Computer Literacy and Technology

Many computer literacy goals are met with the K to the 8th Power curriculum at the sixth grade. These computer literacy goals are met as students work through exercises on a computer. Academic content is reinforced as students go through these activities.

Computer literacy areas covered include applying strategies for identifying and solving simple hardware and software problems, storyboarding ideas for presentations, demonstration of various common application programs such as spreadsheets and word processors, creating and editing digital photographs, creation of multimedia projects, and Internet searching and cataloging.

Academic Content Reinforcement

As students work through the K to the 8th computer labs, they become proficient in objectives outlined in the major achievement tests, including the CAT-5, CTBS-4, ITBS-formK, SAT-10, and the MAT-7. The K to the 8th curriculum groups these academic objectives into a single set of objectives at the sixth grade level.

Click here to view a sample of the academic objectives covered as part of this product.

Linking Technology With Academics

The K to the 8th Power curriculum advantage is the simultaneous linkage of technology with standardized test objectives. A well thought out strategy designed by teachers and technologists is provided to overcome the disparity between classroom academics and computer lab instruction.

Many schools have computer labs and Internet access. Many schools are also under pressure to obtain high marks on state and national examinations and to show continuous improvement in student scores. But most schools do not have curriculum that can be used in computer labs and computer centers that progressively develop student technology skills while supporting national and state testing objectives in the process.

K to the 8th Power is designed to meet this objective, to provide a comprehensive technology program that simultaneously develops student skills needed for state and national exams. Lab directors will have a comprehensive solution that supports classroom curriculum and assists teachers in the preparation for student examinations. Students become proficient in computer technology skills and obtain higher marks on academic tests in the process!

Lesson Plans

Each lesson was designed for use in a computer lab. However, downloadable PDF files can also be printed out for use in the classroom or at home. There are many resources available for each lesson. A lesson typically consists of the following elements:

• An overview of the lesson with guidelines for the lab director and/or teacher
• A web based activity consisting of games, animations, simulations, puzzles, and activities that teach students how to use a computer and technology
• A web based lesson that utilizes technology for understanding one or more standardized test objectives
• A listing of web links to additional resources
• Extended activities for the quick learner or technology savvy student who completes the lesson early
• Assessments for gauging student understanding of specific skills
• A learning management system that automatically tracks student progress through the lesson and assessment
• Lesson plans include a teacher and student evaluation rubric
• A downloadable PDF file for printing out a hardcopy of the lesson
• A lesson map that details how the lesson maps to the objectives of each standard

If you would like a complete list of the lessons provided, please e-mail us and request the Curriculum Guide. You will be e-mailed a PDF file that contains a comprehensive list of the individual lessons by grade and subject with a short description of each lesson.