GCS Technology Services - Instructional Technology

Instructional Technology
Revised Computer Skills Curriculum

In August 1995, the North Carolina Board of Education established a computer proficiency requirement, to begin with the Class of 2001. The goal of the requirement is to ensure that no student exits North Carolina high schools without sufficient computer skills.

Students must demonstrate mastery of computer skills to receive a high school diploma. Achievement on both a multiple-choice and a performance test will be used as evidence of mastery. The first opportunity students have to take the test is in the eighth grade.

The requirement is based on the K-12 Computer Skills Curriculum as defined in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. The curriculum was revised in May, 1998, and is now more rigorous for all grades. A multimedia strand has been added, and all skills are introduced in lower grades. For example:

Revised Computer Skills Curriculum – Emphasis by Grade

Grade 2 Focus

Using electronic databases to locate information
Building word processing skills
Exploring multimedia (graphics, sound, text)

Grade 4 Focus

Using spreadsheets
Locating and evaluating information found through telecommunications
Exploring email

Grade 7 Focus

Using spreadsheet functions to solve problems related to content areas
Selecting and using technology to collect, analyze and display data
Using a variety of tools to develop projects related to content areas

Aligned Technology Curriculum with Standard Course of Study

In an effort to better integrate technology with the standard curriculum, we have identified skills and activities that can easily be taught in different grades and courses. Those lessons have been compiled into Activity Guides. The guides are available to all teachers and are used as a basis for various workshops. Many of these activities use word processing, spreadsheet and database applications that also teach skills needed by students for the Computer Skills Test.

Instructional Technology Facilitators

Certified employees assigned to school sites to work with instructional applications are called Instructional Technology Facilitators. Their primary function is to facilitate the use of technology in the classroom and in our computer labs. They share the responsibility of preparing our students for the Computer Skills Test and for providing the training required for staff renewal credits in technology.

Currently, Guilford County Schools employs nine Instructional Technology Facilitators. These teachers work with teachers in our 18 middle schools to teach computer skills and prepare students for the Computer Skills Test.

Standard Software

In keeping with the content and philosophies of the NC Standard Course of Study, technology is placed in schools not only to support learning computer skills but also to provide activities that support and enhance the curriculum. Standardized age-appropriate software is purchased that enables teachers at different grade levels to focus on specific areas of the curriculum or on different skills such as reading, writing, keyboarding, and information skills.

Grade Level	Curriculum Goal	Technology Support
K-3^rd Grade	Reading	WiggleWorks Reader Rabbit Interactive Reading Journey
2^nd-5^th Grade	Keyboarding	UltraKeys
2nd-8^th Grade	Information skills	Internet access
2^nd-8^th Grade	Collaborative Learning, Presentation & Research	Kid Pix HyperStudio MS Office – PowerPoint

3^rd-8^th Grade	Writing	MS Works – Word Processing
3^rd-8^th Grade	Problem-solving	MathKeys MS Works – Spreadsheets
6^th-8^th Grade	Analyzing data	MS Works – Databases
6^th-8^th Grade	Information skills	ePAL SchoolMail

Online Resources

In the Resources Section of this web site, you will find a sub-section entitled Web Sites for Students. This section provides resources to assist students with curricular activities and homework. Appropriate web sites may be selected by grade level or subject area. Project-based learning activities for all grade levels can be found in WebQuests which are accessible from the same section.

Also found in this section is Web Sites for Teachers. There you will find valuable web sites for curriculum resources, lesson plans, help with computer skills and Internet sites. This section also provides links to state-sponsored web resources such as Kaleidoscope, LearnNC and NCWiseOwl.

Another GCS online resource for teachers is the ACT Project. ACT: Activity, Curriculum, and Technology Project is a joint effort by the technology and curriculum departments to provide lesson plans for teachers. These lesson plans focus on effective ways to teach the curriculum objectives in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.

NovaNet

NovaNet is a computer-based online learning system. More than 10,000 hours of self-paced lessons in subjects aligned with the NC curriculum are available. The high schools currently use this software in a variety of ways including Guided Studies, after-school programs, Saturday School, NC Competency Test preparation, homebound student instruction and credit recovery. View this PowerPoint presentation (PowerPoint or PDF) to learn more about NovaNet.

NC Information Highway

Guilford County was the first county in the state to connect all of its high schools to the NC Information Highway. The classrooms are used for staff training, special events and to offer classes such as Sports Medicine, Latin, and Japanese that may otherwise be unavailable because of small enrollments.