Further assistance can be received through your Technology Coach.

Standard & Rubric by Grade Level

 A word about Technology Knowledge and Skills

Our Educational System Must Produce Technology Capable Kids

Technology now permeates all aspects of our world, playing a central role in how we live, learn, and work. To be successful in an increasingly complex and information-rich society, all students must be able to use technology effectively. Within an effective educational setting, technology can enable students to become:

·         Capable information technology users

·         Information seekers, analyzers, and evaluators

·         Problem solvers and decision makers

·         Creative and effective users of productivity tools

·         Communicators, collaborators, publishers, and producers

·         Informed, responsible, and contributing citizens

All Children Must Be Ready for a Different World

Our parents want it
Parents want their children to graduate with skills that prepare them to either get a job in today's marketplace or advance to higher levels of education and training. Particularly in our own community, parents expect schools to help close the existing technology gap.

Our employers want it
Not only do employers want to hire workers who are honest, literate, and able to reason, communicate, and make independent decisions, they also demand workers to be discriminate users of powerful technology tools to effectively accomplish given tasks.

Our communities want it
Communities want schools to prepare their children to become good citizens and productive members of society in an increasingly technological and information-based world.

Our nation wants it
The Education Act of 2001, No Child Left Behind, recognizes the essential role technology plays in 21st century education and mandates that all children develop the necessary technology knowledge and skills to become successful global citizens.

… AND MOST OF ALL . . . OUR KIDS NEED IT

Additional information on research and application can be found National Educational Technology Standards Project (http://cnets.iste.org/intro.html).

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Technology Standards & Rubrics

These rubrics address two main areas of technology: Ethical Use, which covers the personal and social aspects of using technology appropriately and General Knowledge & Skills, which encompass the mechanical aspects of using the technology. For example, judging students’ ability to properly punctuate sentences is a Language Arts standard, but technically knowing how to use a keyboard to produce capitals or punctuation symbols is a Technology standard.

Standards at a Glance

ALL students will …

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Curriculum Integration Approach

Only when a technology skill is first introduced do we consider it a separate curriculum, much like learning how to hold a pencil or write in cursive. Each technology skill is an important "ends" to the "means" of academic success. At this level, some classroom time must be devoted to explain the technology concept and model the application.

However, research suggests that the most effective approach to learning technology skills is in the context of everyday classroom content. When possible, technology experiences should be embedded in academic standards-based activities. Factors to consider are the level of student access to computers, the close connection between the technology skill and the academic standard, and the amount of preparation required.

Assessment Method

Student technology skills outlined in grades K-2 are measured by teacher observation. As students have opportunities to use technology during everyday classroom activities, the teacher need only observe the students’ actions and behaviors and use the rubrics below to determine the level of proficiency.

In grades 3-6, student work that is produced from the computer activity is compared to exemplars to determine the level of proficiency. These exemplars can be found on the district Web site (http://visalia.k12.ca.us/techcoach/sbrc/).

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Teacher Resources

The Visalia Learning Center provides computer posters and keyboard charts to decorate a computer center. Student handouts, lesson guides, and a bank of sample activities related to each technology standard can be downloaded from the Techcoach Website (http://visalia.k12.ca.us/techcoach/sbrc/).

Proven Classroom Strategies

Modeling … The most promising strategy for learning technology skills is modeling. Posters, charts, or signal converters that connect computers to TVs can be useful visual aides to model with.

Contextual Practice … Activities that regularly connect technology skills with academic standards save classroom time and re-enforce the idea that technology is a learning tool.

Peer Coaching … Teaching class "experts" during recess or before/after school can help spread the skill to fellow students and free up teaching time.

Computer Buddies … Paring students on the computer takes advantage of shared learning and cuts down on repeating teacher instructions.

Authentic Assessment … For the first time in civilization, the younger generation is more adept at something so central to society. Encourage students to use adult tools to solve real-world problems performed before an authentic audience. In this combination, student achievement soars.

Computer Centers … Post computer rules and colorful signage near the computer center. Include a computer schedule and specific tasks to be completed. In this strategy, however, be mindful that technology is best used not as an event but as a natural "tool of choice" to advance a personal learning task.

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Technology Support Systems

The Visalia Unified School District is committed to helping all teachers succeed with the challenge of teaching technology standards. Support systems include:

Technology coaching services … The Visalia Unified School District employs four technology coaches. This service focuses on mentoring effective applications of technology tools in classroom practice. The coaches' role includes classroom modeling of technology-rich standards-based learning activities, just-in-time teacher support, and curriculum and assessment design.

Hardware & software support services … In addition to pedagogical assistance, the district has built a strong net of technical support. Four fulltime technicians support our K-6 schools on a rotation schedule. This level of support helps to assure that the classroom equipment and school lab is reliable when needed.

Infrastructure … The School District maintains a high-speed filtered Internet connection to all classrooms. This connection provides a safe Internet environment for student work and a reliable e-mail network for teachers.

Computer access level … At a minimum, each classroom has at least one Internet connected computer as well as a number of Internet connected computers in a library/media center. Each school is committed to maintaining a minimum level of computer access.

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Kindergarten

General Technology Knowledge & Skills – Keyboard & Mouse

STANDARD:  ALL students will demonstrate accuracy using a mouse and keyboard to control program features.

Notes: At the kindergarten level, hand-eye coordination is developed through practice. Fun programs like KidPix, Jumpstart, or Kidspiration support academic standards while giving students chances to experience the computer world. Modeling how to press the keys, track the cursor, and click a mouse are important strategies to use. A “Keyboard Chart” may be obtained at the Visalia Learning Center.

Ethical Use – Equipment Care and Rules

STANDARD:  ALL students will practice good care with technology.

Notes: Developing good computer habits start early. Rules for proper care of the equipment may include: use clean hands, take turns, work quietly, follow directions, and ask for help if needed. Posting computer rules by the computer and “catching” students with good behavior are important strategies to use. A “Computer Rules” poster can be obtained from the Visalia Learning Center.

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1st grade

General Technology Knowledge & Skills – Word Processing

STANDARD:  ALL students will operate a word processor to enter and edit text.

Notes: Word processing is a powerful “language sandbox” allowing students to play with words and sentences. The focus of this skill, however, is the mechanics of entering text on the screen, using edit keys to correct mistakes (delete, backspace, arrow keys) and making capital letters or punctuation symbols. Language Arts mechanics such as spelling, punctuation and grammar are to be scored under the Language Arts standards.

Useful activities may include: Typing spelling words, making sentence patterns, and designing number patterns. Examples of appropriate word processing programs include: Kidspiration, and Writing & Publishing Center.

Ethical use – Vocabulary, Equipment Care and Rules

STANDARD:  ALL students will use accurate terms in references to technology.

Notes: Using appropriate technology terms are an important part of computer literacy. The rubric requires knowledge of nine specific words. Posting a “Computer Parts” poster by the computer may a useful strategy. Such a poster can be obtained from the Visalia Learning Center.

Refer to the kindergarten rubric for suggestions on equipment care and rules.

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2nd grade

General Technology Knowledge & Skills – Menus and Graphics

STANDARD:  ALL students will select features from program menus and illustrate writing with well chosen graphics.

Notes: Adding graphics to illustrate a piece of writing is central to how ideas are communicated. This skill requires students to access different features of the program. Modeling various techniques to select program features is a proven teaching strategy. Techniques include using pull-down menus, icons, or keyboard shortcuts. Selecting a graphic that matches the content is also a factor to consider when assessing this skill.

General Technology Knowledge & Skills – File Navigation

STANDARD:  ALL students will be able to save and retrieve a file.

Notes: By second grade, students should be keeping track of their work in a folder or on a disk. Saving and opening a file to a directed folder is the focus of this skill. Training a few classroom “experts” may be a useful strategy to use for this task.

Ethical Use – There is no score to report in the Ethical Use area; however, it is expected that the ethical use areas outlined in kindergarten and first grade would be reinforced by the teacher and practiced by the students.

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3rd grade

 General Technology Knowledge and Skill – Touch Typing

STANDARD:  ALL students will show good typing habits.

Notes: Accuracy and technique are the focus of this skill. Teachers are not expected to teach keyboarding or assess typing speed; however, time should be spent modeling and practicing proper typing technique. Useful student handouts and teacher guides can be found on our Website (http://visalia.k12.ca.us/techcoach/sbrc). A “Keyboard” chart and “Typing Posture” chart can be obtained at the Visalia Learning Center.

General Technology Knowledge and Skill – Publishing

STANDARD:  ALL students will apply good design principles to published documents.

Notes: As students improve their writing skills and extend the length of their compositions, the topic of page layout becomes relevant. Exemplars found on the district Website (http://visalia.k12.ca.us/techcoach/sbrc) can be used to illustrate good design principles.

Ethical Use – There is no score to report in the Ethical Use area; however, it is expected that the ethical use areas outlined in kindergarten and first grade would be reinforced by the teacher and practiced by the students.

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4th grade

General Technology Knowledge and Skill – Internet Browser

STANDARD:  ALL students will skillfully use a browser to navigate to pre-selected websites and extract specific information.

Notes: Information relevance and accuracy are topics assessed in the language arts standards. The focus of this standard is the mechanics of using an Internet browser (Internet Explorer). Modeling how to navigate the Web and training classroom “experts” are effective strategies to use. An Internet Scavenger Hunt can be used to assess this skill (http://visalia.k12.ca.us/techcoach/sbrc/scavenger_hunt.htm).

For students who do not have a signed Internet Use Form granting parent permission to use the Internet, this standard will be supported with off-line browsing activities.

Ethical use – Copyright & Citation

STANDARD:  ALL students will compile accurate bibliographies and respect copyright rules.

Notes: The Website, Citation Machine (http://www.landmark-project.com/citation_machine/cm.php), is a powerful tool students can use to produce an accurate bibliography. A student handout and teaching guide are available on the Techcoach Website (http://visalia.k12.ca.us/techcoach/sbrc/). For the topic of copyright, a student quiz and teacher guide are available on the Techcoach Website (http://visalia.k12.ca.us/techcoach/sbrc/)

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5th grade

 General Technology Knowledge and Skill – Electronic Presentations

STANDARD:  ALL students will apply common PowerPoint features to organize ideas into a multi-slide presentation to a specific audience.

Notes: PowerPoint is the program of choice in Visalia and this skill focuses on understanding how to use the main features of the program. Student exemplars help to illustrate “tasteful layout” and “logical organization”. These exemplars can be found on the district Website (http://visalia.k12.ca.us/techcoach/sbrc/).

Ethical Use – Appropriate Use & Copyright & Citation

STANDARD:  ALL students will show an ethical treatment of information and a disciplined approach to online research.

Notes: It is assumed that the topics of copyright and citation as outlined in the 4^th grade rubric be reinforced and practiced in 5^th grade. The Appropriate Use standard assumes that students are more independent users of the Internet. As such, students need to demonstrate discipline in using this medium. Assessment factors of this standard point to the student’s productivity and originality of work.

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6th grade

General Technology Knowledge and Skill – Data Analysis

STANDARD:  ALL students will apply common Excel features to graph a set of data for a specific audience.

Notes: A spreadsheet is a powerful “math sandbox” for students to play with numbers, variables, and graphs. The focus on this standard is on understanding how to use the graphing features of a spreadsheet. Exemplars can be found on the district Website (http://visalia.k12.ca.us/techcoach/sbrc/).

Ethical Use – Privacy, Appropriate Use, Copyright & Citation

STANDARD:  ALL students will respect the personal work of others.

Notes: It is assumed that the topics of copyright, citation, and appropriate use as outlined in the 4^th and 5^th grade rubrics be reinforced and practiced in 6^th grade. Privacy is added to this standard to reinforce the value of respecting ones work. This standard is also timely as students assemble personal portfolios.

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