The program’s mission is to provide children with information literacy skills that they can use to enhance their learning process and leverage the resources that an increasingly technological world both provides and demands.

 Computers and other digital tools provide an array of versatile learning resources that both support and enhance a child’s educational development.  The goals of this program are to:

•    Empower your child through the development of a strong foundation of basic computer skill

•  Enable your child to apply information literacy skills to access, communicate and manage informatio

• Provide your child with alternate tools to further develop their problem solving skill sets

•    Enhance your child’s understanding of the advantages and challenges of an increasingly technological world, its impacts and interrelationships

• Enrich their learning process through the integration of technology with their core curriculum.  This includes but is not limited to: Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Visual Arts, Social Studies, and World Languages.

In this program all children will use age appropriate commercially available software to begin their learning process.  As their basic skill set develops and becomes secure, additional skill sets will be introduced and incorporated into the learning process.  By the end of grade 4, all students shall be able to demonstrate functionality with the following:

• Computer Hardware and other digital tools        Technology Terminology

•   Children’s Educational Software (various)

•    Internet Usage and Safety Issues

•    MS Word

•     MS Excel

•     MS PowerPoint

Computer Literacy Activities

By Grade

Kindergarten

The following areas will be introduced: computer operation and concepts, communication and collaboration, as well as creativity and innovation.  The sources used will primarily consist of commercially available age appropriate software.  The goals for this age are to help the children develop a comfort and appreciation for the computer.  The primary focus will be on developing and increasing the student’s basic computer skill set. This will be accomplished through the hands on use of the computer, as well as the introduction and use of specific vocabulary.   Additional goals are educational enrichment and the understanding of the acceptable use policy.   

1^st Grade

The concepts introduced in Kindergarten continue to be explored.  A computer/internet responsibility and behavioral contract will be discussed and implemented.  Increased navigation skills shall be introduced, including forays into the internet.  The Cybersmart website till be introduced and explored.  Children will be taught how to identify internet ads and commercials. The children shall use KidPix to illustrate a book they have written.  Keyboarding software will be integrated into the program. Toward the end of the year, MS Word is introduced.

2^nd Grade

 Second graders will build upon their introduction to the concepts from Kindergarten and 1^st grade.  This grade introduces the following areas: digital citizenship, research and information literacy, critical thinking, problem solving and decision making and the nature of technology. They will continue improve their keyboarding skills with the goal of using MS Word to create a short book.  They will use the internet to import pictures and create a short report that ties to their classroom learning in science.  We will continue utilizing lessons from the Cybersmart website

3^rd Grade

 Building upon their earlier learning, children at this grade will have opportunities to use a digital camera.  Internet search engines will be introduced.  The children will also explore internet mapping tools. In addition, they will use the internet to import pictures and create a short report that ties to their classroom learning in science.  MS Excel will be introduced with the goal of using a spreadsheet to collect, sort and interpret data.  MS PowerPoint shall be introduced.

4^th grade

Children in 4^th grade will continue to expand upon the concepts learned in the earlier grades.  They will have opportunities to use a digital camera and will explore other digital tools, such as: phones, GPS, and gaming devices.  Internet research tools will be introduced. These students will also explore computer malfunctions and develop a step-by-step troubleshooting process. They will create a multimedia presentation for social studies using MS PowerPoint and other digital tools as well as the internet.  These students will explore the nature of technology, its creation and innovation.  They will also examine technological citizenship and how it applies to ethics and society.

VOCABULARY

Bits/Bytes BASIC Boot CD Cell CPU Cursor Data Disk Drive Digital DOS Download DVD

Flashdrive Hard Drive Homerow Keys ICON Input/Output Keyboard Mouse Network Operating System Printer Program ROM/RAM

Scanner Screen Screensaver Software Speakers Spreadsheet Start Menu Tool Bar Touchpad Tower Wallpaper Windows WW

SOFTWARE

This is a list of some, but not all, of the popular titles used in the program.

Bob the Builder Cyberchase Dora the Explorer Freddi Fish I Spy JumpStart Series (various) KidPix Putt Putt Pajama Sam

Math Blaster MS Excel MS Word MS PowerPoint Mighty Math: Zoo Zillions Reader Rabbit (various) Reading Blaster Sammy’s Science House

Science Blaster School Zone (various) Storybook Weaver Scooby Doo StarWars Math Thomas the Tank Engine VeggieTales Zoombinis

 Internet Resources

This is list of some of the websites used in the program.

Askkids.com (Ask.com for kids)

Bigideafun.com (veggietales)

Cybersmartcurriculum.org

Bronxzoo.com

JumpStart.org

KidsClick

Kids.gov  (official US Government portal for kids)

Magickeys.com

Nationalzoo.si.edu

PBSKids.org

Philadelphiazoo.org

Scholastic.com

State.nj.us/hangout_nj (State of Nj website for kids)

Whitehouse.org

Wonderzone.com (child Evangelism Fellowship – Good News People)

Worldbookonline.com