Grade 8 Technology Applications Michigan Standards

Technology Operations and Concepts

Digital Citizenship

Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making

Research and Information Fluency

Communication and Collaboration

Creativity and Innovation

use digital resources (e.g., discussion groups, blogs, podcasts, videoconferences, Moodle, Blackboard) to collaborate with peers, experts, and other audiences

use collaborative digital tools to explore common curriculum content with learners from other cultures

identify effective uses of technology to support communication with peers, family, or school personnel

apply common software features (e.g., spellchecker, thesaurus, formulas, charts, graphics, sounds) to enhance communication with an audience and to support creativity

create an original project (e.g., presentation, web page, newsletter, information brochure) using a variety of media (e.g., animations, graphs, charts, audio, graphics, video) to present content information to an audience

illustrate a content-related concept using a model, simulation, or concept-mapping software

use databases or spreadsheets to make predictions, develop strategies, and evaluate decisions to assist with solving a problem

evaluate available digital resources and select the most appropriate application to accomplish a specific task (e, g., word processor, table, outline, spreadsheet, presentation program)

gather data, examine patterns, and apply information for decision making using available digital resources

describe strategies for solving routine hardware and software problems

provide accurate citations when referencing information sources

discuss issues related to acceptable and responsible use of technology (e.g., privacy, security, copyright, plagiarism, viruses, file-sharing)

discuss the consequences related to unethical use of information and communication technologies

discuss possible societal impact of technology in the future and reflect on the importance of technology in the past

create media-rich presentations on the appropriate and ethical use of digital tools and resources

discuss the long term ramifications (digital footprint) of participating in questionable online activities (e.g., posting photos of risqué poses or underage drinking, making threats to others)

describe the potential risks and dangers associated with online communications

use a variety of digital resources to locate information

evaluate information from online information resources for accuracy and bias

understand that using information from a single Internet source might result in the reporting of erroneous facts and that multiple sources should always be researched

identify types of web sites based on their domain names (e.g., edu, com, org, gov, net)

employ data-collection technologies (e.g., probes, handheld devices, GPS units, geographic mapping systems) to gather, view, and analyze the results for a content-related problem

identify file formats for a variety of applications (e.g., doc, xls, pdf, txt, jpg, mp3)

discuss security issues related to e-commerce

use a variety of technology tools (e.g., dictionary, thesaurus, grammar-checker, calculator) to maximize the accuracy of technology-produced materials

perform queries on existing databases

know how to create and use various functions available in a database (e.g., filtering, sorting, charts)

identify a variety of information storage devices (e.g., CDs, DVDs, flash drives, SD cards) and provide rationales for using a certain device for a specific purpose

use accurate technology terminology

use technology to identify and explore various occupations or careers, especially those related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics .

discuss possible uses of technology to support personal pursuits and lifelong learning

understand and discuss how assistive technologies can benefit all individuals

Empowered Learner: Students leverage technology to take an active role in choosing, achieving, and demonstrating competency in their learning goals, informed by the learning sciences.

Articulate and set personal learning goals, develop strategies leveraging technology to achieve them, and reflect on the learning process itself to improve learning outcomes.

Build networks and customize their learning environments in ways that support the learning process.

Use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.

Understand the fundamental concepts of technology operations, demonstrate the ability to choose, use, and troubleshoot current technologies, and are able to transfer their knowledge to explore emerging technologies.

Digital Citizen: Students recognize the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of living, learning and working in an interconnected digital world, and they act and model in ways that are safe, legal and ethical.

Cultivate and manage their digital identity and reputation and are aware of the permanence of their actions in the digital world.

Engage in positive, safe, legal, and ethical behavior when using technology, including social interactions online or when using networked devices.

Demonstrate an understanding of and respect for the rights and obligations of using and sharing intellectual property.

Manage their personal data to maintain digital privacy and security and are aware of data-collection technology used to track their navigation online.

Knowledge Constructor: Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others.

Plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information and other resources for their intellectual or creative pursuits.

Evaluate the accuracy, perspective, credibility, and relevance of information, media, data or other resources.

Curate information from digital resources using a variety of tools and methods to create collections of artifacts that demonstrate meaningful connections or conclusions.

Build knowledge by actively exploring realworld issues and problems, developing ideas and theories, and pursuing answers and solutions.

Innovative Designer: Students use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful or imaginative solutions.

Know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts, or solving authentic problems.

Select and use digital tools to plan and manage a design process that considers design constraints and calculated risks.

Develop, test, and refine prototypes as part of a cyclical design process.

Exhibit a tolerance for ambiguity, perseverance, and the capacity to work with open-ended problems.

Computational Thinker: Students develop and employ strategies for understanding and solving problems in ways that leverage the power of technological methods to develop and test solutions.

Formulate problem definitions suited for technology-assisted methods such as data analysis, abstract models and algorithmic thinking in exploring and finding solutions.

Collect data or identify relevant data sets, use digital tools to analyze them, and represent data in various ways to facilitate problemsolving and decision-making.

Break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem-solving.

Understand how automation works and use algorithmic thinking to develop a sequence of steps to create and test automated solutions.

Creative Communicator: Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals.

Choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.

Create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.

Communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations.

Publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.

Global Collaborator: Students use digital tools to broaden their perspectives and enrich their learning by collaborating with others and working effectively in teams locally and globally.

Use digital tools to connect with learners from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, engaging with them in ways that broaden mutual understanding and learning.

Use collaborative technologies to work with others, including peers, experts, or community members, to examine issues and problems from multiple viewpoints.

Contribute constructively to project teams, assuming various roles and responsibilities to work effectively toward a common goal.

Explore local and global issues and use collaborative technologies to work with others to investigate solutions.