Welcome to Sentinel high school.

Computers have become an integral part of our lives and, as such, are a valuable tool for our present and future. By improving our input and efficiency on the computer we are able to rapidly increase our computer literacy.

Research findings suggests:

• Keyboarding instruction improves spelling, handwriting, punctuation, grammatical skills, and vocabulary development. (Wood and Freeman 1932, Boles and Jensen 1984, Yuen 1962, Kaake 1983.)
• Acquisition of keyboarding skills makes students more enthusiastic about computer assisted writing. (Daiute et al, 1981.)
• Newly acquired keyboarding techniques and skills should be practiced on an on-going basis or students will experience a dramatic decrease in their skill level. (Warwood et al, 1985)

Student Learning Outcomes:

Keyboarding Skills:

• identify and use letter and number keys
• identify and use punctuation and symbol keys
• identify and use special purpose keys (cursor, ESC, function keys, shift, etc.)
• use proper posture
• use proper keystroking technique
• use proper return key technique
• use home row keys
• use alphabetic keys
• use punctuation keys
• type words
• type phrases
• type sentences
• type paragraphs
• type compositions

General Computer Skills:

• identify the parts and functions of a computer
• use appropriate terms when using or talking about computers
• demonstrate proper care and handling of hardware and software
• use a prepared program that has been previously loaded
• turn on a computer, insert a disk, and load a program
• stop and restart a program
• act on simple error message
• read and apply the documentation of a prepared program

Word Processing Skills:

• load a word processing program
• create a file
• enter writing (story, poem, document, words, etc.)
• save a file
• retrieve a file
• edit a file using a basic technique
• print a file
• clear a workspace
• use advanced editing techniques (block moves, search and replace, etc.)
• use a spell / grammar checker

Here is how you will be graded in this course. This is subject to change without notice.

Production - 30%
Technique (Eyes / Hands / Posture) - 20%
Goal 1 - 7 wpm (Term 1 - September 22, 2000 / Term 2 - January 11, 2001 / Term 3 - April 6, 2001) - 10%
Goal 2 - 10 wpm (Term 1 - October 5, 2000 / Term 2 - January 19, 2001 / Term 3 - April 24, 2001) - 10%
Goal 3 - 15 wpm (Term 1 - October 19, 2000 / Term 2 - February 2, 2001 / Term 3 - May 4, 2001) - 10%
Goal 4 - 20 wpm (Term 1 - November 2, 2000 / Term 2 - February 16, 2001 / Term 3 - May 18, 2001) - 10%
Goal 5- 25 wpm (Term 1 - November 16, 2000 / Term 2 - March 2, 2001 / Term 3 - June 1, 2001) - 10%

Total - 100%