All Projects will implement the Design Cycle when it applies. Areas of Interaction: in all grades

Aims

Computer Technology is designed to create a balance between the imparting of skills, the acquisition of techniques and knowledge, and the growth and awareness of the students' personal responses. This is a practical hands-on course which is taught in the computer lab. Students work one to a machine. There will be some homework such as reflections on topic areas we will cover.

The curriculum

During the MYP course, students will become proficient in the use of: Word processing programs, Database programs, Spreadsheet programs, Presentations programs, Publishing programs, Computer aided design (CAD) programs, Multimedia programs

The aims of computing are to:

Areas of Interaction			The Design Cycle[1]: Investigate/Plan/Create/Evaluate (Specific ATL skills that are developed through technology include: Information literacy skills, Communication skills, Problem-solving skills, Social and group-work skills, Reflections skills)
Description	Overview	Specifically	Communication skills
Encourage an awareness of the impact of computers on society and the environment	Environment	Raising student’s awareness of the use of computers on the human environment	Social and group-work skills (Blogs, Wiki, Moodle)
Develop an appreciation of the international and intercultural aspects of computers	Community and Service	Engaging with others in our immediate community (NYC) and communities overseas (3^rd World Countries; for example the impact of cheap computers for all)	Information literacy skills (Blogs, Wiki, Moodle)
Provide a variety of technological information and ideas	Approaches to Learning	The opportunities for the development of skills and attitudes to learning	Information literacy skills, Problem-solving skills (Word, Excel, Moodle)
Encourage curiosity, ingenuity, resourcefulness and discrimination	Homo Faber	Personal Attitudes – Reflections (metacognition)	Information literacy skills, Communication skills (Blogs, Wiki, Moodle)
Stimulate self-confidence through the knowledge and application of computers	Approaches to Learning	Developed thinking skills providing challenging opportunities that enable questioning, investigation and the evaluation of data	Problem-solving skills Reflections skills (Blogs, Wiki, Moodle)
Develop practical skills through the creation of products/solutions	Approaches to Learning
Promote effective, informed, appropriate communication	Health and Social education
Foster responsibility for designs, decisions, actions and assessment	Homo Faber
Promote effective cooperation and respect for individual differences when responding to technological challenges	Health and Social education, Community and service
Develop logical-thinking skills	Approaches to Learning		Problem-solving skills Reflections skills (Blogs, Wiki, Moodle)

Students will also study ethical issues of computers and the Internet, and the impact of computer technology on society.

Content/Skills by Grade level and MYP year
Technology/Computer
Stream	Grade / MYP year
	6^th / year one	7^th / year two	8^th / year three	9^th / year four	10^h / year five
Web pages[2]	In grade 6 we will make Webpages from a program called Dreamweaver and learn some of the basics of webpage design using the design cycle of MYP, Horizontal articulation - Using the design cycle Webpages working with the 6^th grade teacher	In grade 7 we will make Webpages from a program called Fireworks and continue with learning webpage design basics using the design cycle of MYP, Horizontal articulation - Using the design cycle Webpages working with Chris Cummingham in trimester one	In grade 8 we will use Flash to make dynamic and interactive pages. Horizontal articulation - Using the design cycle Webpages working with Andre Theisen in trimester one	In ninth grade we will be making webpages by writing our own code with out the aid of a package like Dreamweaver. Horizontal articulation - (there is not currently a year nine technology class)	In tenth grade technology we will be creating web TV and virtual websites with more fully integrated features to make webpages. Each student will have a final project of designing a site for someone else. Horizontal articulation -
New Media (Journalism)
Excel ~ Data	Begin Excel – simple data	Excel 2	Excel advanced	Data management	Data mining (sorting through large amounts of data and picking out relevant information).
Creative	Photoshop	Photoshop Advanced	Flash beginning	Flash Advanced / Imovie	3D animation and CA Virtual spaces
Programming	Scratch Scratch is a new programming language that makes it easy to create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art -- and share your creations on the web. Scratch is designed to help young people (ages 8 and up) develop 21st century learning skills. As they create Scratch projects, young people learn important mathematical and computational ideas, while also gaining a deeper understanding of the process of design.	Google sketchup	Flash	Flash – Java scripting – XHTML – AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript And XML to create better, faster, and more user-friendly web applications.)
Text-editing (i.e. Word)	Keyboard testing, Word beginning – text - assignments on ancient civilizations	Word – text - assignments on Computer and Society	Word – text - assignments on Technology and Media / LaGuardia paper/ Creating news content.	InDesign – text – advanced features of Word – essay	InDesign – text - advanced features of Word – essay
Computer Basics	Email - Firstclass client School Policy, Moodle, Acceptable Use Policy, Student Folders (on the server), Wiki, Privacy issues (See clip on Facebook)	Email - Firstclass client School Policy, Moodle, Acceptable Use Policy, Student Folders (on the server), Wiki, (See clip on Facebook)	Email - Firstclass client School Policy, Moodle, Acceptable Use Policy, Student Folders (on the server), Wiki, (See clip on Facebook)	Email - Firstclass client School Policy, Moodle, Acceptable Use Policy, Student Folders (on the server), Wiki, (See clip on Facebook)	Email - Firstclass client School Policy, Moodle, Acceptable Use Policy, Student Folders (on the server), Wiki, (See clip on Facebook)
Overseas collbarations

New York Standards http://www.moraviaschool.org/NYSLS/mstst5.htm

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[1]

Design folder

As students progress through the different stages of the design cycle, they are constantly experimenting with ideas, researching topics, compiling sources, brainstorming issues, sketching possible solutions, making changes, rejecting proposals and critically evaluating their work. All relevant activities and outcomes should be recorded, and dated, in the design folder.

The design folder is a compilation of evidence that accompanies the final product/solution for a unit of work. Students formally record the results of their research, their various plans and designs and the evaluation of their finished products/solutions in the design folder.

The design folder must be clearly divided into its constituent parts according to the stages of the design cycle: investigate, design, plan, create, evaluate. The design folder must begin with the student’s investigation and end with the evaluation.

[2] Our goal with webpages. A website mission statement (evolving).

Everyone will develop a website which will always be a product in progress.

Your MYP will be demonstrated in your ever-evolving homepage. Your page will change both as technology changes over the next few years as well as you develop new skills to incorporate within your virtual world. Your homepage will link to all that you do online at Dwight. From book reports to video clips and mashups, game developments to virtual worlds, blogs, programming, cartooning, creating online poetry and children’s stories as well as your resume and collaborations within our classes to collaborations overseas. Your homepage will be your portfolio of not only what you have learned but also how you present yourself online. This will be both technical as will as creative. No two sites will be similar.

These will reside on the Dwight server and only you, using your password and logon information will be able to access your site. By year ten, if you wish, you will be able to transport your site and save it to present as your portfolio.