Here’s what we’ve been doing in computer class lately!
Kindergarten - We’ve been learning how to log in, start a program (like Tux Paint), create a drawing, save it, close the program, and shut down our computer. We know what it means to double-click on something, and we’ve just learned how to navigate the globe in Google Earth.
Grade 1 - We’ve spent a lot of time this year with Microsoft Word. By now, we are able to start the program, choose a font and color for our text, and type sentences in proper case using the Shift key. We know how to fix our mistakes, and move the cursor with our keyboard or our mouse. We’re just now starting to learn our home keys on the keyboard.
Grade 2 - We know how to sit properly when typing at a computer, we’re starting to memorize our home keys, and we’re getting to know Paws in Typing Town very well! Earlier in the year, we spent a lot of time learning the proper names for things on our screen: windows, title bars, tool bars, the taskbar, the Start menu, the desktop, icons and more! We know how to maximize, minimize, restore, move and resize windows.
Grade 3 - We are now experts in Microsoft PowerPoint! We can create presentations, choose designs and transitions for our slides, add bullet points and graphics, and give presentations to the class. We’ve worked on summarizing information for our slides, and practised giving presentations to the class. We use PowerPoint to enhance oral presentations, not replace them! We know we need to face our audience, speak confidently and fluently without just reading bullet points from our slides, and make sure that our slides don’t distract from what we have to say. Now we’re developing our touch typing speed along with Paws in Typing Town, and starting to look up while we type, trusting our fingers to find the keys on their own!
Grade 4 - We’ve continued working on our touch typing prowess, looking up as much as possible, moving on to Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing as we graduate from Paws. We have also been getting started on creating spreadsheets with Microsoft Excel. We’ve learned the terminology of rows, columns and cells, and added data to spreadsheets. We used AutoSum to add a column of numbers, and learned the basics of formulas using cell references. We recently used Excel to create column and pie charts representing the fat content of fast food, helping illustrate what Coach Claire has been telling us all along!
Grade 5/6 - We are learning all about operating systems. We’ve learned that operating systems are responsible for communicating with computer hardware, and know some of the differences between Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and Linux. We have enjoyed learning how to install and use Ubuntu Linux on the computers in the lab. Earlier this year we learned the fundamentals of computer programming, including loops, conditional statements and variables, using the easy and fun Scratch environment. We’ve talked about the history of the internet, and learned a little bit of HTML.
Many of these programs are available for use at home. Tux Paint, Scratch, and Ubuntu Linux are available for free! While Paws in Typing Town is relatively expensive, the far more affordable Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing works very well, too. And practising correct typing posture and using home keys can be done in any program, for free!
