Week 1 Assignment Part 4

Week 1 Assignment Part 4
Technology Applications TEKS Summary

A spiraling or scaffolding curriculum, such as the Technology Applications, builds on skills that are previously learned. Students start out with basic skills, such as keyboarding proficiency, which must be taught in order to complete the other technology tasks, such as project creation. By repeatedly using the basic skills that are taught under the Foundations domain, students become better over time until they finally master each one. Through the other three Technology Applications domains, students are given numerous opportunities to practice the Foundation skills. The spiraling curriculum allows students to achieve technology knowledge and skills by building on previously learned skills. Students are more likely to be successful and less likely to get frustrated when they build a little at a time, as opposed to being bombarded by information or going out of order. Also, by building on previously learned skills, students already possess the needed skills and knowledge to master the next level of TEKS. The Foundation domain gives students basic skills that then open up into more advanced technological skills. Since the curriculum is also dynamic, it is ever-changing to meet the needs of the students as technology changes.

What students learn in Pre-Kindergarten is a perfect example of how the Technology Applications curriculum builds upon itself. The Pre-K curriculum teaches students the basics of computers, including the names of the input devices (mouse, keyboard, etc.). In addition to the standard input devices, students must also properly work a touch screen, CD-ROM and audio recorders, which help learners with various learning styles. When students are aware of what the equipment is called and the functions they serve, they can then understand how to use them properly. Students also must be able to open and navigate age-appropriate software. This will help them later in the technology learning because most software programs have a lot of the same buttons, such as save, open, and close. Students should also be able to create their own projects in these software programs. By the end of the Pre-K year, students should be able to locate information and gain knowledge by using technology. This curriculum helps students to become aware of the parts of the computer and allows them to become familiar with the basic aspects of the operating system. By doing this early on, we give them the technological foundation to build upon each year.