Internet Safety and Ethics

• Learn reasons that people put false or misleading information on the internet.
• Learn criteria for differentiating fake news from credible news.
• Practice evaluating the credibility of information they find on the internet.
• Define the terms “copyright,” “public domain,” and “fair use.”
• Identify the purpose of the Four Factors of Fair Use.
• Apply fair use to real-world examples, making a case for or against.

Using the Internet to Locate Information

• Identify and use web terminology (WWW, Web Browser, Internet, Web Page, Address Bar, Hyperlinks, Navigation Buttons, Search Bar, Bookmarks/Favorites, Tab, Downloading, Plug-ins).
• Compare and contrast the types of Internet domains (e.g., .com, .org, .edu, .gov, .net.mil).
• Demonstrate proficiency using various web tools (e.g., downloading of files, transfer of files, PDF).
• Properly cite Internet sources used to obtain information for a research project.

Appropriate Use of Email

• Identify components of an email message.
• Explain the format of an email address (i.e., user name, @ symbol, domain).
• Attach a file to an email message.
• Reply to and forward an email message to one or more addressees.
• Identify the appropriate use of email and demonstrate related email etiquette.
• Perform email organization and cleanup (e.g., trash, flags, create folders).

Using Word Processing Software

• Define the term “cloud computing,” and explain benefits of creating and storing word-processing documents online.
• List and describe common word processor interface tools and features.
• Identify common keyboard shortcuts used in word processors, and explain the benefits of using shortcuts.
• Format the page setup of a document, including margins, line spacing, indents, headers vs. footers, orientation.
• Explain printing options in a word processor, including shrink-to-fit, 2-sided printing, and document orientation.
• Copy, paste and move text within a document using mouse, menu and keyboard techniques.
• Copy, paste and move text among multiple documents using mouse, menu and keyboard techniques.
• Modify document view settings to display close-up, single and multiple pages.
• Define the term “format” as it relates to word processing.
• Format text using styles and font tools in a word processor.
• Insert page breaks in a document.
• Create source citations and/or a bibliography in a document.
• Insert a current date and time stamp into a document.
• Use word processor tools to determine the number of pages, words and characters in a document.
• Use spell check, grammar check, thesaurus, and find & replace to edit a document.
• Insert and modify sizing of images in a word-processing document.
• Position an image relative to text in a document, using various text-wrapping options.
• Use word-processing drawing tools to create pre-formatted shapes that enhance a document’s content. Use word-processor drawing tools to create a visual representation of information (e.g. SmartArt), such as diagram, flow chart.
• Apply a column layout to text in a document as appropriate for the content (e.g., article, newsletter).
• Apply simple numbered and bulleted lists in a document to make content easier to read and understand.
• Create a table in a word-processing document, and enter and move data in the table. Convert a body of text into a table structure in a document to make content easier to read and understand.

Using Presentation Software

• Create and/or modify a “slide master” or template to apply a consistent appearance to a presentation.
• Add and format titles, subtitles and talking points in presentation slides.
• Add slide numbers and/or date and time codes to presentation slides.
• Insert and format images/graphics in presentation slides.
• Insert new or duplicate slides in a presentation.
• Modify slide transitions in a presentation to include animation.
• Insert and/or modify sound settings and timing in a presentation.
• Modify the sequence of slides in a presentation.
• Produce a presentation that includes text, graphics and images, and present it.
• Modify a presentation’s setup to repeat (i.e., loop) the presentation continuously.

Using Spreadsheet Software

• Work with the Excel environment.
• Identify the parts of the spreadsheet display, including cells, columns and rows, cell references, cell range
• Insert and format various types of data (text, numeric, date/time) in a spreadsheet cells.
• Resize column width and row height in a spreadsheet.
• Apply shading and borders to a spreadsheet
• Merge and unmerge cells in a spreadsheet.
• Use the auto sum function to calculate the values of multiple cells.
• Insert common functions (SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, MAX, MIN) and simple mathematical formulas which include addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division into a spreadsheet.
• Distinguish between absolute and relative cell references in a spreadsheet.
• Identify various types of charts (e.g., line, bar, pie, scatter) and common chart components (e.g., vertical axis, horizontal axis, legend), and explain when to use each chart type.
• Create a chart from existing data and format the pieces (data set), change the background color, and add appropriate titles and a legend.

This Information & Communications Technology course is designed for middle school and high school students.