TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH SKILLS

Chairperson: Mrs. Dianne Pappafotopoulos: dpappa@fontbonneacademy.org
Faculty: Mr. Douglas Anderson: danderson@fontbonneacademy.org

(Note: This course is integrated with the Library and Social Studies Departments. They may have additional expectations for their course of study.)

Technology Department Voicemail: 617-696-3241 x3086

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OVERVIEW:

This course is offered in semester 2 to all ninth graders as an integral part of an interdisciplinary curriculum in conjunction with the Social Studies department and the Library. Internet ethics, copyright standards, web site evaluation, and plagiarism are important components of this course. Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint applications are taught as an overview with integrated tasks. Students learn to construct research strategies and to consult print sources, databases, catalogues and the Internet in order to extract, evaluate, and integrate information. Through effective library as well as Internet research and study skills, the curriculum assists students with writing proper research papers and delivering presentations on a required topic. The class meets four days out of the eight-day cycle.

MATERIALS:

Students are expected to have the following materials by the end of the first week of classes:

· A one-inch binder to hold all handouts and instructions for projects

· Reference book: Learning Microsoft Office 2003

· A means to save data (USB flash drive – at least 128)

RESPONSIBILITY:

Students are responsible to follow all lab rules and abide by Fontbonne Academy’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and Technology Lab Policies as described in the student handbook and on the FBA website.

HOMEWORK/CLASS WORK:

Class work projects will be given with due dates. Students are responsible to pass in any homework/class work assignments that are given on a timely basis. Late assignments will not be accepted without a significant reason, and 10 points will be deducted for every day that an assignment is late. Assignments will not be accepted after 1 school cycle. Absent students must see me for their missed work and have one day to make up assignments unless otherwise directed.

LAB ATTENDANCE:

Students are expected to attend all classes held in the lab. If a student is 10 minutes or later for class, the student is considered absent.

WHEN THE TEACHER IS ABSENT:

When a teacher is absent, a student is still expected to pick up their daily classwork assignment posted on the lab door. This assignment is then due by the end of that day. Since the lab may be locked, your assignments should be passed in to your teacher’s mailbox in the front office.

A grade will be given for the task assigned.

GRADING:

Assessment will be based on daily/weekly projects and assignments completed. Lab/class work will be greatly considered in the grading process, since there is little homework involved. Some tests/quizzes may be given during this course, and mid term and final exams will be alternative assessment projects worth 20% of the grade. All grades will be password protected and posted to the web for parent/student review. Student passwords for the course will be provided within the first few weeks of school.

COURSE RELEVENCE:

By the end of this course, students will feel comfortable using the Microsoft Office applications to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations that integrate any subject area using Internet and Library resources. They will be able to recognize what it means to have ethics online and at the same time, evaluate good and bad web pages. They will have all of the resources and knowledge to create an outline, note cards, bibliography and final research paper that follows the MLA format. Working in a lab environment, students will experience how to gather information and work collaboratively on group projects. In addition, students will become aware of how to use their research skills to obtain data, and fine tune their study skills to create a finished product. It is intended that all students be able to use technology resources to enhance their learning throughout every discipline in their high school curriculum.

Please keep this page for your information and sign and turn in the bottom half of this page by the end of the first week of school.

I understand and will abide by all Classroom Expectations listed for the Technology and Research Skills course.

PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE:_____________________________________ DATE_______

STUDENT SIGNATURE:________________________________________