Syllabus

toc =Required Materials=
 * Notebook
 * Reliable regular computer access outside of class (ARC passes available)

=Classroom Policies=

Grade breakdown
Participation (in class & online) - 20% Homework - 20% Weekly Knowledge and skills Quiz - 20% Tests & Projects - 20% Final Exam - 20%

Grading Policies

 * All major and minor assessments will be posted on the class website.
 * All students have a one time 'the computer didn't work' pass on an assessment (not including tests or projects).
 * Late work looses 20% per day it is late

Attendance
Attendance is critical for engagement in this class. Arriving more than five minutes late or unprepared is 1/4 of an absence (tardy). Due to the digital nature of this class it is imperative that students follow the highest standards of academic honesty. Inappropriate citing of another person's work will result in the failure of the assignment and judicial action.

=Course Plan=

Unit 1 - A Vision of Students Today
This unit will provide an introduction to basic concepts to be introduced in this course. Students will become versatile with classroom management tools and gain an understanding of the context in which we will operate.
 * One Week**

Knowledge introduced: Skills introduced: Assessments:
 * History of information
 * History of the internet
 * OSX review
 * FirstClass
 * Classroom management website
 * Weekly knowledge and skills quiz
 * Setup account and home page on course management website
 * Online response to thought question and video

Unit 2 - Shift Happens
This unit will provide the core cross platform skills we will need to function effectively during the rest of the course.
 * One Week**

Knowledge introduced: Skills introduced: Assessments:
 * Password management
 * Getting help (tech help desk, help files, help forums)
 * Parts and function of the computer
 * File management
 * Troubleshooting (printing, flash drives, communication, problem solving tactics)
 * Weekly knowledge and skills quiz
 * Online response to thought question and video

Unit 3 - Puzzles vs. Mysteries
In this unit students will be exposed to the three main elements of Microsoft Office: Word, Excel and PowerPoint as they explore the differences between puzzles and mysteries. Using a deductive process students will attempt to solve a classic puzzle and will present their findings in writing, statistics and in a presentation.
 * Two Weeks**

Knowledge introduced: Skills introduced Assessments:
 * The difference between puzzles and mysteries and the significance for the information age.
 * Basics of Word, Excel, PowerPoint
 * Google Docs
 * Weekly knowledge and skills quiz
 * Online response to thought question
 * One page paper
 * 5 slide presentation

Unit 4 - This I Believe
In this unit students will reflect on their personal values and the values of their parents and grand parents. They will plan and record an audio podcast based on the National Public Radio series, "This I believe."
 * Two Weeks**

Knowledge introduced: Skills introduced:
 * Reflection and dialog on personal values both in context of technology and outside of this context.
 * Use of wiki to manage group project
 * GarageBand: recording, editing and exporting
 * iTunes

Assessments:
 * Weekly knowledge and skills quiz
 * Online response to thought question and video
 * Rough draft of podcast project
 * Final draft of project

Unit 5 - The Machine is Us/ing Us
In this unit students will explore the internet including search, web 2.0 and internet safety.
 * Two Weeks**

Knowledge introduced: Skills introduced: Assessments:
 * Web 1.0 vs. 2.0
 * Review password management
 * Internet safety
 * Search
 * Positive social networking
 * Weekly knowledge and skills quiz
 * Online response to thought question and video