Riverwood International Charter School�

Course Syllabus

Course Title..... Introduction to Digital Technology�� Term�� 2013-14

Teacher:� June Campbell�� room #�� 807.......

Email Address

Teacher Web Page

Phone

[email protected]

www.sites.google.com/site/businesscomputerscience

(404) 847-1980

Teacher Support

Help sessions are available �Mon-Thurs (8:00-8:00) unless I have a Duty or meeting

Class Supplies:

Ear buds, Kleenex, Clorox Wipes, Hand Sanitizer � Appreciated for sanitary purposes � noses, keyboards and mice. J

Course Description

Introduction to Digital Technology is the foundational course for Web & Digital Communications, Programming, Advanced Programming, Information Support & Services, and Network Systems pathways.

This course is designed for high school students to understand, communicate, and adapt to a digital world as it impacts their personal life, society, and the business world. Exposure to foundational knowledge in hardware, software, programming, web design, IT support, and networks are all taught in a computer lab with hands-on activities and project-focused tasks. Students will not only understand the concepts, but apply their knowledge to situations and defend their actions/decisions/choices through the knowledge and skills acquired in this course.

Employability skills are integrated into activities, tasks, and projects throughout the course standards to demonstrate the skills required by business and industry.

Competencies in the co-curricular student organization, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), are integral components of both the employability skills standards and content standards for this course.

Various forms of technologies will be highlighted to expose students to the emerging technologies impacting the digital world. Professional communication skills and practices, problem-solving, ethical and legal issues, and the impact of effective presentation skills are taught in this course as a foundational knowledge to prepare students to be college and career ready. The knowledge and skills taught in this course build upon each other to form a comprehensive introduction to digital world.

Prerequisites: Introduction to Digital Technology is a course that is appropriate for all high school students. The pre-requisite for this course is advisor approval.

Course Curriculum Content

Course Standards

Units/Topics

IT-IDT � 1�� Demonstrate employability skills required by business and industry

IT-IDT - 2 � Explore, research, and present findings on positions and career paths in technology and the impact of technology on chosen career area.

IT-IDT-3 �� Demonstrate effective professional communication skills (oral, written, and digital) and practices that enable positive customer relationships.

IT-IDT-4 �� Identify, describe, evaluate, select and use appropriate technology.

IT-IDT-5 �� Understand, communicate, and adapt to a digital world.

IT-IDT-6 �� Explore and explain the basic components of computer networks.

IT-IDT-7 �� Use computational thinking procedures to analyze and solve problems.

IT-IDT-8 �� Create and organize webpages through the use of a variety of web programming design tools.

IT-IDT-9 �� Design, develop, test and implement programs using visual programming.

IT-IDT-10 � Describe, analyze, develop and follow policies for managing ethical and legal issues in the business world and in a technology-based society.

IT-IDT-11 � Explore how related student organizations are integral parts of career and technology education courses through leadership development, school and community service projects, entrepreneurship development, and competitive events.

Semester 1:

1. FBLA � leadership development, community service, and employability skills

2. Online safety and digital citizenship

3. Emerging and future technology

4. Hardware and software

5. Problem solving, flowcharting and algorithms

6. Visual programming�

7. Employability Skills

8. Information Technology Careers:� Programming, Gaming, and Software Development

Semester 2:

9. FBLA � entrepreneurship development, competitive events, professional communication

10. Operating systems

11. Customer relationships

12. Networking basics

13. Online resources

14. Web design

15. Ethics, legal issues, and cyber security

16. Information Technology Careers:� Network Systems, Information Support & Services, and Web & Digital Communications, Computer Forensics

Instructional Materials and Supplies

Materials	Instructional Supplies
Online books and tutorials provided	3-ring binder, paper, pen or pencil, headphones

Evaluation and Grading

Assignments

Grade Weights

Grading Scale

Classwork

Projects

Unit Tests

Final Exam

Class Assessments�� 25%

Projects�� 30%

Unit Tests�� 30%

Final Exam�� 15%

�� 100

A:�� 90 and above

B:�� 80 � 89

C:�� 74 � 79

D:�� 70 � 73
F:�� 69 or below

Other Information

Expectations for Academic Success

Additional Requirements/Resources

1) Complete daily classwork assignments

2) Participate in class discussions and ask questions

3) Participate constructively as a team member

4) Problem solve and accept challenges

5) Challenge yourself to continuously improve

� Acceptable Computer Use Policy

� Tutoring Available

MISSING ASSIGNMENTS: �On major assignments there will be a10% deduction per day up to 50%.� After ten class periods of the original due date, no more credit will be given.� Major assignments include tests, research papers, projects, essay compositions, presentations, etc.

GENERAL:� Your recorded grades will be available for your review during office hours. Please keep all graded work neatly organized in your notebook and readily available to ensure that any grade discrepancies may be quickly and fairly resolved.� If you are having trouble with the class, I urge you to see me for additional help.� Feel free to stop by during planning or contact me via email at any time.� Please note:� Your ideas, comments, suggestions, grade challenges etc. are always welcome.�

IB LEARNER PROFILE�

Students in Introduction to Business and Technology should strive to be: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective.

THE ROLE OF THE AREAS OF INTERACTION IN THIS COURSE:

The MYP technology problem solving approach to teaching and learning naturally contributes to the development of students� problem solving and thinking skills. The design cycle provides students with a framework that organizes the way in which they learn and address issues.

THE FIVE AREAS OF INTERACTION:

Approaches to learning (ATL): Through ATL teachers provide students with the tools to enable them to take responsibility for their own learning, thereby developing an awareness of how they learn best, of thought processes and of learning strategies.

Community and service: This component requires students to take an active part in the communities in which they live, thereby encouraging responsible citizenship.

Human ingenuity: Students explore in multiple ways the processes and products of human creativity, thus learning to appreciate and develop in themselves the human capacity to influence, transform, enjoy and improve the quality of life.

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Environments: This area aims to develop students� awareness of their interdependence with the environment so that they understand and accept their responsibilities.

Health and social education: This area deals with physical, social and emotional health and intelligence�key aspects of development leading to complete and healthy lives.

MYP AIMS��

The aims of the teaching and study of Business Essentials are to encourage and enable students to:

� Develop an appreciation of the significance of family and consumer science for life, society and the environment.

� Use knowledge, skills and techniques to create products/solutions of appropriate quality.

� Develop problem-solving, critical- and creative-thinking skills through the application of the design cycle.

� Develop respect for others� viewpoints and appreciate alternative solutions to problems.

� Use and apply information and communication technology (ICT) effectively as a means to access, process and communicate information, and to solve problems.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: An honor violation is defined as giving or receiving any information related to a graded experience, either inside or outside of class.� Students guilty of an honor violation in my class will receive a grade of zero (0) on the assignment or test.� Additionally, an honor violation form will be submitted to the principal and will be on file in the counseling office.� Parents will also be contacted and informed of the honor code violation.� Membership in honor organizations is jeopardized as a result of honor code violations. The items listed below are also considered breeches in the academic integrity policy:

L� Sharing your student login and password with another student

L� Copying another�s or sharing your data files and presenting them for a grade

L� Copying data from the Internet and passing it off as your own work

L� Having another individual write or excessively edit your work

L� Working with peers on an individual assignment

HONOR CODE DECLARATION:� While honor code violations may be assessed on any assignment, student�s will be required to write and sign the following statement on all major assignments and tests:� �I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this assignment.�

ATTENDANCE:� You are expected to attend class.� Skipping will not be tolerated.� In accordance with Riverwood�s attendance policy, it is your responsibility to inquire about any missed assignments as a result of your absence(s).� Please refer to your Student Handbook for specific attendance and make-up work guidelines.

TARDIES:� You are considered tardy if you are not seated when the bell rings.�

RECOVERY PROCESS:� Fulton County�s recovery policy is designed so that students who have regular attendance and have completed all assignments but are still unsuccessful in a course can have a chance to demonstrate mastery.� Students can request recovery only if they meet the preceding criteria.� Recovery does not mean that a student can skip a test or fail to turn in a major assignment and receive recovery as an alternative.� The type of recovery assignments available to students is a matter of teacher discretion as long as it directly relates to the course objectives.� Teachers will determine when and how students with extenuating circumstances may improve their grades.� (See Student Handbook).

RESTROOM PRIVILEGES:� Class time is valuable.� In attempts to minimize distractions, you are asked to quietly signal for permission to leave for the restroom.� *Please complete your agenda and exit the room quietly.� You must return within the acceptable time frame as outlined in the Student Handbook or you will be considered skipping.� Abuse of this liberal method will result in stricter restroom guidelines.� You are NOT allowed to leave the classroom during the first or last ten minutes of class unless the situation is deemed an emergency.� In the case of an emergency, an administrator will come to assist you.

*This ONLY applies to the restroom!!!� If you are going anywhere else on school grounds you MUST ask for permission.� Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action. L

CLASSROOM RULES OF CONDUCT:� In addition to the items below, please review the section regarding conduct in your Student Handbook.

v L� FOOD AND BEVERAGES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN CLASS.

v L� CELL PHONES, IPODS, MP3 PLAYERS, ETC ARE NOT ALLOWED IN CLASS (Unless instructed to use)

v L� Cooperative learning time should be spent completing group assignments.� Cooperative�� learning is not free time.

YOUR SUCCESS J:� Most students will find this course enjoyable and enlightening.� If you feel that you need additional help, don�t hesitate to notify me IMMEDIATELY.� I am always willing to work with you one on one to ensure successful mastery of the course material.