STEM: Business Applications Curriculum Guide

Description

Business Applications introduces students to basic Google tools and focuses on collaboration, communication, and productivity through the completion of real world, student-centered activities and projects. Additionally, this course provides students with instruction in basic computer skills and provides the foundation for more advanced middle school STEM courses and cross-curricular projects. Students will learn to understand computer related terms and identify computer hardware components and peripheral devices. Students will acquire knowledge of word-processing, keyboarding, and Google Suite programs to create authentic applications. They will understand the legal, social and ethical issues related to the use of computers in daily life, including internet safety practices.

Big Ideas

• Information can be protected using various security measures (i.e., physical and digital).
• Distinguishing between public and private information is important for safe and secure online interactions.
• Correct keyboarding technique will increase efficiency.
• Touch-typing training improves any individual's typing speed and accuracy.
• Word processing software programs are used for creating and editing text documents.
• Google Docs is an online, cloud-based word processing program used for creating, editing, and styling text documents.
• Engaging presentations are clear, interactive, and visually appealing.
• Responsibly sourced images should be cited to be used ethically and legally.
• Spreadsheet software programs are used for computation, organization, analysis, and storage of data in tabular form.
• Google Sheets is an online, cloud-based web application used for computing, organizing, evaluating, and storing data within a spreadsheet.
• Digital portfolios are an effective tool for demonstrating my learning progress.
• A website can be used by businesses to grow their brand and individuals use it to bring their personality to their own safe space online.

Essential Questions

• What is an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)?
• Who, what, where, and when are AUPs located, read, and signed?
• What are in-school, and real world, examples of consequences if one breaks a rule on an AUP?
• How can one remain safe online?
• Why is proper keyboarding technique important?
• How will effective keyboarding skills improve productivity on the computer?
• How do I use Google Doc's formatting tools to style selected text, such as font styles, sizes, color, and alignment?
• What are keyboard shortcuts and how can they be used to increase productivity on the computer?
• What makes an engaging presentation?
• How can we respect and follow copyright laws when using images in a presentation?
• How are spreadsheets used effectively in business as well as your personal life?
• How can I enter data into Sheets and use the Sheets ribbon to create a useful, efficient spreadsheet?
• What are representations of different formulas?
• What are effective ways to apply formatting to cells and data?
• How can I use a digital portfolio to showcase my learning?
• What are the best examples I can use in my portfolio to show my growth and progress?
• What are the important components of a website?