“Where we are, what we’re planning”

N-12 Computer Technology programs can be broken down into the following distinct components:

1. Introduction and Basic User Skills  (Nursery – 5^th)

2. Intermediate User Skills & Tools (Middle School)

3. Inter-disciplinary Tools / Academic Enhancement (All levels)

4. Advanced Courses (High School)

U.A.S. currently offers Component 1-"Introductory and Basic User Skills"  to most primary school students. By scheduling additional hours when the main computer laboratory is open, some primary classes also receive training in intermediate tools that are generally considered to be a year or two above their grade levels. Sixth and seventh grade have multiple classes per week and are solidly addressing Component 2-"Intermediate User Skills and Tools." 

At the High School level, we current offer four classes, 9th and 10th Grade 1-semester Computer Studies classes that provide students with all the tools they will require during high school and college. Combined, they satisfy the UAS computer credit requirement. Multimedia and Digital Yearbook are offered as electives this year for advanced students wishing to explore the areas of digital arts & graphics, video, animation, sound and other media-related topics. Students wishing to take the latter two electives should discuss the material with the instructor as prerequisites may be required.

Other high school teachers have combined technology into their course guidelines, primarily in the areas of internet research and project production and presentation. New courses are being constructed for 2005/06 and beyond. Most students that have progressed through our middle school have already taken 90% of the “standard” material that is required at the high-school level. (Word / Excel / Powerpoint / Graphics / IE Explorer, etc.)

1. Introduction and Basic User Skills

Starting with basic hardware familiarization and typing skills, the students are introduced to the computer interface and begin to improve related motor skills.

Nursery – Grade 2

 -  Use of input devices (mouse, keyboard, removable media drives)
 -  Basic Math skills
 -  Learn how to follow instructions and logical steps
 -  Learn the Technology Vocabulary and identify major components.
 -  Use Multimedia resources (interactive books, educational software)

Grades 3 to 5

 -  Typing 
 -   Create knowledge products & presentations for various audiences
 -   Use of telecommunications and on-line resources.
 -   Introduction to productivity tools (word processing, page layout, simple graphics,etc.)

Current Software Utilized (N-5, both U.S. and Uruguyan programs)

-    Type to Learn Jr, TTL 3 & Mavis Beacon for typing

-    Kid Pix Studio & Microsoft Paint  for drawing

-    Storybook Weaver for creating multimedia books

-    TIM Tutor, Arthur Series  for improving Math, Reading & Thinking skills

-    Kidspiration for Organizational and Language Skills

-    Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia & Encyclopedia Britannica Online

-    Microsoft Word for word processing

-    Powerpoint for presentations

-    Cruncher & Excel for spreadsheets

-    Internet Explorer 6.0 for Internet

-    Microsoft Outlook for email

-    Timeliner 5.0

-    Various other educational programs from library inventory

     Note: Not all software is utilized at all grade levels.

2. Intermediate User Skills & Tools

Once the students feel comfortable utilizing a computer, they are ready to begin learning more advanced tools that they will require in high school as well as their college studies and beyond. Microsoft Office Suite - a professional level combination of word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation and desktop publishing software - is utilized by a large percentage of companies and schools. As the overwhelming worldwide standard and a prerequisite for studying at many U.S. universities, we use Microsoft Office almost exclusively at the middle school level so that students are prepared long before college. In fact, many of our students as early as third grade are well-versed in at least three of the five Office modules.

Grades 6 to 8

 -   Selection and use of appropiate tools and technology resources to accomplish specific tasks and solve problems.

-   Design, develop, publish and present products using technology resources that communicate curriculum concepts to audiences inside and outside of the classroom.

-   Demonstrate an understanding of concepts involving hardware, software, communications and connectivity, as well as practical applications for learning and problem solving.

- Explore the History of Computer Technology and investigate the impact of technology on modern society, its pros and cons, its successes and failures.

-   Demonstrate knowledge of the use of a complete suite of productivity applications, Internet Skills, including searching, electronic mail, etc.

Current Software Utilized (Grades 6-8, both U.S. and Uruguayan programs)

-    Microsoft Encarta and Encyclopedia Britannica

-    Microsoft Powerpoint presentations & webpages

-    Microsoft Word for word processing

-    Microsoft Excel for spreadsheets

-    Microsoft Publisher for page layout of brochures, folders, etc.

-    Internet Explorer 6.0 for Internet

-    Microsoft Outlook for email

-    Adobe Multimedia Suite for Advanced Students

-    Inspiration for Organizational Skills

-    Timeliner

-    StageCast Creator (LOGO-based Intro to Object Programming)

-    Adobe Photo Elements (image editing)

-    Adobe Premiere Elements (video editing)

Grades 9-12

- Develop skills with various multimedia applications in order to produce high-quality finished products. (Adobe Illustrator, PhotoShop, Live Motion, Premiere, Powerpoint, Frontpage, Swish, Audition, MacroMedia etc.)

-    Adobe Premiere for Video Editing

-    Adobe Audition & Audacity for Audio Editing

-    Stagecast Creator (Introductory object-oriented programming)

- Master productivity applications (Microsoft Office – the primary prerequisite for all students entering most universities. Students are introduced to these programs in our primary program and concentrate on them in middle school. By high school, they should be able to use these progams very effectively.)

- Web page design and digital page layout for Yearbook.

3&4. Inter-disciplinary / Academic Enhancement  (current & proposed)

Recently, we have begun the process of creating additional cross-discipline classes with teachers from various departments in order to integrate technology effectively in these areas:

Multimedia / Graphics  (implemented in 2000)

(Graphic production / Digital Imaging / Animation / Video Processing / HTML)

-  the benefits of this class can be enormous for students pursuing many career paths, including fine arts / marketing-publicity / audio-visual careers / corporate info services. ALL professionals, at various points in their careers, must present their findings or projects in a professional manner. Multimedia presentations are far more effective.

Digital Audio / Music Technology (implemented in 2002)

Concepts of Sound / Musical Performance & Recording / Digital Mixing & Manipulation Post-Production and CD-mastering) Offered subject to demand. - Not available in 2005-06.

Internet Research Skills (implemented 1998)

(English / Journalism / Social Studies / History / Geography / Science / Math, etc) Simply, any subject can benefit through the effective usage of the world wide web.

Cross-Discipline Yearbook (proposed for 05-06)

It is out intention to work much closer this year with various departments to produce a digital yearbook that more closely reflects activities from all departments. Arts, Drama, Music and the English Department will hopefully be involved throughout the year, as will the Uruguayan program that will be preparing presentation materials for both the website and yearbook.

We are currently evaluating many more inter-disiplinary opportunities. Since budget, lab availability and teacher/student schedules are already tight, it is unknown what possibilities we may have to implement any of these in the upcoming years.

Science:  (discussion phase with Science Instructors)

Physics / Engineering  - Robotics '06, Control Systems, etc. 

Chemistry  - Chemical Analysis, Experimental Data compilation, Simulation of chemical reactions implemented-'04, etc.

Biology / Micro-Biology - Computerized Microscopes, etc. (implemented '05)

Computerized Language Lab: (fact-finding stage)

To be coordinated with ESL, SSL, Spanish and English departments. A CALL lab would enable teachers to provide interactive language programs, recording and playback, on-line conversation in pairs or groups as well as simultaneous translations. Programs are available to practice, test and correct both written and verbal lessons, enhance vocabularies through flash-card systems that literally dwarf printed sets plus provide instant checking, correcting and recording of improvement. Not to mention the plethora of dictionary, thesaurus, grammar and style programs that are vital to language learning.

Humanities: (fact finding stage)

Internet and CD-Rom based systems provide an alternative form of presentation, including multimedia content that grabs and maintains interest longer than the average book. While certainly not as “romantic” as snuggling up in a comfortable chair under a nice light for a good read, dozens of studies lead to the same conclusion: Many students read longer, understand better,and absorb/retain more information when it is presented in multi-media format. Educators have long recognized that learning is enforced when multiple senses are utilized to present information (read, write, hear, feel, etc.)  Multi-media inherently provides “multiple” senses in one sitting. The teacher’s role will be to guide, focus, explain and highlight important elements of this supplemental form of reading and information collection.

Primary School Integration:

Teachers who stay with the same class for most of the day will continue to have the opportunity to reserve the computer lab so that students can utilize the systems for individual projects that directly relate with their classroom studies rather than use externally structured lesson sets that do not relate to regular classroom material.

Integration of technology into the primary levels will increase throughout the next few years.

VHS Online Classes:

We are a certified Virtual High School. This program offers a number of specialized courses entirely over the Internet and progress monitoring is available through our certified VHS Site Coordinator. Texas Tech University, BYU and other U.S. accredited academic institutions also offer high school credit courses. Last year we had three students perform very well in the online AP Computer Science course.