Real World Technology Class Education for Youth
Aki Kurose Middle School Academy, 2004
Real
World Technology Internet Commerce
& Web Development Class
Taught by Paul L. Stewart
DESCRIPTION
The objective of the Real World Technology after school program is to provide students with applied learning opportunities to utilize computer technology in real-world scenarios. Goals for student participants include improving academic performance, acquiring proficiency in a variety of software applications and associated computer tools, learning communication skills for teamwork and cooperation, learning practical uses for computer technology, and learning about future career opportunities in a global information age.
The first semester will cover Internet Commerce and Web Development. Objectives for this class will be to learn and/or acquire proficiency in the following: 1) business and web development software, including Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel; Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks; 2) Internet search engines and their use in business marketing; 3) various career roles within business organizations; 4) international business on the Internet, 5) and communicating with compassion and respect to improve teamwork, cooperation, and individual contributions.
These objectives will be met in a real-world scenario as students take on the roles of several business careers, including CEO and management support, marketing professionals, and web developers. As teams, the students will prepare business documents and marketing materials utilizing software and digital tools. They will produce organization charts, spreadsheets, business letters, financial statements, marketing materials, and a website.
CURRICULUM
SKILLS COVERED
Keyboarding & Workstation Use: Students will practice keyboarding skills throughout the program. They will be responsible for saving and maintaining folders of their work. Technology used: Computer workstation.
Spreadsheets
& Computation: Students will reinforce mathematical
understanding as they use spreadsheets to solve problems, create graphs,
and experiment with the order of numerical operations.
Technology used: Microsoft Excel.
Writing
& Report Presentation: Students will learn to outline
via a word processing program. This will be a natural extension of lessons
in the structuring and mapping of ideas, content, and business writing
preparations. Students will write as well as spell check project-based
assignments. They will be instructed on different forms of written communication
needed for the applied learning business project, including learning how
to formulate factual business reports and present them in a professional
business environment, how to write marketing copy, etc.
Technology used: Microsoft Word and Powerpoint,
Macromedia Fireworks, computer projector, digital camera, scanner.
Website
Development: Students will learn how to use Macromedia Dreamweaver,
a web development program. They will be introduced to the workspace, learn
how to set up and design a site, work with files created in other visual
editors, and learn about hyperlinks. They will also learn how to use graphics
on the site including how to add and edit images and optimize images between
the Dreamweaver program and Macromedia Fireworks graphics program, how
to create tables, layers, and frames; how to use CSS styles; and how to
add interactivity and use more advanced features.
Technology used: Macromedia Dreamweaver &
Fireworks
Computer
Graphics Design: Students will learn how to use Macromedia Fireworks,
a web graphics design program, to create, edit and animate Web and presentation
graphics. Students will learn advance interactivity and how to optimize
images in a professional environment, learn how to create vector shapes
and text, import and edit bitmap images, align objects in a document,
create Javascript buttons and links to buttons, use history panel and
view disjoint rollovers.
Technology used: Macromedia Fireworks
Internet
Search Engine Techniques: Students will learn how Internet search
engines work, including how websites are submitted to search engines,
crawlers, and directories; how search engines rank web pages; search engine
placement tips; web searching tips; search engine listings, reviews, ratings,
tests, and resources; search engine optimization techniques; and how to
use HTML meta tags.
Technology used: Internet.
International
Business: Students be introduced to international businesses
on the web, so they can observe global as well as regional market trends,
foreign currency comparisons, foreign markets, foreign employer culture,
and foreign employee culture.
Technology used: Internet.
Communication
and Teamwork: Students will learn skills of compassionate communication
(aka “nonviolent communication” as developed by Marshall Rosenberg)
to speak in ways that are more likely to be heard by others (nonjudmental).
This process of communication will allow the students to connect with
each other in ways where everyone’s needs are valued. Students will
be able to negotiate difficult situations with more ease and confidence,
learn how to hear and say no without criticism or blame, understand where
anger comes from, and learn how to ask for what they want using clear
positive action language. These skills will improve teamwork and cooperation
and promote the creative contributions of all team members.
Technology used: Internet
APPLIED LEARNING PROJECTS
Students will work on teams to create business documents, marketing materials, presentations, and a business website. They will learn about the roles of CEO and management, marketing professionals, and web development teams. These projects will reinforce concepts being taught in the classroom such as mathematical computations, reading, writing, listening, vocabulary, and language comprehension and analysis, and are designed to support middle school level Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs).
Business
Overview: Students will prepare an organization chart, financial
records, and an annual report on the company’s financial status
and activities. These will be prepared for the CEO, who will present them
at an annual meeting of investors and potential investors.
Skills used: Spreadsheets & Computation, Writing & Report Presentation,
Computer Graphics Design, Communication & Teamwork
Marketing:
Students will research and prepare marketing materials for a company website.
This will include researching websites of competing businesses (including
international ones), analysis of industry trends, and communication with
the CEO and management team, and the web development team. Materials will
be prepared for the web development team to format for the web. Marketing
team will review and present final website to the CEO/management team.
Skills used: Spreadsheets & Computation, Writing & Report Presentation,
Computer Graphics Design, Internet Search Engine Techniques, International
Business, Communication & Teamwork
Web
Development: Students will design company website with materials
and objectives provided by Marketing team. They will research the websites
of competitors and related businesses to see what works, and will create
a website that is an effective marketing tool for the company. They will
create graphics and format text as needed, and will work closely with
the Marketing team through various stages of development for reviews and
final approval.
Skills used: Writing & Report Presentation, Website Design, Computer
Graphics Design, Internet Search Engine Techniques, International Business,
Communication & Teamwork
Contact Us
Discussion
Board
East
Lewis County Chamber of Commerce
