1. Activity 2.1 Blending Computer Skills in Science Curriculums

2. What will I achieve at the end of this unit? At the end of this unit learners should be able to: Classify computer skills for elementary/primary classes into four broad categories Identify relevant computer tools for planning their blended science curriculum Map computer abilities, skills and tools 3. Where do I begin? What spectrum of basic computer skills should I consider for primary/elementary level kids? For the sake of simplicity, we classify the various computer skills relevant for elementary/primary classes into four broad stages. Each stage includes a set of communication skills and a few management skills Management Skills Save, enter, copy, past e, insert, delete images and text Cut copy and pasting Management Skills Saving, insert, accessi ng Pull down menus Management Skills Retrieving previously stored work Using the cutting, copying and pasting facilities across different applications Management Skills Recognition of basic parts Start/shut-down and use of peripherals Stage 1 Communication Skills Basic Inputting Stage 2 Communication Skills Working with text and inserting graphics Stage 3 Communication Skills Assembling text and graphics/ Working across applications Stage 4 Communication Skills Working across applications to research and consolidate info 4. Mapping skills, abilities to tools for stage 1 Stage 1 - Basic Inputting Management Skills Recognition of basic parts of computer Start/shut-down and use of peripherals Kids communicate their abilities through Drawings and images Construction of words, phrases and sentences Tools MS Paint MS Word/Notepad Sample Applications: Using painting to illustrate real-life events involving the science concept Science Word search/ Word association game 5. Stage 1: Sample Application 6. Mapping skills, abilities to tools for stage 2 Stage 2 - Working with text and inserting graphics Management Skills Saving, insert, accessing Pull down menus Kids communicate their abilities through Combination of text and images Font styles, emphasis, etc. Tools MS PowerPoint MS Word Sample application: Shuffle slides to answer science riddle, Science WordArt 7. Stage 2: Sample Application 8. Mapping skills, abilities to tools/applications for stage 3 Stage 3 - Assembling text and graphics/ Working across applications Save, enter, copy, paste, insert, delete images and text Cut copy across applications Kids communicate their abilities through Insert images Construction of sentences, paragraphs with images Tools Google Images Google TranslateSample application: Using painting to illustrate real-life events involving the science concept 9. Stage 3: Sample Application *: Text in Indian Language - 10. Mapping skills, abilities to tools for stage 4 Stage 4 - Working across applications to interpret, research and consolidate information Management Skills Retrieving previously stored work Using the cutting, copying and pasting facilities to manipulate text within the same application and across different applications Kids communicate their abilities through Combining text, images, sound from various s/w packages Email, compose, send, receive Tools MS Word, Google Images Email , Skype, Photography and using voice recordersSample application: Product advertisements, email and answers to science questions 11. Stage 4: Sample Application * 12. What you have learned? Instead of a typical Textbook like listing of computer skills from history of computers to the world-wide-web, we have broadly classified the skills based on the abilities/skill that kids gain Each classification is mapped to the skill attained, the abilities communicated and the tools that can be applied Each skill is illustrated with samples in a science blended curriculum