Spiraling Technology TEKS

The Technology Applications TEKS provide students with a spiraling curriculum of technology expectations. Here is an example of a Foundation technology application that begins in Pre-kindergarten and continues to expand through high school.

In Pre-kindergarten, students begin using and naming a variety of computer input devices, such as mouse, keyboard, voice/sound recorder, touch screen, and CD-ROM. In K-2, students are expected to use data input skills appropriate to the task. The student is expected to use a variety of input devices such as mouse, keyboard, disk drive, modem, voice/sound recorder, scanner, digital video, CD-ROM, or touch screen. In Grades 3-5, the expectation is stated the same way, but students are expected to be more independent. In Grades 6-8, students are expected to use data input skills appropriate to the task. The student is expected to demonstrate proficiency in the use of a variety of input devices such as mouse/track pad, keyboard, microphones, digital camera, printer, scanner, disk/disc, modem, CD-ROM, or joystick. In high school, students are expected to use data input skills appropriate to the task, The student is expected to demonstrate proficiency in the use of a variety of input devices such as keyboard, scanner, voice/sound recorder, touch screen, or digital video by appropriately incorporating such components into the product.

This is an example of how the skills are spiraled to support student learning and mastery. First students were asked to become familiar with and name the devices, then use them at appropriate times, then become proficient, then apply them to the correct situations. This reminds me of reading strands for phonics and word study. FIrst students learn letters and sounds, then chunks, then simple spelling patterns (CVC, CVCe), become proficient, and then apply them in their reading and writing. Doing this activity helped me make a connection with technology that I had not made before because I was able to relate it to a content area.