Tech Talk: What are the Basics?

For Episcopal Collegiate students to perform well with technology it is important for them to receive basic training.  Identifying the basics can be challenging as tablet touch-technology has begun to replace older interfaces like a mouse and keyboard.  Regardless of physical changes in technology there are fundamental soft skills like, Internet literacy, word formatting, digital presentation and keyboarding which are essential for our students to be proficient in the classroom and the world.  In the Lower School these skills are taught every day. Kindergarten is exploring Internet web 2.0 applications as they work with Starfall and the TeachMe iPad app. In the 1st grade students are currently learning how to use a cursor, work with fonts, and paragraph alignment as they start an owl and bats paper.  The second grade is revisiting these same skills as they finish writing their descriptive paragraphs.  Students are designing avatars as they continue to write, and interact with Edmodo in the third grade.  Fourth graders are putting together a Story Elements interactive PowerPoint presentation.  Fifth Graders are beginning to build keyboarding skills using TypingMaster where they can practice both at school and at home.  We are all working hard to ensure our students are prepared for the basic skills they will need to succeed.