This course is designed to introduce middle school students to the basics of computers, keyboarding skills, and potential careers. Students will develop and enhance touch skills for entering information using a keyboard to compose and produce personal, educational, and professional documents. Contextual instruction and student participation in co-curricular career and technical student organization (CTSO) activities will develop leadership, interpersonal, and career skills. High-quality work-based learning (HQWBL) will provide experiential learning opportunities related to students' career goals and/or interests, integrated with instruction, and performed in partnership with local businesses and organizations.
Students are introduced to beginning keyboarding, coding, microcomputers applications, and career exploration. Students learn proper keyboarding techniques including the touch-typing method, speed, accuracy, good organizational skills, composition, language arts, and proper use and care of equipment. The Virginia Department of Education Technology Standards are integrated in the course content.
Students will:
- Learn the components of digital technologies and their functions in business and personal use to solve business problems.
- Demonstrate keyboarding proficiency using the “touch-technique” method.
- Compose documents and develops a variety of projects, including STEM to enhance academic and personal skills.
- Learn the principles of coding (computer programming) to develop an application.