Sample Semester Syllabus – Instructor Version

Curriculum Digital Literacy Curriculum Quarter: Sep 1, 2014 to Nov 7,

2014
Type
Days and Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Location Training Room, Maple University,
Timings 10 A.M. to 11 A.M. Brooksville, Florida
Instructor Name: John Smith
Details
E-mail address: [email protected]
Contact number: (352) 555-0100
Contact hours: 3 P.M. to 5 PM., Monday through Friday
Contact location: Faculty Room, Maple University, Brooksville, Florida

Curriculum Description
In this curriculum, the students will be introduced to computers and the Internet, some productivity
programs available, and some devices associated with digital audio, video, and photography. This
curriculum also explains some of the common threats to your computer and how to safeguard your
computer from these threats. The students will also be introduced to different career opportunities
available for them in this world of digital technology.

Curriculum Objectives
After completing this curriculum, the students will be able to:
• Perform basic computer operations.
• Describe basic Internet and World Wide Web terminologies, browse information, and perform
transactions over the Internet.
• Perform basic tasks in productivity programs, such as word processors, spreadsheets, presentation
programs, and databases.
• Identify the primary risks to computers and the steps to minimize these risks.
• Explain the role of digital technology in everyday life and the basic concepts of digital audio, video,
and photography.

Prerequisites
To attend a semester course, the students should be able to read and write. Students who can perform
basic computer operations can skip the “Perform basic computer operations” objective.

Instructional Methods
You can use a combination of instructional strategies to deliver this course. This combination would
depend on factors such as the type of content and the skill level of the students. Some instructional
strategies include:
• Lecture
• Demonstration
• Practice
• Case studies
• Problem solving
• Debates
• Discussion
• Simulations
• Learning Groups
• Role playing
• Experiments and observations
• Computer assisted instruction
• Homework
In this curriculum, the students will learn to use computers effectively. They will accomplish this through a
combination of self-paced learning and classroom activities that add to the concepts taught in the e-
learning courses. The eLearning content will be used for lecture and demonstration. You can use a
projector to display the eLearning course or provide you the Print version of the eLearning course. You
can also give homework assignments and self-paced reading materials.
For hands-on learning, the class will have a Microsoft Windows 8 based computer lab.
Note: Depending on the number of students you might need to arrange for sharing the machines.

Class Schedule and Objectives

Course 1: Computer Basics Week One
Class One Introduction to Curriculum/Instructor
Meeting Place/Times/Contact Info/Equipment
Icebreaking—Students/Syllabus Distribution
Lesson 1: Introduction to Computers
Objectives:
1.1. Describe the importance of computers in today's world.
1.2. Identify the main parts of a computer.
1.3. Identify the steps for starting a computer.
Class Two Lesson 1: Introduction to Computers
Objectives:
1.4. Identify the different groups of keys on a keyboard.
1.5. Perform different tasks by using a mouse.
Lesson 2: Common Computer Terminology
Objectives:
2.1. Identify the primary hardware components of a computer.
2.2. Define what an operating system is and its role.
Class Three Lesson 2: Common Computer Terminology (Continued) Objectives:
2.3. Define the term program.
2.4. Explain what is meant by data.
2.5. Define the term network and identify the benefits of networking.
2.6. Define the term Internet.

Week Two
Class One Lesson 3: Computer Performance and Features Objectives:
3.1. Identify and compare the features of different types of computers.
3.2. Explain the role of memory.
3.3. Explain the basics of computer performance and how it relates to
productivity.

Class Two Lesson 3: Computer Performance and Features (Continued) Objectives:

3.4. Describe the different types of productivity programs and their uses.
3.5. Describe the different types of communications programs and their uses.
3.6. Describe the uses of educational and entertainment programs.

Class Three Lesson 4: Computer Operating Systems

Objectives:
4.1. Explain the common functions of an operating system.
4.2. Identify the different components of the Windows 8 interface.
4.3. Work with the Windows 8 interface within programs.

Week Three
Class One Lesson 4: Computer Operating Systems (Continued) Objectives:
4.4. Manage files and folders in Microsoft Windows Explorer.
4.5. Perform basic file operations

Class Two Lesson 5: Career Opportunities

Objectives:
5.1. Describe how computers have become a central part of everyday life. 5.2.
Identify different career opportunities available for a person who is computer-
literate.
Class Three Computer Basics: Assessment Objectives:
Class takes the Course Assessment
Explain Results and how to use individual Study Guides
Review Common Problems and Solutions
Course 2: The Internet and World Wide Web Week Four
Class One Lesson 1: The Internet
Objectives:
1.1. Define what the Internet is and elaborate on its uses.
1.2. Identify the different components required for an Internet connection.
Class Two Lesson 1: The Internet (Continued)
Objectives:
1.3. Identify the features of different types of Internet connections.
1.4. Explain the meaning of the term bandwidth in relation to the different types
of Internet connections.
Class Three Lesson 2: The World Wide Web
Objectives:
2.1. Define the World Wide Web and elaborate on its uses.
2.2. Explain how Web addresses work.
2.3. Explain how to use a browser to navigate the Web.

Week Five
Class One Lesson 2: The World Wide Web (Continued)
Objectives:
2.4. Describe how to evaluate the content of a Web site.
Class Two Lesson 2: The World Wide Web (Continued)
Objectives:
2.5. Explain the meaning of E-Commerce.
2.6. Define Web browser plug-ins and their uses.
Class Three Lesson 3: Communicating on the Internet
Objectives:
Explain how e-mail Works.
Write and send e-mail Messages.
Manage e-mail Messages.

Week Six
Class One Lesson 3: Communicating on the Internet (Continued) Objectives:
3.1. Explain how e-mail works.
3.2. Write and send e-mail messages.
3.3. Manage e-mail messages
Class Two Lesson 3: Communicating on the Internet (Continued) Objectives:
3.4. Identify the features of online communities.
3.5. Explain how instant messaging works.
3.6. Explain how Web authoring software is used to create and publish Web
pages.

Class Three Internet and World Wide Web: Assessment

Objectives:
Class takes the Course Assessment
Explain Results and how to use individual Study Guides
Review Common Problems and Solutions

Course 3: Productivity Programs Week Seven

Class One Lesson 1: Common Features and Commands
Objectives:
1.1. Identify the main components of the user interface.
1.2. Identify the purpose of the commands on the menu bar.
1.3. Work with the buttons on the toolbar.
1.4. Work with the pointer in a program.
Class Two Lesson 1: Common Features and Commands
Objectives:
1.5. Work with text and characters in a program.
1.6. Explain the use of primary keyboard shortcuts and key
combinations. Lesson 2: Word Processing Objectives:
2.1. Perform basic tasks by using a word processor.
2.2. Edit and format text.

Class Three Lesson 2: Word Processing (Continued) Objectives:

2.3. Work with tables and pictures.
2.4. Work with language tools.
2.5 Identify the various benefits of using Desktop Publishing (DTP).
Week Eight
Class One Lesson 3: Spreadsheets
Objectives:
3.1. Identify the different components of a spreadsheet.
3.2. Enter data into a spreadsheet.
3.3. Perform basic mathematical operations in a spreadsheet.
Class Two Lesson 3: Spreadsheets (Continued) Objectives:
3.4. Insert charts into a spreadsheet.
3.5. Explain the purpose of options available for printing a
spreadsheet. Lesson 4: Presentation Programs Objectives:
4.1. Identify the basic functionalities offered by presentation programs.
4.2. Create a new presentation.

Class Three Lesson 4: Presentation Programs (Continued)

Objectives:
4.3. Add graphics and multimedia to a presentation.
4.4. Identify the options available to print presentations in different
formats. Lesson 5: Databases Objectives:

5.1. Explain basic database concepts.

Week Nine
Class One Lesson 5: Databases (Continued) Objectives:
5.2. Create a database.
5.3. Work with records in a database.

Class Two Lesson 5: Databases (Continued) Objectives:

5.4. Explain what database queries are and how they work.
5.5 Explain what reports are and their uses.

Class Three Productivity Programs: Assessment

Objectives:
Class takes the Course Assessment
Explain Results and individual Study Guides
Review Common Problems and Solutions
Course 4: Computer Security and Privacy Week Ten
Class One Lesson 1: Overview of Computer Security and Privacy
Objectives:
1.1. Explain what the terms security and privacy mean as they apply to
computing.
1.2. Identify various threats in the world of computers and explain their
corresponding solutions.
Class Two Lesson 2: Protecting Your Computer and Your Data Objectives:
2.1. Identify various methods of protecting the operating system, software, and
data on your computer.
2.2. Identify various ways of securing online and network transactions.

Class Three Lesson 2: Protecting Your Computer and Your Data (Continued) Objectives:
2.3. Identify common measures for securing e-mail and instant messaging
transactions.
Lesson 3: Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Security Threats
Objectives:
3.1. Identify common measures used to protect privacy.

Week Eleven
Class One Lesson 3: Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Security Threats
(Continued) Objectives:

3.2. Describe how online predators work.

3.3. Identify the guidelines to protect children from online predators.
Class Two Lesson 4: Keeping Your Computer Secure and Updated
Objectives:
4.1. Explain the purpose of different security settings on your computer.
Class Three Lesson 4: Keeping Your Computer Secure and Updated (Continued)
Objectives:
4.2. Identify the options available for keeping your computer up to date.

Week Twelve
Class One Lesson 5: Computer Ethics Objectives:
5.1. Explain what the term intellectual property means as it applies to
computing.
5.2 Identify the various copyright violation acts and their preventive measures.
Class Two Lesson 5: Computer Ethics (Continued) Objectives:
5.3. Identify the various legal concerns associated with information exchange.

Class Three Computer Security and Privacy: Assessment

Objectives:
Class takes the Course Assessment
Explain Results and individual Study Guides
Review Common Problems and Solutions

Course 5: Digital Lifestyles Week Thirteen

Class One Lesson 1: The Modern Digital Experience Objectives:
1.1. Identify the benefits of the expanding scope of digital technology.

Class Two Lesson 1: The Modern Digital Experience (Continued) Objectives:

1.2. Explain how merging technologies expands the features of digital devices

Class Three Lesson 2: Digital Audio

Objectives:
Identify the characteristics of digital audio.
Explain the concepts of recording and copying digital audio.

Week Fourteen
Class One Lesson 2: Digital Audio (Continued)
Objectives:
2.2. Explain the concepts of recording, copying, and converting digital audio.
2.3. Identify the features of advanced speech technologies.
Class Two Lesson 3: Digital Video
Objectives:
3.1. Identify the characteristics of digital video.
3.2. Describe what digital video editing is and the various output formats for
digital video.
3.3. Identify the features of different Web video technologies.
Class Three Lesson 3: Digital Video (Continued)
Objectives:
3.2. Describe what digital video editing is and the various output formats for
digital video.
3.3. Identify the features of different Web video technologies.
Week Fifteen
Class One Lesson 4: Digital Photography
Objectives:
4.1. Explain the benefits, features, and working of a digital camera.
4.2. Describe how digital images can be managed and edited.
Class Two Lesson 4: Digital Photography (Continued) Objectives:
4.2. Describe how digital images can be managed and edited.
4.3. Identify the features of different types of printers that are available for
printing photos.
Lesson 5: Digital Technology and Career Opportunities
Objectives:
5.1. Explain how digital technology enables you to work remotely.
5.2. Identify different career opportunities available in the digital technology
world.
5.3 Identify different career opportunities available in the digital technology
world.

Class Three The Modern Digital Experience: Assessment Objectives:

Class takes the Course Assessment
Explain Results and individual Study Guides
Review Common Problems and Solutions

Week Sixteen
Class One The Digital Literacy Certificate Test Preparation
Objectives:
Discuss the basics of computers and productivity programs.
Discuss how to use the Internet.
Class Two The Digital Literacy Certificate Test Preparation
Objectives:
Discuss the pitfalls and precautions of using the internet.
Discuss computer security measures and digital technology.
Class Three The Digital Literacy Certificate Test Objectives:
The Class takes the Digital Literacy Certificate Test
Discussion of Results and Further Options for Review, Further Study, and
Increasing Competence

Course Resources and Materials

The students require the following items in the class:
• Paper
• Pencil or pen
You will require the following items to conduct a class.
• Print versions of the Digital Literacy courses (one for each student and an extra copy)
• Whiteboard and Markers
• Projector (optional)
• Computer(s)
• Internet connection (optional)

Important Contacts
Technical Administrative
[email protected] [email protected]
(352) 555-0101 (352) 555-0102

Remarks
• The students are required to attend all the classes on time. If students need to miss more than one
day of class, they need to inform you in advance.
• If the students have missed any classes, they are required to make up for their missed class on their
own. To accomplish this, the students can use the computer lab and libraries.
• A printed copy of the Digital Literacy courses should be provided to the students in your first class.
The students can request for an additional copy from you.
• The computer lab and library are available from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. every week day.
• If the students feel that they are sufficiently familiar with the course content, they can request early
testing.