Grade 8 - Foundations

PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

• identify information technology tools used to access information
• protect information using information technology tools
• enter information accurately using appropriate keyboarding techniques and software that allows for the storage, retrieval, and editing of material
• demonstrate the ability to formulate questions and to use a variety of sources and tools to access, capture, and store information
• use appropriate information technology terminology
• evaluate a variety of input and output devices
• demonstrate the ability to install software
• describe and practise appropriate safety procedures when working with information technology tools
• apply a variety of troubleshooting techniques related to information technology
• demonstrate an awareness of the impact of information technology tools on society
• identify careers and occupations that use information technology

To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Foundations in other grades click on an icon below.

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

• While creating reports or documents in English, social studies, or math, have students review and practise keyboarding techniques (e.g., home-row placement, finger placement and reaches, correct posture, eyes-on-copy).
• When they are working on a research project or studying a specific topic, ask students to formulate several questions and then use a variety of information technology tools and correct keyboarding techniques to gather, capture, and store information to answer the questions. (For example, have students create a Middle Ages newspaper in social studies, a report on endangered species in science, or a chart or graph on careers in the career and personal planning program.)
• In business education or English, discuss with the class the role of passwords in the use of community-learning-network (CLN) accounts or bank ATM cards. Challenge students to explain why these systems are used. Discuss with the class the ethical issues involved in the use of passwords.
• Ask students to work in groups, with each to create a chart of information technology careers. Have them list occupational areas (e.g., telecommunications, the film or graphics industries) at the top of each chart and the employment fields in each area (e.g., research, design, repair, finance) at the side of each chart. Encourage students to discover and add to the list of occupational areas using electronic resources (e.g., the Internet, CD-ROMs).
• Ask each student in the class to install a program, ensure that it is operational, and determine the appropriate input and output devices.

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

• After students have practised installing software, ask each to install a different program. Observe the extent to which they are able to:
  • follow verbal, written, and on-screen instructions
  • refer to technical manuals for clarification
  • try alternative methods if they run into problems
  • run the newly installed program to ensure that it works
  • place the program in the correct folder or directory on the desktop
• Observe students practising their keyboarding skills and note the extent to which they:
  • display correct posture (e.g., feet on the floor, back straight, correct hand and arm placement, appropriate proximity to the keyboard) to comply with ergonomic standards
  • keep their eyes on the copy
  • use home-row keys correctly
  • use accurate key reaches, key combinations, and shift key
  • use punctuation keys correctly
• Have students demonstrate their troubleshooting skills on a system that has been disabled. As students work through the troubleshooting process, have them complete learning logs to explain their thinking. Provide students with prompts such as:
  • What did you do first?
  • Why did you choose to try that solution?
  • Was it successful?
  • Where or how did you find helpful suggestions?
  • What would you do differently next time?

RECOMMENDED LEARNING RESOURCES

• All About Computers
• Communicating With Computers
• Computers: A Visual Encyclopedia
• Computers Illustrated
• How the Internet Works
• How to Use THE INTERNET
• How Virtual Reality Works
• The Internet by E-Mail
• Microsoft Press Computer Dictionary: The Comprehensive Standard for Business, School, Library and Home, Second Edition
• More Data Processing Applications
• Que's 1996 Computer & Internet Dictionary, 6th Edition
• The Technological Classroom

• Highway to Cyberia
• The Paperback Computer

• All the Right Type
• The Cruncher
• Digital Chisel
• Graph Links
• Looking Ahead: Earning, Spending, Saving
• UltraKey

• PC/Computing: How Computers Work

Previous Page Next Organizer

  BC Ministry of Education Home Page