With a carefully assembled panel of national experts in K-8 technology instruction and assessment, including an independent psychometrics group, Learning.com set separate proficiency standards for elementary and middle school students. The group based its conclusions on each member’s extensive classroom and administrative expertise, research studies, results from Learning.com’s TechLiteracy Assessment national assessment pilots, and an extensive survey and comparison of state and national standards.
| Systems and Fundamentals — This module assesses tasks central to the understanding and use of computer systems. |
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Elementary School Examples
- Knowledge of the parts of the computer
- Troubleshooting basic computer problems
- Storing and retrieving files on computers or networks
- Basic technology vocabulary
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Middle School Examples
- Selecting a data format or technology tool appropriate to the task or audience
- Creating, storing and retrieving data on local area networks and peripheral devices
- Knowledge of the basic parts of the computer, vocabulary and symbols of technology
- Basic troubleshooting for computer problems
- Recognizing and distinguishing among file types
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| Social and Ethical: This module assesses knowledge about accepted ethical norms as they relate to technology, as well as the impact of technology, past and present, on society. |
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Elementary School Examples
- Identifying ethical and unethical uses of technology tools
- Awareness of the social and ethical concepts associated with network and telecommunications use
- Understanding the basics of online safety
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Middle School Examples
- Identifying ethical and unethical behaviors with respect to the use and transmission of
electronic files, software and other online data
- Awareness of major social issues and ongoing effects and controversies regarding prominent
technology advances
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| Word Processing: This module assesses tasks central to formatting text and text/page layout. |
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Elementary School Examples
- Publishing and saving documents such as letters and short papers
- Formatting text
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Middle School Examples
- Publishing, printing and saving documents in a variety of locations
- Applying standard text formatting and layout options
- Applying layout options at the paragraph, page and document level
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| Spreadsheets: This module assesses tasks unique and central to creating, editing, manipulating, and interpreting data in spreadsheet tables, charts, and graphs. |
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Elementary School Examples
- Creating worksheets
- Entering and saving information
- Creating and interpreting basic graphs
- Formatting cells
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Middle School Examples
- Creating, entering, sorting, filtering and saving information
- Using common functions in spreadsheets (merging cells, find/replace)
- Writing simple formulas
- Creating, labeling and interpreting more complex graphs
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| Multimedia and Presentations: This module assesses tasks unique and central to the creation and
manipulation of graphic, audio, video, and other non-textual products by electronic means. |
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Elementary School Examples
- Creating and editing multimedia projects
- Communicating effectively to a variety of audiences using multimedia
- Using video recorders to capture images and edit clips (including picture files and ClipArt) for use in video
or other multimedia
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Middle School Examples
- Inserting graphics and other multimedia into documents
- Creating, formatting and saving presentations
- Capturing and composing audio-visual presentations
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| Telecommunications and Internet: This module assesses tasks central to telecommunications, including intra- and inter-office Networks, and Internet software such as browsers and email. |
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Elementary School Examples
- Recognizing and comparing basic methods of online communication
- Locating and launching a web browser
- Navigating from one web site to another
- Accessing and sending email
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Middle School Examples
- Locating and launching a web browser on a computer
- Navigating from one web site to another
- Accessing and sending email, including composing email distribution lists
- Assessing content purpose and credibility as grade appropriate
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| Database: This module assesses tasks central to the use of common database interfaces, such as Web search engines, school library records, and specialized database design software. |
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Elementary School Examples
- Using web library search engines
- Searching using single and multiple keyword searches
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Middle School Examples
- Searching the web or other databases using both single and multiple keyword searches
- Searching the web or other databases using multivariate category searches
- Applying Boolean operators to narrow searches
- Sort, filter and search simple databases
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