De Smet Jesuit High School
Introduction to Computers and Study Skills
1000x-0x+/-
Chris Williams
Phone (314) 567-3500 ext. 453
e-mail:
Homeroom: 316
Available During Activity Period in Room 316
Course Description:
Computer & Study Skills is a 2 semester class that meets every other day. The course focuses on the use of the HP Tablet as an academic tool and we will focus on the skills necessary to be a successful student. Students will learn how to be responsible for their computer and their work along with what it means to be a high school student.
Approach to the Material:
Computer and Study Skills is a required freshman-level class that is designed to introduce the new De Smet student to not only his computer but also the skills required to be a successful high school student. As the name suggests, the class teaches both computing skill and study habits to accomplish this end. Students will be exposed to Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint as necessary pieces of software to create and publish assignments. Students will also learn about note taking, time management and online research as skills to prepare them for their academic careers.
Learning Outcomes:
· Students will take responsibility for moral and ethical computer usage.
· Students will use proper and effective means of technological communication.
· Students will recognize the tablet PC as a tool for learning.
· Students will develop good study habits.
· Students will take responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of their tablet PCs.
· Students will learn personal accountability, cooperative learning, group work, and undertake long-range, experiential projects to enhance their understanding of technology.
· Students will learn the skills necessary to use computer applications as tools for learning.
· Students will recognize useful and reliable online research sources.
· Students will develop keyboarding skills.
· Students will be able to synthesize information from online resources and write a research paper.
Assessment types:
Assessment in Computer and Study Skills will be project-based homework assignments, online quizzes and tests and an exam each semester which will cover that semester’s worth of material.
Learning Materials:
Textbook(s):
None
Other Reading:
None
Course Calendar:
SEE ATTACHED CALENDAR FOR DAILY SCHEDULETOPIC / Outcomes / Assessment
Odyssey Days / · Students will accept and exercise the responsibility of technology-based learning by demonstrating discipline, proper maintenance, and insight on the role of the computer in the DeSmet community.
· Students will recognize the tablet PC as a tool for learning.
Microsoft Outlook/Email / · Students will use proper and effective means of technological communication.
· Students will take responsibility for moral and ethical computer usage. / Quiz, Calendar Import, Tasks, Email to teacher
Microsoft Word / · Students will use proper and effective means of technological communication.
· Students will learn the skills necessary to use computer applications as tools for learning. / Quiz, Men for Others Document, Bullet Assignment, Flyer Assignment
One Note / · Students will recognize the tablet PC as a tool for learning.
· Students will develop good study habits.
· Students will learn the skills necessary to use computer applications as tools for learning. / Tag Assignment, Notes Assignment, Reflection
Note Taking / · Students will develop good study habits. / Notes Assignment
SQ3R / · Students will recognize the tablet PC as a tool for learning.
· Students will develop good study habits.
· Students will learn the skills necessary to use computer applications as tools for learning. / Notes Assignment
File Management / · Students will take responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of their tablet PCs. / Quiz
Keyboarding / · Students will develop keyboarding skills. / Quiz, Skill Checks
Computer Ethics / · Students will take responsibility for moral and ethical computer usage. / Reflection, Presentation
Microsoft PowerPoint / · Students will learn personal accountability, cooperative learning, group work, and undertake long-range, experiential projects to enhance their understanding of technology.
· Students will learn the skills necessary to use computer applications as tools for learning.
· Students will recognize useful and reliable online research sources. / Quiz, Presentation assignment, Group Ethics Presentation
Test Taking / · Students will develop good study habits.
· Students will learn the skills necessary to use computer applications as tools for learning. / Teacher Conversations
Time Management
Responsibility / · Students will take responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of their tablet PCs.
· Students will take responsibility for moral and ethical computer usage. / Quiz, Reflection, Computer Check, Calendar/Scheduling
Act Prep / · Students will develop good study habits.
· Students will learn the skills necessary to use computer applications as tools for studying.
· Students will understand different study techniques / Reflection
Care of the Machine / · Students will take responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of their tablet PCs. / Computer Check, Quiz
Microsoft Excel / · Students will use proper and effective means of technological communication.
· Students will recognize the tablet PC as a tool for learning. / Quiz, Assignments, Practical Exam
Microsoft Publisher / · Students will be comfortable using Microsoft Office Software that they have not been formally introduced to.
· Students will reflect by preparing flyers and brochures. / Flyer, Brochure
Research / · Students will use proper and effective means of technological communication.
· Students will learn personal accountability, cooperative learning, group work, and undertake long-range, experiential projects to enhance their understanding of technology.
· Students will recognize useful and reliable online research sources.
· Students will be able to synthesize information from online resources and write a research paper. / Research Paper and PowerPoint
What successful students should expect to do in this course:
Responsibilities:
Successful students in Computer and Study Skills have two major responsibilities. First, they should take notes and listen carefully during all lecture class periods. Students will be tested on virtually all material presented in class, so good, detailed notes will help the student to study for these tests. Second, a successful student is one who does all work assigned to him by the instructor. Each assignment in Computer and Study Skills is purposeful and is designed to teach a new skill or reinforce a learned skill. Students who do not complete all assigned work should not expect a good grade in the course.
Classroom Conduct:
Students should arrive to class on time with a charged computer. Battery checks will be performed every time our class meets during the first period of the day to ensure that a student is taking proper care of his computer and is following the guidelines the instructor will give with regards to proper battery care.
In addition:
· Students will respect one another and the teacher at all times.
· Student Cell Phones will be confiscated if they are being used in my classroom.
· Students may not play games on the computer at any time during the school day.
· Students may not use email without permission during my class.
· When we are working on projects students can get permission to listen to music on headphones on your computer.
· Students must arrive on time and be ready for class to begin when the bell rings.
· Students must clean up carefully and correctly after each class, if papers are returned they should be recycled or kept, if group work is done rows need to be restored.
· Students are aware of those around them and are sensitive to what might offend, so they don’t choose language that will not be considered offensive or degrading.
Students who do not follow these rules of conduct will be subject to demerits and possibly JUG’s as per the De Smet disciplinary guidelines.
Special Needs:
If you have a physical, psychiatric/emotional, medical, or learning disability that may impact your ability to carry out assigned course work, I urge you to contact Mrs. Linda Doherty, De Smet’s Learning Consultant who will review your concerns and determine, with you, what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.
Academic Honesty:
De Smet Jesuit High School is a community of learning in which integrity and mutual trust are vital. De Smet Jesuit works to form Men for Others, who pursue glorifying God through each and every action, hence our use of the Latin motto “A.M.D.G.,” meaning “for the greater glory of God.” Academic dishonesty runs counter to the ethical principles of Christianity and undercuts the spiritual and intellectual ideals of the Catholic Church and the Society of Jesus, upon which our school is founded. There is no greater academic crime you can commit in this school. If you cheat, or engage in acts of dishonesty, you will receive a zero. Worse, you will lose the opportunity to learn from that assignment, and use your talents fully; you will fail to glorify God.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:
· Cheating - The use of unauthorized or unethical assistance to gain an unfair advantage over other students. This includes: working with a partner on an assignment that is supposed to be done individually; sharing questions from a quiz with a classmate who has not yet taken the quiz; obtaining and/or using unauthorized tests aids (cheat sheets, etc.).
· Plagiarism - The intentional representation of someone else's thoughts or words as if they were one's own. This includes: Using quotes from online sources without proper citation; changing the wording of a sentence from an online source without proper citation; submitting someone else’s work and claiming it as your own.
· Collusion - Collaboration with another person or persons for the purpose of engaging in, aiding, or abetting acts of academic dishonesty as defined above. This includes: having a friend re-write a sentence or paragraph during a peer edit; allowing someone else to see and/or use your work without the teacher’s permission.
Ultimately, it is the student’s responsibility to understand and adhere to the above rules and definitions. If a student has any doubt that he is following the rules, it is his responsibility to approach the teacher.
Disciplinary action will be taken against any students who engage in behavior considered academically dishonest. See the Parent-Student Handbook for further explanation of consequences.
* Definitions and philosophy have been adapted from the Saint Louis University College of Arts and Sciences website http://www.slu.edu/college-of-arts-and-sciences-home/undergraduate-education/academic-honesty/ii-definitions
Technology Requirements:
Moodle: Moodle is a course management system where you will be able to find a copy of this syllabus. I will use Moodle throughout the school year in the following ways:
I will have electronic course documents stored on Moodle.
I will post work assignments and materials on Moodle in the event of my absence.
Internet: I will have a website that lists assignments, due dates, and resources for assignments. The reason I have chosen this approach is so that parents who do not have a moodle password will also have access to assignments and due dates.
Computer use: Students are expected to take good care of their computer and are responsible for having a well maintained working computer in class every day. Batteries are fully charged at the beginning of the school day. It is recommended that you use Microsoft OneNote for your class notes and that these files are stored in My Documents. If you are experiencing any technical issues resolve the issues with the IT Center as soon as you are able.
Netclassroom: I will use Net Classroom to keep you informed of your current progress in class. I prefer to enter grades as we complete entire units rather than as each individual assignment is completed. You can refer to the course calendar to see when we complete units. Generally assignments will be returned to students before grades are entered so I can verify the accuracy of my grading before entering the grades into NetClassroom. If there is an error once grades have been entered please email me to correct the problem.
Assignments missed while absent will be left blank, late work will be marked with an ‘M’, which translates to a 0 in NetClassroom.
Grading:
Grades in Computer and Study Skills are based on points. A small assignment is worth 10 points. There are very few small assignments. A normal assignment is worth 25 points. The research paper is worth at least 100 points.
The percentages work out to be approximately:
Class Assignments: 50%
Tests and Quizzes: 25%
Final Exam: 25%.
Point Values and Percentages are subject to change with instructor notification.
Late Work Policy:
Extenuating circumstances notwithstanding, students are expected to turn in all work. If a student is absent on a project due date, they are expected to turn the project the first class day they return.
Assignments that are not turned in on time will lose 25% of the total grade per class day it is late. I will accept any late work past 2 class days at a maximum of 50% of the original grade for the first semester of class only. During the second semester I will not accept late work – The name of the course is study skills, getting your work done is one of the most important study skills.
A note about unexcused absences: Students who skip class or whose absences are considered unexcused will receive only 60 percent of points earned on all make-up work (including tests, quizzes, and homework). For example, if a test is worth 100 points and he earns 90 points on the test, he willreceive 54 points (60 percent of the grade he earned) on that test. Refer to the Student-Parent Handbook for further disciplinary consequences for skipping or other unexcused absences.
A comment on grading philosophy:
Grades will be based on a set of guidelines that will be clearly outlined by the instructor upon the assignment of each project. Students who follow the guidelines should expect good grades. Given that the class meets every other day, students should expect about half the homework assignments of a normal class. Therefore, each assignment has significant weight toward the final grade. Students who do not do well in Computer and Study Skills are those who do not complete the assigned work on time.