In the Tech Center

Grade 7 Technology Class

Middle school students focus on more advanced features of digital technology. Students still develop word-processing and presentation skills, but they additionally are introduced to the creation process of spreadsheets as well as databases in the 8th grade. Students spend more time in the middle school focusing on the social aspects of the web such as citing material, social media conduct and Internet security, as well as technology's impact on society. Students use a number of software tools to create projects such as wikis, blogs, Glogs, Scratch animations, Animoto, and Edmodo to practice appropriate social networking behavior.

Current Project

The students' current learning goal is to examine a system, consider how each part relates to other parts, and discuss a part to redesign to improve the system.

The students are accomplishing this learning goal by using digital tools (Lego Robots) and developing a basic understanding of how they work. They are investingating how to use the programming software by exploring the Lego Mindstorms interface as well as how to manipulate the bloaks and program the robots to complete desired tasks. Students are begining their explorations by first developing an understanding of how programming works by completing an activity at Tynker.

Student objectives to reach the learning goal are:

• Identify key elements of a robotic system and recognize how it performs basic tasks. Students will:
  • Define a robotic system
  • List robots used in everyday life
  • Choose a robot used in everyday life and explain why it is a robot
• Analyze, select, modify and evaluate system components in order to achieve desired results.
  • Students will complete activities at Tynker, in order to gain a basic understanding of how to think like a programmer.

All of the information and resources needed by the students is located in their Google Classroom.