We believe that students at St. Mark's should be prepared for the future through the use of a technology integrated curriculum.  As digital natives, students are immersed in technology in their everyday lives.  St. Mark's believes in the importance of preparing students to be successful in the technology-dense global society.  As learners in the digital world, the use of technology at St. Mark's advances digital equity, enhances student learning, and is relevant to students' lives.

Standard 1: Knows the characteristics and uses of computer hardware and operating systems

Benchmark 1. Knows basic computer hardware (e.g., keyboard and mouse, printer and monitor, hard disk and other storage media [e.g., jump drive], case for the CPU [central processing unit])
 
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows that the keyboard and mouse are computer hardware
    2. Knows the computer printer, monitor, hard disk and other storage         media, and the CPU (central processing unit) case and their uses

Benchmark 2. Powers-up computer, monitor, and starts a computer program (e.g., checks that printer is switched on and on-line; reboots the computer when necessary)

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Powers-up the computer and monitor
    2. Starts a computer program
    3. Operates a printer by checking that it is switched on and on-line
    4. Knows that when a printer is on-line it is ready to print
    5. Operates a computer by rebooting when necessary
    6. Knows that rebooting means to shut down the computer and restart it
 
Benchmark 3. Knows alphanumeric keys, special keys (e.g., space bar, escape key, delete/backspace, return/enter), and function keys,

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows the alphanumeric keys on a keyboard and their purpose
    2. Knows special keys, such as space bar and escape, delete/backspace,         and return/enter keys on a keyboard, and their purpose
    3. Knows the function keys and their purpose
     
Benchmark 4.  Handles disks and other computer components with care

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Handles disks and computer components with care

Standard 2: Knows the characteristics and uses of computer software programs

Benchmark 1. Knows proper finger placement on the home row keys (moved from Std. 1)


Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows which row on a keyboard is the home row

Benchmark 2. Types on a computer keyboard, using correct hand and body positions

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Types on a computer keyboard
    2. Uses correct hand and body positioning when typing

Benchmark 3. Uses menu options and commands

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Uses computer menu options and commands

Benchmark 4. Knows basic distinctions among computer software programs, such as word processors, special purpose programs, and games
                   
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows basic types of computer software
    2. Knows that word processing software is a basic type of computer         software
    3. Knows that some computer software is dedicated to a specific purpose
    4. Knows that game software is a basic type of computer software

Standard 3: Understands the relationships among science, technology, society, and the individual

Benchmark 1. Knows ways that technology is used at home and at school (e.g., paging systems, telephones, DVD player)

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows ways that technology is used at home and at school
    2. Knows that a telephone, a paging system, and a DVD player are         examples of technologies that may be used at home or at school

Benchmark 2. Knows that new tools and ways of doing things affect all aspects of life, and may have positive or negative effects on other people

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows that new tools and new ways of doing things affect all aspects of         life
    2. Knows that new tools and new ways of doing things may have positive         or negative effects on other people
   
Benchmark 3. Understands that when an individual creates something on a computer, the created work is that person's property, and only that person has the right to change it
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Understands that when an individual creates something on a computer,         the created work is that person’s property and only that person has the         right to change it       

Benchmark 4. Knows that man-made materials, products, and systems can affect the environment adversely, yet there are actions that can be taken to circumvent this process (e.g., disposing of waste properly, reusing old objects in new designs)

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows that man-made materials, products, and systems can affect the         environment adversely    
    2. Knows that actions can be taken, such as proper disposal of waste and         reusing old objects in new designs, to circumvent the adverse effects         of man-made materials, products, and systems on the environment
   
Standard 4: Understands the nature of technological design

Benchmark 1. Knows that both objects and systems occur in nature (e.g., stars and the solar system), but people can also design and make objects and systems (computers and the Internet) to solve a problem and to improve the quality of life

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows that both objects, like stars, and systems, such as the solar         system, occur in nature
    2. Knows that people can design and make objects, such as the computer,         and systems, like the Internet, to solve a problem and to improve the         quality of life
Benchmark 2. Not appropriate at this level.   


Benchmark 3. Knows that people are always inventing new ways to solve problems and accomplish work (e.g., a computer is a machine that helps people work and play)

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows that people are always inventing new ways to solve problems         and to accomplish work
    2. Knows that the computer, a machine that helps people work and play, is         an example of human invention
Benchmark 4. Knows that planning is an important part of the design process
                   
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows that designs tell how to construct something