell. Students MUST log out before the bell.
TALKING: Students may talk quietly during work to help a neighbor unless the teacher says otherwise. In group work, students are expected to speak
quietly. Overall good class behavior can result in occasional free time.
WALKING AROUND DURING CLASS: Students may throw away garbage, sharpen pencils, etc. during independent and/or group work time only. If the teacher is talking, or a presentation is going on, students are not to walk around the classroom.
WHAT TO DO WHEN FINISHED: If students finishes all of their work, they may play approved computer games posted on the website.
ASSIGNMENT FORMATS: ALL papers will use the correct format for paper headings including name and class period, unless
otherwise stated in the assignment. Students may use pen or pencil on written work, but the ink color must be readable (no yellow, etc.), and the handwriting must be legible. Most assignments will be printed
and also must contain the proper heading. All NO NAME papers will be placed in the NO NAME box. Students must find their paper, write their name on it, and turn it back in to receive their grade. The NO NAME box will be emptied once a week and any papers not claimed will be trashed.
CLEANING THE ROOM: Students will ensure that the room is clean before leaving class.
BORROWING/USING CLASS SUPPLIES: If a student needs to use/borrow a pen/pencil, stapler, tape, hole-puncher, etc., students will use the items on the student supply table. Students will only take what is needed. Students seen taking handfuls of supplies will replace them. Students will respect the teacher’s desk and items on/in it.
LUNCH / ASSEMBLIES: The teacher will dismiss the class for lunch or assemblies.
TAKING NOTES: Students are required to take notes when requested and will be responsible for the material covered.
FIRE & SAFETY DRILLS / EMERGENCIES: FIRE DRILL/SAFETY DRILL: Students will follow all procedures listed near door and in school handbook. In the case of an emergency, students will remain seated and quiet, following all directions given. If the teacher is not available, 1 student will ask for help from another teacher.
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Binder
Students can have a separate binder/folder for my class, or a divided section in a larger binder. Multiple binders are not needed though it is recommended that the binder chosen be one that zippers closed. It is also recommended that each divider be the kind with pockets.
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