6th-8th Grade

Creativity and Innovation

Communication and Collaboration

Research and Information Fluency

Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making

Digital Citizenship

Technology Operations and Concepts

Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes; create original works as a means of personal or group expression; use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues; identify trends and forecast possibilities.

Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students interact, collaborate and publish with peers, experts or others employing a variety of digital environments and media; communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using as variety of media and formats; develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures; contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems.

Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate and use information. Students plan strategies to guide inquiry; locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media; evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks; process data and report results.

Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Students identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation; plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project; collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions; use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions.

Students understand human, cultural and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Students advocate and practice safe, legal and responsible use of information and technology; exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning and productivity; demonstrate a personal responsibility for lifelong learning; exhibit leadership for digital citizenship.

Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. Students understand and use technology systems; select and use applications effectively and productively; troubleshoot systems and applications; transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies.

Use content-related tools, software, and simulations (e.g., environmental probes, graphing calculators, exploratory environments, Web tools, concept mapping software) to support learning and research. 

Apply productivity/multimedia tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, group collaboration, and learning throughout the curriculum. *(1,4)

Demonstrate the text editing features of a word processing programs.

Demonstrate the special formatting features (e.g., borders, shading, centering, justification) of a word processing program).

Use advanced text formatting and layout styles to produce a document.

Construct a simple spreadsheet.

Plot and use different types of charts and graphs.

Identify and define basic database terms.

Classify collected data and construct a simple database.

Incorporate a variety of file types to create and illustrate a document or presentation.

Describe the various applications of productivity software programs.

Design, develop, publish, and present products (e.g., Web pages, videotapes) using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate curriculum concepts to audiences inside and outside the classroom. *(2,3,4)

Collaborate with peers, experts and others using telecommunications and collaborative tools (e.g. online learning) to investigate multicultural curriculum related problems, issues and information and to develop solutions or products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. *(2,3)

Demonstrate efficient Internet navigation.

 Demonstrate the ability to refine search results.

Use data collection technology, and simulations (e.g., environmental probes, hand held devices, GPS’ graphing calculators,) to gather, view, analyze, and report results.

Design, develop, publish, and present products (e.g., Web pages, videotapes) using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate curriculum concepts to audiences inside and outside the classroom. *(2,3,4)

Collaborate with peers, experts, and others using telecommunications and collaborative tools to investigate curriculum-related problems, issues, and information, and to develop solutions or products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. *(2,3)

Research and evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and bias of electronic information sources concerning real-world problems. *(3,4,5)

Use digital tools and resources to gather data, examine patterns, and apply information for decision making. *(3,4)

Apply productivity/multimedia tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, group collaboration and learning throughout the curriculum. *(1,4)

Design, develop, publish, and present products (e.g., Web pages, videotapes) using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate curriculum concepts to audiences inside and outside the classroom. *(2,3,4)

Demonstrate an understanding of concepts underlying hardware, software, and connectivity, and of practical applications to learning and problem solving. *(4,6)

Research and evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, timeliness, comprehensiveness, and bias of electronic information sources concerning real-world problems. *(3,4,5)

Use digital tools and resources to gather data, examine patterns, and apply information for decision making. *(3,4)

Demonstrate knowledge of current changes in information technologies and the effect those changes have on the workplace and society.

Demonstrate knowledge of current changes in information technologies and the effect those changes have on the workplace and society.

Research and evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, timeliness, comprehensiveness, and bias of electronic information sources concerning real-world problems. *(3,4,5)

Exhibit ethical behaviors when using copyright materials.

Independently develop and apply strategies for identifying and solving routine hardware and software problems that occur during everyday use.

Demonstrate an understanding of concepts underlying hardware, software, and connectivity; also practical applications to learning and problem solving. *(4,6)

Demonstrate touch keyboarding skills at acceptable speed and accuracy levels (25-35 wpm).

Organize and backup files on a computer hard drive, storage, medium, or server.

Identify and define computer networking terms.

 Describe the operating and file management software of a computer (e.g., desktop, file, window, folder, directory, pull- down menu, dialog box, etc.).

 Use a graphics program to create or modify detail to an image or picture.

Know and use maintenance procedures for available equipment.