Computers: Business and Technology Education
Sylvester Middle School
Instructor: Mr. Chase
We have three courses that are being offered:
Business & Technology Education 1 – “The Computer As A Career Tool”
Business & Technology Education 2 - “Advanced Technology & Student Aide”
Business & Technology Education 3 - “School Technology Intern”
The following is a brief course description of what is taught:
1) Business & Technology Education 1 – “The Computer As A
Career Tool”
General Computer Knowledge & Windows Operating Systems
Computer and its Parts - “Computer Basics"
Computer Operating Systems -Tour of Windows XP - They will tour the Windows XP
operating systems. (Optional Extended Study) Tour of Windows 98 or ME - They will
take other windows operating tours.
Work Philosophies & Ethics
"Ethics of Computer Usage"
Inspiration – Web Mapping writing tool - Using Inspiration Software for organizing
information and pre-writes
Keyboarding (Qwerty) -5 days minimum – Proper Keyboarding Practice -Goal 35 WPM
Computer As A Business Tool
Word Processing – They will complete at least 5 pages of typing for class work or for other
classes.
Databases - Create address databases learn to sort them by one or more of the fields
Spreadsheets - Create spreadsheets of a Purchase Order, using a budget # and constraints for a
budget amount and number of items to purchase.
Multimedia Graphics:
Flatbed Scanner - Scan an object/picture and then incorporate it into a document or
change the image.
Electronic Photography - They will learn how to take electronic photographs using
an electronic Camera and put it into an application program of your choice (Word,
Power Point, and Publisher).
How to use the Internet for Research
Desk-Top Publishing (Using Microsoft Publisher) - Create a School Newspaper, poster, sign,
card, bookmark, business card, etc by using MS Publisher
Graphing & Charts using MS Excel
Power Point Communication Projects & Animation
Graphics
Paint Shop Pro & Animation Shop, Microsoft Paint, Kid Pix, Macromedia Fireworks,
Photo Morph, & Beginning Macromedia Flash Designs.
Learning about and how to use Digital Cameras and Scanners
Transportation
Work with software that deals with issues in transportation: Flight Simulators, Car
Builder and Truck Builder software, & Locomotion software.
Car Builder – Build a “Car” from scratch. And test its efficiency: gas mileage, speed,
safety.
Truck Builder – Build a “Truck” from scratch. And test its efficiency: gas mileage,
speed, safety.
Build CO2 cars, build wind or solar or mouse trap cars.
Aviation & Flight
Learn the principles of Flight and Aviation. Learn to fly airplanes from one place to
another. Take-off, fly and land the planes using a flight simulator.
Build Balsa Wood/paper gliders and planes (10 varieties to choose from.)
Architect & Building Structures
Learn to build structures like Bridges and test their strength and earthquake soundness.
Build and test Balsa Wood bridges. Build and test bridges using West Pont Bridge
Builder bridges on the computer.
Learn how to build houses from the design stage. Build and print Architect Design
drawings of houses.
Career Exploration - Explore career choices using CareerCruising.com.
Rockets Exploration
Explore the principals and physics of rockets: looking especially at the forces that act on
rockets. Build 4 paper rockets and fire them recording distance and angles. Explore
the ideas of Manufacturing.
Real Life Simulation & Exploration
Sim City 3000, Deep Sea & Moon Tycoon, Mall & School Tycoon, Oregon Trail. Explore
these real life scenarios. Learn to budget and manage money, time and resources.
2) Business & Technology Education 2 - “Advanced
Technology & Student Aide”
In this class, the students will study (at an intermediate level) the Business & Computer
Technology 1 – “The Computer As A Career Tool” class content. The students reinforce the
basics tools they have previously learned with projects that connect to their other classes. For
example, if studying Transportation, one could build a CO2, wind, solar or mouse trap cars.
They will also assist Mr. Chase as an aide (learning Leadership & Peer Support strategies) to the
other students in the class. So, they will be helping teach the Business & Computer Technology 1
class.
They will also have the opportunity to explore other technology content. Below is a sample list of
the content that they may explore:
The opportunity to learn new software that could include Web Design software like Dream
Weaver and Video Design software like Sony’s Vegas Pro.
The opportunity to explore Digital Photography and Video Production.
The opportunity to explore Systems that include Robotics, Motors and Gears.
The opportunity to learn the Tools (power & hand) to make woods and plastic projects that
are also made during Shop Club.
o Bread boards, Wood burnings, Pens, Signs, Towel, pen and plant holders, etc.
o Clip boards, Memory & Flower cubes, Pen holders.
3) Business & Technology Education 3 - “School Technology Intern”
In this class, the students will study a variety of Technology & Business education ideas. They are
listed below. They will also act as school technology interns, which means they will be
helping Sylvester staff and their fellow Sylvester students with technology needs and
training. The students are graded more on how much they learn and how they are
responsible in the situation below, rather than what they learn. Below is a list of the many
things they will be learning. There is room for growth in all these areas.
10% Learn Microsoft XP Workstation
5% Public Relations for Computer Hardware/Software Repair Technician – Customer Care –
Communication Skills
5% Teach Staff & students how to use software and hardware
15% Thinking, Problem Solving, Being Responsible
10% Computer Software Installation and Trouble Shooting for XP work stations
15% Computer Hardware Installation and Trouble Shooting for XP work stations
5% Networking Basics – Microsoft 2003 Network using Windows XP work stations
5% PA Systems (running and setup)
5% Digital Video & Photography: Production, filming, scripting, editing, creating.
5% Systems – Basic Robotics & Gears
5% Beginning/Basic Electronics
15% Beginning Web Page Design
Alternative Studies:
Intermediate Web Page Design, Beginning Data Base Applications.