Philosophy
Our elementary aged children are growing up in a technological world. It is an age of information and knowledge explosion. It is an age of computers in every home, if not in every room of the house. It is an age where young people more than ever need to be discerning about what information and knowledge is available (particularly, but not limited to) in the Internet and how this information challenges and relates to a biblical world view.

Our young people need to be equipped to use technology well and this begins with accurate and speedy keyboard technique, followed by basic word processing and design skills. In this Elementary Computer course we seek to equip the students with hands on skills in basic computing and the skills and judgment to make good and appropriate design choices in the production of a variety of tasks.

Technology acquisition, having “the latest and the greatest”, is often subconsciously given a higher value than people. Our young people need to be able to distinguish between the created, which is of limited value and only lasts for a short time, and the Creator, who is to be worshiped above all, and is eternal. They need to know that people are made in God’s image, fearfully and wonderfully made and are of infinite more value than any technology that can be made by man’s wisdom and skill. Our students need to see that God placed such a high value on their lives that He purchased them back for himself with the payment of His Son’s life and they need to respond to Him. Both co-operative and independent learning are encouraged.

Through the content of the daily tasks in class, we seek to bring the children’s attention to different themes, stories and promises from Scripture, and to see God around them in their daily life at school. T In all that is produced, world views other than a biblical one will be challenged and we will seek to glorify God. The levels of the course have been designed to be age and grade appropriate.

In all that is produced, world views other than a biblical one will be challenged and we will seek to glorify God.

Course Objectives

  • Students will learn how to basic keyboarding skills, including how to touch type, and build up speed and accuracy, appropriate to their age and grade level.
  • Students will learn basic word processing skills (using OpenOffice.org Writer, Draw and Calc)
  • Students in Grade 5 and 6 will be introduced to how to effectively use search engines on the Internet and in particular of the need to be discerning about the content of material they may find.

Textbooks
None.

Materials

  • Learning the Keyboard cards.
  • Speed Drills
  • Computer Skills Sheets
  • Straight Copy Tests
  • The Internet
  • Content of their classroom assignments.
  • OpenOffice.org Writer, OpenOffice.org Draw, OpenOffice.org Impress

Time Allotment
50 minutes per day, 1 day a week

Course Content

  • Students will learn basic mouse skills by copying basic shapes from Draw.
  • Students will learn to save their work into their own folder on the computer.
  • Students will learn to Open, and Print a Document.
  • Students will begin to learn the keyboard (alphabet and punctuation), with an emphasis on correct fingering.
  • Students will learn how to select A5 paper in landscape and add a border to their page.
  • Students will learn to cut and paste within a document and from one document to another.
  • Students will be introduced to Fontwork Gallery and later in the year learn more advanced features.
  • Students will be introduced to Clip Art and will learn how to copy and paste clip art into their document and effectively use white space around it to display the clip art.
  • Students will produce A4 pages with a border, Fontwork gallery, clip art and text on topics studied in class where possible or from a theme given by the teacher.
  • Once the whole keyboard has been covered, students will consolidate their keyboard fingering skills and build up speed.

Evaluation
Elementary Students are not given a percentage grade in the reporting system.