Mastery unit 1: Computer Skills

Standards Assessed
1. Empowered Learner: Students leverage technology to take an active role in choosing, achieving and demonstrating competency in their learning goals, informed by the learning sciences. Students: 
(D) understand the fundamental concepts of technology operations, demonstrate the ability to choose, use and troubleshoot current technologies and are able to transfer their knowledge to explore emerging technologies.

6. Creative Communicator: Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals. Students:
(A) choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.

7. Global Collaborator: Students use digital tools to broaden their perspectives and enrich their learning by collaborating with others and working effectively in teams locally and globally. Students:
(A) use digital tools to connect with learners from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, engaging with them in ways that broaden mutual understanding and learning.​.

Enduring Understandings

Essential Questions
Students will understand that...
  • Following a process ensures a meaningful product through the use of appropriate digital tools.
  • Students choice of equipment is determined by the task at hand.
  • Virtual environments and simulations create a visualization of complex systems and issues.
  • There are sets of vocabulary, rules and patterns that make computers and computer programs work.
Students will be able to answer...
  • How will technology help solve the problem?
  • What is the right tool for the job?
  • What is a virtual environment?
  • How does a computer work?

Knowledge 

Skills 
The student will know...
  • Basic understand the functions of an operating system, and its components.
  • The importance of the OS's role in managing and operating programs.
  • Differences between input and output devices.
  • Basic software management process.
  • Proper hand placement for effective and efficient keyboarding skills.
The student will be able to...
  • To log in and out of the computer.
  • Create and label folders to place their documents and other files into.
  • Utilize the left/right click and scroll button correctly; properly control the cursor on the screen with the mouse.
  • Open and close applications properly.
  • Utilize a keyboard using the home-row position.

Performance Task

Students will be able use their mouse skills and keyboard skills to create a series of different technology projects showing mastery of different tools. Students will use these skills to be able to complete a variety of quality work. Students will show their work to parents at the student conference and describe how the work was produced.​