Welcome to Technology Lab 2008-2009! 

What we will do this year in technology:

· Gain in our understanding and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, and PowerPoint and in Photostory 3, Audacity, and other programs through an Election Day project,  a Constitution ratification project, and other projects integrated with the eighth grade curriculum

· Improve our keyboarding skills using Ultra Key Keyboarding Tutor to achieve our goal of at least 98% accuracy and 40 words per minute (wpm)

· Learn what it means to be a good “Digital Citizen” and how to keep ourselves safe on the internet through the I-Safe program, use of Noodle Tools, and other activities

· Test our progress in reading and math through using the Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Math programs and by taking the Star Reading and Star Math test

· Have a LOT of fun with technology in the Technology Lab and in our regular classrooms 

Rules/Procedures

While in Technology Lab, Mrs. O’Connell has the following rules:

1. We are kind, courteous, polite and respectful of other people and their property.

2. We raise our hand to speak, ask questions, or leave our seat.

3. We listen, pay attention, and follow directions the first time given.

4. We keep our hands, feet, and other objects to ourselves.

5. We prepare ourselves and our materials and we use our time wisely.

6. We are Christ-like in our words, attitudes, and actions. 

You need to have the following things in the Lab every time you come to lab:

· Your Technology Lab folder (a two pocket folder only for Technology class)

· Your homework pad/calendar

· 10 sheets of notebook paper

· A pencil or pen

· Your Keyboarding log (with name, dates, and parent signature complete)

· A flash drive (2 GB minimum) labeled with your name

· Any materials you’ve been instructed to bring for this class 

When you first come into the Lab, please look at the Smart and the white board for instructions for the day.  You will usually be instructed to:

· Get out your keyboarding log from the previous week — make sure your full name (first and last) and your student number is on it and that it is signed and complete.  Place it in the collection basket on the back counter.  Pick up a new keyboarding log and complete the top of it.

· Get your nametag and ticket and place your nametag in front of you.

· Get out any other materials you were instructed to bring to class (books, printouts, textbooks, etc.).

· Check your mouse to determine if your computer is turned on (the red light on the bottom of the mouse will be lit).  If there is no red light, turn your computer on by pushing the small button on the front.

· Log into your computer by checking to see that the username is “student” and pressing “enter”.

· Log into Discovery Education and take the quiz on last class’s lesson.

Follow the instructions on the Smart and white board for what to do next 

When you are in the Lab, follow these procedures:

· ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD, DRINK, OR GUM IN THE LAB!

· Please make certain that your hands are clean and dry.

· Stay with Mrs. O’Connell — do not work ahead of her, do not go into any other programs (including the internet), wait patiently when you are done with what you have been instructed to do.

· Change any settings on the desktop.  You will loose behavior points for doing this.

· Do not touch anyone else’s computer, even when you are coaching another student.  Let them do the work! 

When you are ready to leave the Lab, please:

· Log out of all applications and return to the desktop.

· Note the homework and materials to bring for the next class.

· Leave your station clear and take all belongings with you.

· Turn your behavior cards to green.

· Put your nametag in a neat pile at the end of your row.

· Put your ticket in the drawing basket for our monthly drawing. 

Following all rules/procedures will ensure your behavior card remains green and you will earn a ticket for our monthly drawing.  The name that is drawn each month earns a $5 Cinema City gift certificate.  Not following rules/procedures will cause you to lose your ticket and will result in a classroom “sign-in” and a lower grade for daily behavior/attitude and/or effort/participation. 

Expectations/Grading

You need to work hard at all times in the Lab.  It is important that you complete the work that Mrs. O’Connell assigns you for the next class.  If you do not, you will be graded down and may get behind on your Technology class work.  Work must be neat and complete or it will be returned for you to re-do it! 

Your grade is based on the following things (the percent each area counts towards your grade is also listed): 

Weekly Quizzes 15%      Keyboarding Logs 10%

Technology Project work 40%      Keyboarding Tests 15%

Effort/Preparation 10%      Behavior/Attitude 10% 

Please keep track of your grade and missing work on Gradelink.  It’s a good idea to check every Wednesday before Thursday’s class so that you can resolve any problems you find in your grade.  If you are absent, it is your responsibility to see Mrs. O’Connell to complete in-class work and to get help and be prepared for the next class.  See her at Thursday recess or before school on Thursdays. 

File Management in the Lab

You need to be very careful about saving your work correctly.  Your work in the Lab must be saved in the following way:

1. Click on “file” and then “save as”

2. In the “Save As” dialog box that appears, look at the white “save as” field at the top of the box and click on the delta (down arrow) inside the box.

3. Click on “Classroom Files” — you should see folders for all the classes

Click on the folder for your class “8A Painter” or “8B Cooper”  — you should see the folders for all the  projects we are doing or have done

4. Click on the project folder for the file you are saving.

5. IMPORTANT!! Look at the “File Name” field at the bottom of the dialog box.  Type your name in the following way: Last Name, First Name Project Name (example:  Smith, Jenny Mission Project). Mrs. O’Connell will give you the project name.  You will be graded down if you do not name/save your work correctly. 

Keyboarding

Keyboarding is an important life-skill and 25% of your Technology grade.  By the time you enter high school, you are expected to keyboard with 98% accuracy at 40 words per minute (wpm).  Each year at St. Francis, you are expected to practice and be tested on keyboarding.  Improvement is your goal. 

At St. Francis, we use Ultra Key and we strongly recommend that you purchase the Ultra Key home edition to practice for your keyboarding log.  You may, however, use another keyboarding/typing program (like Typing Tutor, Mavis Beacon, etc.).  You may not just “practice” typing — keyboarding log practice must be with a formal program like the ones mentioned.  If you need to purchase an Ultra Key program, please see me or Mrs. Kahlweiss. 

8^th GRADE ULTRA KEY TEST

GRADING RUBRIC

 

Goal: 98%+ Accuracy/40 Words Per Minute

See highlighted line on Ultra Key Performance Report to determine grade for this test.  Please note if student is making progress since last test.

	40+	35-39	30-34	25-29	20-24	15-19	10-14	9 or below
98%+	A	A-	A-	B+	B+	B	B-	C+
97%	A-	B+	B+	B	B	B-	C+	C
96%	B+	B	B	B-	B-	C+	C	C-
95%	B	B-	B-	C+	C+	C	C-	D+
94%	B-	C+	C+	C	C	C-	D+	D
93%	C+	C	C	C-	C-	D+	D	D-
92%	C	C-	C-	D+	D+	D	D-	F
Below 92%	C-	D+	D+	D	D	D-	F	F

Citing Where You Get Information/Pictures/Etc.

You would not copy your neighbor’s test or homework — that’s’ academic dishonesty and could have serious consequences.  Likewise, you may not copy someone else’s work from a book, website, their music, a photo they took, or any other place.  You may use their ideas and images to help you create your own work IF you cite (tell) where you got the ideas and images.  At St. Francis, we use Noodle Tools (www.noodletools.com) to cite our work in MLA style.  You need to have a working Noodle Tools account and must use it correctly to create “Works Cited” lists for your projects.  Mrs. O’Connell will be reviewing Noodle Tools with you and will give you a hand out on how to use the site at school and at home. 

Help!  Help!

Seek out help when you need it!  Remember to check my Technology website for homework, links, rubrics, files and more that can help you.  See the attached handout on the URL for my website.  It can also be found by linking through the St. Francis of Assisi website (www.stfrancis-yorbalinda.com).  Save the link in your “Favorites” on your browser. 

If you need further help with Technology class work, please come see me (at recess on Thursdays) or email me (moconnell@stfrancis-yorbalinda.com).  I am here to help you!