HIT:-> Computer Lab Curriculum

[Katharine Bruner <BRUNERK@TEN-NASH.TEN.K12.TN.US>]

Thanks to those of you who responded with what's going on in the computer
lab classes at your schools.  Here's a synopsis of those messages:

"I have real problems with teaching history of computer.  Do we teach
history of the typewriter or of the pen?  The computer is a tool, and as
such, there should be no isolated curriculum for computer.  Just as we
teach library skills as they are needed, so should we teach database when
it is useful in a discipline.  This would mean a total integration with the
rest of the subject areas.  Once the students have mastered the necessary
skill of keyboarding, I feel the applications should be taught in context."

"We begin keyboarding in 3rd grade, so by the time our kids get to 6th
grade, they have a pretty good base.  In 6th grade, they have a 7 week
keyboarding course that includes a little introduction to Microsoft Works
(although most of our students come to us with some experience in Works
already.)  In 7th grade, for 7 weeks, kids study desktop publishing with
Express Publisher, database, and spreadsheet.  In 8th grade, if kids are in
fine arts, they get a multimedia project with Linkway, but there is no
regular class in computer literacy or anything.  Next year we're looking at
increasing the multimedia experience at all three levels, and decreasing
the keyboarding.

"I am a librarian in a middle school.  A few weeks before school started I
was informed that four of our seven periods would see me in the computer
lab and the library closed.  After my initial panic, I checked around and
found Microsoft Works through Applications-Computer Literacy Press.  I
highly recomment it...some of it was a little difficult for our level
students, but it was a great starter point for the semester.  It comes with
texts, disks that can be copied for each student and work sheets.  I've
looked at several and found this the best.  There's a starter/preview kit
for $38.  I've found the whole experience very rewarding...except seeing my
empty library!

"We are using C-64's to teach keyboarding to 75% of our students and hope
to increase that to 100% next year.  We include a bit of word processing,
also.  We do have another more advanced computer class which includes
database, spreadsheet, HyperCard, and multimedia production.  We are slowly
replacing the C-64's with Macs.  Ours is a grade 7-8 school.

"We still teach keyboarding in our computer lab.  Other than that it is all
related to curriculum.  We teach how to use the various cd roms and
software they will need to complete their assignments (such as online
encyclopedias, Ebsco's "Middle" magazine index, atlases, etc.)

"In my school system's middle schools, we have never taught *about*
computers, but have tried to plan curriculum to integrate with existing
subjects so that what students learn wi8ll apply to their daily lives now
and in the future.  All computer classes are taught by subject area
teachers.  For example, all 7th and 8th grade language arts classes learn
word processing in the computer lab and then follow up later by return
visits to write letters, reports, etc.  Word processing stations are also
available for student use at any time in the media center.

"Math classes learn graphics and graphing in 7th grade and spreadsheets in
8th grade.  All social studies and science classes learn to use databases
in 7th and 8th grade.  6th graders first spend time on keyboarding and then
return later to learn the basics of word processing.  Media specialists are
responsible for planning, assistance, teacher inservice, scheduling and
trouble shooting."

If any of you have other approaches let me hear from you and I will post
another compilation later.

Katharine Brunr                 Brown Middle School
brunerk@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us      Harrison TN