Re: [school-discuss] Technology Curriculum

[Les Richardson <les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yes, this is a nice curriculum that is now appropriate to about the grade 
7 level or so.

The grade 9-12 level is more 'problematic'... (grin).

The important question in my mind, is what should we teach children at 
this level....

1. What role does a simple programming language have?

2. What kind of knowledge is required about using 'command lines'? (and a 
command line interface). Children are now only using a GUI environment 
here....

3. What should student know about how computers work with a variety of 
languages (with different character repertoires and encodings...)

4. What knowledge about databases and query languages (ie. SQL) should 
they know? Report Generator?

5. What should they know about HTML? XML?

6. What about Desktop Publishing.... CAD?.... (more skill based outcomes).

7. What about graphics skillsets? Should they know about masks and layers? 
(yes). Vector vs Bitmapped Graphics?

IMHO, there should be 'strands' of all of these from the 9-12 level to 
give children exposure to all of these things. The problem of course, is 
that the dominant monoculture allows children exposure to a GUI O/S and a 
single Office suite... there is very little in the way of higher level 
expectations... just more of ('How to Click Buttons in a GUI'), etc.

A curriculum that outlines the use of FOSS in delivering a well balanced 
curriculum to the 9-12 level is VERY important in my mind to provide a 
framework for development of instructional materials and inservices to 
teachers.

I have something like this stored in a protected database, if anyone is 
interested.


My 2 cents worth.

Les Richardson
Open Admin for Schools.






On Tue, 25 Sep 2007, Joel Kahn wrote:

> Not long ago, while I was going
> through some old papers, I found
> a copy of the official "Technology
> Curriculum" that my former employer,
> the Bolivar (Missouri) R-1 School
> District, has been using (and which
> they are still using to the best of
> my knowledge). I pass it along for
> whatever it may be worth. I've done
> some minor editing for clarity. Here
> is what the people in charge think
> the students should know:
>
> Logging on and off the computer
>
> Physical care of the equipment and software
>
> Using strategies to troubleshoot
>
> Selecting and using appropriate technology
>
> Basic technology vocabulary and knowledge
>
> Responsible computer use
>
> Managing files appropriately
>
> Launching appropriate software
>
> Creating a basic document using a word processor
>
> Creating simple pictures with
> paint and draw programs
>
> Creating multimedia presentations
>
> Importing & utilizing graphics
>
> Using a variety of different
> sources to find information
>
> Locating information using technology
>
> Using the World Wide Web to access sites,
> gather information and interpret results
>
> Using the mouse properly
>
> Understanding basic hand positioning for keyboarding
>
>
>
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