The Pre-K TEKS for technology are not divided into domains like the other Technology Application TEKS because they are not as detailed. They simply lay the groundwork for what the students will need to be familiar with as they enter the higher grades. Here the students begin to get familiar with the computer's main parts and learn the simple terminology like keyboard and mouse. At this stage they are generally not required to produce their own output from using technology as their technology use is mostly to provide feedback on what they are learning.
Students also learn how to select the appropriate program for what they wish to learn and then are taught the basics like how to start the program, how to navigate through the program and how to safely exit the program once they are finished with it. The use of age appropriate technology makes learning fun for the students and is easy to integrate into daily classroom activities.
Scaffolding and spiraling curricula are simply those that take one skill and build upon it in varying degrees as the student progresses. This is essential because it ensures that the student does not lose the skill due to lack of use, but it also forces the student to stretch his or her ability more and more as time goes by.
An example of a scaffolding or spiraling curriculum might read as follows:
In grades K-2 the student is expected to "use a variety of input devices such as mouse, keyboard, disk drive, modem, voice/sound recorder, scanner, digital video, CD-ROM, or touch screen" (§126.2. Technology Applications, Kindergarten-Grade 2. b,2,A) At this level the student uses these devices to access learning but is not required to produce any output that they have created.
In grades 3-5 the TEKS are the same but the student is expected to use these devices with greater proficiency. In middle school the student is expected to " demonstrate proficiency in the use of a variety of input devices such as mouse/track pad, keyboard, microphone, digital camera, printer, scanner, disk/disc, modem, CD-ROM, or joystick;" (§126.12. Technology Applications (Computer Literacy), Grades 6-8. b, 2, A) At this stage students need to show proficiency in the devices from the lower grades as well as move on to other devices that require greater dexterity and finesse.
At the high school level this TEK has morphed into the student will "demonstrate proficiency in the use of a variety of input devices such as keyboard, scanner, voice/sound recorder, mouse, touch screen, or digital video by appropriately incorporating such components into the product;" (§126.22. Computer Science I/ b,2,A) for example. At this stage the manipulation of input devices must be a part of the output of the student for the product being used.
No comments:
Post a Comment