8th Grade Multimedia Presentation Elective Curriculum
The 8th graders in this course meet twice a week in the 260 Mac Lab for half
of the academic year. It is a graded class, unlike the 6th grade computer
class. As in all of the elective classes, there is no homework; all
assignments are completed in school during class. These students use
specialized software that for the most part is available only in the 260 lab.
Seating is not assigned in my classes, with the exception of placement in
order for the student to better access the curriculum. Rarely, there are
behavior reasons to temporarily assign seats in the computer classes.
Classroom procedure is for the students to enter the lab, type in his/her name
and password, and await the arrival of all students. If necessary, direct
instruction on a new topic is at the beginning of class with a question and
answer time, then right to work. There are times when I will use a remote
software to observe all of the lab computer screens at one time, checking that
students are on track, and at times taking control of the computer in order to
show how to perform a task. I also physically move around the lab to give
assistance when needed. I ask the students questions in order to ascertain
that they have understood the directions for the new task. Students are free
to share with one another in my classes. I have found that “Each One Teach
One” works well to reinforce a student’s gained knowledge.
Skills presented, reviewed, and/or taught in this computer class are:
Word processing skills for use in other applications
o Choice of font type, style, size and color
o Alignment
o Margins
o Cut and paste
o Spell check
o Headers and footers
o Importing images
o Drawing tools
Proper citation from electronic sources
o Images are imported to word-processed documents as well as to multimedia
presentations, with correct citation caption in keeping with copyright laws.
The school media specialist teaches this in further depth during study skills
class.
PowerPoint Presentation
o Inserting new slides of various and appropriate formats into the presentation
o Use of Word Art function
o Formatting slide background using fill effects one color, two colors or
preset, as well as texture and pattern
o Formatting slide design to individual slides
o Use of slide sorter to change the location of slides in a presentation
o Addition of sound to the presentation
o Transitions from one slide to another
o Timing from one slide to another
o Custom animation applied to slides
o Proper saving of files as a PowerPoint presentation, a PowerPoint show and a
QuickTime movie
Responsible use of technology reviewed and reinforced
o Ethical and legal issues of copying files, media and applications
o Internet safety and netiquette
o Understand how misuse of technology can be used to distort information
o Use search engines and browsers effectively
o Evaluate Web sites
Peripherals
o Students will use digital cameras and scanners to add elements to presentations
o Work will be saved to external hard drives and flash drives for transfer if
necessary
GarageBand Application
o Students create digital audio files by recording audio or using virtual
images and soundtracks. Multiple tracks of audio may be played at one time.
o Built in audio filters allow the audio track to be enhanced for recording
guitar instruments, etc.
o These original tracks are transferred into mp3 files for use in other
applications.
Frames application
o Students can create stop-motion animated stories using pictures from a
digital camera, photographs of a clay animation, or pictures they scan.
o Students can save their work as video or animation files to share online, in
multimedia presentations, or for inclusion in other video productions.