Computer classes?

Computer classes? (Full Version)

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csl7037 -> Computer classes? (5/3/2008 12:35:45 PM)
Do your kids schools have computer classes? I'd love to know what grades have this and what kind of things they're learning. At a recent meeting with administrators, a parent raised an issue with the lack of real learning in our kids' computer classes. I completely agree with the point she was making and think our kids should be doing a LOT more with this time. But I think this was largely lost on our administrators. I know my third grader has done a little with clip art and in Word and Powerpoint in class. I want them to learn typing (correctly) and think these kids could be doing simple programming and a lot of other things. My kids have had their own computers since they were toddlers and dd has built a couple of silly little one-page websites and she's developing a bit of an ebay habit (thankfully she doesn't have a credit card, LOL). Dh is an IT guy and he thinks our kids are the exception but I don't really think they are. Regardless, I think they're spending too much time playing games. So I'm curious what computer classes look like in other schools. Thanks.

ladyingrace1979 -> RE: Computer classes? (5/3/2008 8:59:25 PM)
Unfortunately in our district the kids don't get much computer training until HS. They have computers but they are mostly set up for educational games, which includes typing, but not actually using the programs or anything in depth. My oldest is good with the internet, but I haven't pushed her to learn Word and the other MS applications. Kim Q

csl7037 -> RE: Computer classes? (5/3/2008 9:22:26 PM)
That makes me think of a related question - how much and at what grades are your kids needing to use computers for their work? Dd in 3rd grade has had two major projects this year which required her to use Word and Ppt (or Publisher - just to find, clip and crop/size photos) which is why the teacher says they've learned those programs in her Computer class. But, honestly, I did 95% of that project with her at home; she even redid all of the pages that she did in computer class because she wanted them printed on our color printer for that first project. And they didn't do anything for the second project in their computer class. And I think the reports (not the photos) for each of those projects could have been done by hand and typing it was an option - but with dd's handwriting, she's typing!!

ladyingrace1979 -> RE: Computer classes? (5/4/2008 8:19:21 PM)
My little ones don't need the computer at all, but that is because they have learning disabilities and only function at about a 1st grade level. They are learning to type but the school doesn't even really push this. My older one is in 7th. She uses the computer everyday. So far they have had one project a quarter for history. She does the research for it on the internet. She has very bad handwriting so she types everything that isn't on a worksheet for all her subjects except math. I do some of the typing for her just to help her out. I type way faster than she does. Kim Q

garsyt -> RE: Computer classes? (5/4/2008 11:55:51 PM)
All 4 of my kids have had use of computers in a computer lab once a week - and in the classroom almost daily starting in KINDERGARTEN. For kindergarten and 1st grade it's a lot of educational and reading types of games, but starting in first grade they start learning keyboarding skills and progress through their elementary years to some kids typing at least 35 WPM. Aryn is in 4th grade and is nearly typing 28 WPM! Starting in 2nd grade, all of the kids at the elementary level do several projects a year that require working on the computer for word processings, research, or powerpoint presentations. In middle and high school they are expected to KNOW several computer applications, how to do research, presentations, and other stuff. At the middle school level here there is also a Computer aided drafting class which leads into more advanced engineering courses. My children are CONSTANTLY using the computers for something or other! Blessings, Garsy

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