Computer Applications and Digital Literacy

Course Goals:
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
Identify basic computer hardware, software, and operating system functions.
Use school technology safely, responsibly, and efficiently.
Demonstrate proper keyboarding, file management, and digital organization skills.
Create documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and digital projects.
Conduct effective online research and evaluate sources for credibility.
Communicate professionally through email and digital platforms.
Understand basic cybersecurity, privacy, and digital citizenship principles.
Explain introductory concepts related to artificial intelligence.
Use technology as a tool for learning, creativity, problem-solving, and communication. Complete a final digital portfolio demonstrating course skills.

Major Units:

Unit 1: Computer Basics and Digital Responsibility
Weeks 1–2

Essential Question: How do computers work, and how can we use technology responsibly?

Topics:
Course expectations and acceptable use policies
Parts of a computer: monitor, keyboard, mouse, CPU, ports, storage
Hardware vs. software
Operating systems and applications
Logging in, passwords, account security
Responsible use of school-owned devices
Digital citizenship and online behavior

Activities:
Computer parts identification activity
“Hardware or Software?” sorting activity
Class discussion: What does responsible technology use look like?
Practice logging in, opening apps, closing apps, and navigating menus
Create a personal technology responsibility pledge

Assessment:
Computer basics quiz
Digital responsibility pledge
Teacher observation of login/navigation skills

Unit 2: Keyboarding, File Management, and Digital Organization
Weeks 3–4

Essential Question: How can organization and keyboarding skills help us become more efficient students?

Topics:
Keyboarding posture and technique
Typing accuracy and speed
Creating folders
Naming files properly
Saving, downloading, uploading, and sharing files
Cloud storage basics
Organizing assignments by class or project

Activities:
Daily keyboarding warmups
File naming challenge
Create a digital folder system
Practice saving and uploading assignments
Organize a sample messy digital folder

Assessment:
Keyboarding progress check
File management performance task
Folder organization grade

Unit 3: Word Processing and Academic Documents
Weeks 5–6

Essential Question: How can word processing tools help us communicate clearly and professionally?

Topics:
Creating and formatting documents
Fonts, spacing, margins, headings, and alignment
Copy, paste, undo, redo, find, and replace
Bulleted and numbered lists
Tables
Grammar and spell check
MLA or school-approved formatting basics
Sharing and commenting on documents

Activities:
Format a poorly designed document
Create a one-page academic response
Peer review using comments
Create a professional letter or school memo
Practice inserting images, tables, and headings

Assessment:
Formatted document assignment
Academic paragraph or short essay
Word processing skills quiz

Unit 4: Digital Communication and Email Etiquette
Week 7

Essential Question: How can students communicate respectfully and professionally online?

Topics:
Parts of a professional email
Subject lines
Greetings and closings
Tone and clarity
When not to use slang or informal language
Responding respectfully online
Digital footprints

Activities:
Compare strong and weak emails
Rewrite an unprofessional email
Write an email to a teacher requesting help
Discuss digital footprints and online reputation

Assessment:
Professional email assignment
Digital communication reflection

Unit 5: Internet Research and Source Evaluation
Weeks 8–9

Essential Question: How do we find trustworthy information online?

Topics:
Search engine basics
Keywords and search strategies
Reliable vs. unreliable sources
Author, date, purpose, bias, and evidence
Fact-checking
Avoiding plagiarism
Quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing
Basic citation skills

Activities:
Search term practice
Source credibility checklist
Compare two websites on the same topic
Identify bias or weak evidence
Mini research task

Assessment:
Source evaluation worksheet
Mini research paragraph with citation
Research skills quiz

Unit 6: Presentation Skills and Visual Design
Weeks 10–11

Essential Question: How can technology help us present ideas clearly and creatively?

Topics:
Slide presentation basics
Choosing readable fonts and layouts
Using images responsibly
Avoiding overcrowded slides
Speaking from notes instead of reading slides
Design principles: contrast, alignment, simplicity, consistency
Citing images and sources

Activities:
Critique sample slides
Redesign a cluttered slide deck
Create a short presentation based on a research topic
Practice short oral presentations

Assessment:
5-slide presentation
Presentation delivery rubric
Peer feedback

Unit 7: Spreadsheets and Data Basics
Weeks 12–13

Essential Question: How can spreadsheets help us organize, calculate, and understand information?

Topics:
Rows, columns, cells, and ranges
Entering and formatting data
Basic formulas: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, and MAX
Sorting and filtering
Creating basic charts
Reading and interpreting data

Activities:
Create a personal budget spreadsheet
Track imaginary class store sales
Use formulas to calculate totals and averages
Create a chart from data
Interpret a simple data set

Assessment:
Spreadsheet skills task
Data chart assignment
Spreadsheet quiz

Unit 8: Media Literacy and Digital Creation
Weeks 14–15

Essential Question: How can students create and evaluate digital media responsibly?

Topics:
Media messages and audience
Images, video, audio, and design
Copyright, fair use, and Creative Commons
Basic photo and video editing concepts
Podcasting or short video planning
Storyboarding
Responsible media creation

Activities:
Analyze a media message
Create a storyboard
Record a short audio or video project
Design a digital poster, flyer, or announcement
Discuss how media influences beliefs, behavior, and culture

Assessment:
Digital media project
Storyboard submission
Media literacy reflection

Unit 9: Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Online Safety
Week 16

Essential Question: How can students protect themselves and others online?

Topics:
Strong passwords
Phishing and scams
Personal information and privacy
Safe browsing habits
Device security
Cyberbullying
Reporting unsafe online behavior
Responsible use of school-managed devices

Activities:
Identify phishing examples
Create strong password examples
Online safety scenario discussions
Privacy settings checklist
Cybersecurity vocabulary review

Assessment:
Cybersecurity quiz
Online safety scenario response

Unit 10: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Week 17

Essential Question: How can students use artificial intelligence responsibly and ethically?

Topics:
What AI is and what it is not
Common examples of AI
AI in school, careers, and daily life
Benefits and limitations of AI
Bias, accuracy, and misinformation
Responsible academic use
AI and plagiarism
Ethical decision-making with technology

Activities:
Class discussion: Where do we already see AI?
Compare human-created and AI-assisted responses
Evaluate an AI-generated answer for accuracy
Create a class list of responsible AI guidelines
Reflection: How should students use AI without replacing their own thinking?

Assessment:
Responsible AI reflection
AI ethics discussion participation
AI use guidelines assignment

Unit 11: Final Digital Portfolio Project
Week 18

Essential Question: How can students demonstrate growth in technology skills?

Project Description:
Students will create a final digital portfolio that includes selected work from the semester and a reflection on what they learned.

Portfolio Requirements:
Organized digital folder
Formatted document
Professional email sample
Research/source evaluation sample
Slide presentation
Spreadsheet with chart
Digital media project
Cybersecurity or AI reflection
Final course reflection

Final Reflection Questions:
What computer skill improved the most for you this semester?
Which digital tool do you feel most confident using?
How can you use technology more responsibly?
How will these skills help you in future classes, college, or careers?
What is one technology skill you still want to improve?

Assessment:
Final digital portfolio rubric
Student presentation or portfolio walkthrough
Final reflection

Suggested Weekly Pacing Overview:
Week Topic
1 Course Introduction, Computer Basics, Responsible Use
2 Hardware, Software, Operating Systems, Digital Citizenship
3 Keyboarding Skills and Digital Organization
4 File Management and Cloud Storage
5 Word Processing Basics
6 Academic Documents and Formatting
7 Email Etiquette and Digital Communication
8 Internet Search Skills
9 Source Evaluation and Mini Research
10 Presentation Tools and Visual Design
11 Student Presentations
12 Spreadsheet Basics
13 Formulas, Charts, and Data Interpretation
14 Media Literacy
15 Digital Media Creation
16 Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Online Safety
17 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
18 Final Digital Portfolio

Recommended Major Assignments:
Digital Responsibility Pledge
Organized Digital Folder System
Formatted Academic Document
Professional Email Assignment
Source Evaluation and Mini Research Task
Slide Presentation
Spreadsheet and Chart Project
Digital Media Project
Cybersecurity Scenario Response
Responsible AI Reflection
Final Digital Portfolio

Materials Needed:
Chromebooks or computers
Google Workspace or Microsoft Office
Teacher display monitor or projector

Basic media tools if available: microphones, camera, tripod, or editing software
Content filtering and classroom management tools

Grading Categories
Classwork and Skill Practice: 30%
Projects and Performance Tasks: 35%
Quizzes and Checks for Understanding: 15%
Participation and Digital Responsibility: 10%
Final Digital Portfolio: 10%

Final Course Outcome:
At the end of the semester, students will have a working foundation in computer use, digital organization, academic technology tools, research, media literacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and responsible digital citizenship. They will be better prepared to use technology safely, wisely, and effectively across all academic subjects and future career pathways.