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Seeking Advice for High School Computer Curriculum

Posted by Cliff on from the ways-to-educate dept.

Cannon asks: "I have been hired to teach a high school computer class next year. It won't be a programming class, as another teacher in the district will teach programming. Otherwise, the design of the curriculum has been left up to me. I am looking for suggestions regarding what should (and shouldn't) be taught in a high school computer class. "

1 of 14 comments (clear)

  1. What sort of class? by JohnZed · · Score: 3

    I'm assuming this is intro-level, in which case, as much as I love Unix and Linux, I think they would be a pretty poor choice. People who will probably grow up to be white-collar workers need to learn real word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, and database skills much more than they need to know how to switch modes in vi. Basic computer concepts would also be important: how does the internet work? What is HTML? What is a microprocessor?

    I would encourage cross-disciplinary projects along the lines of the "choose your own topic" possibilities that others suggested. Have people prepare a web presentation with detailed charts and graphics about the growth of the internet or the changes in the use of computers in the workplace. If they are restricted to choose good, on-topic projects, everybody would learn from them.

    So, if I had 12 segments (weeks or whatever), I'd do:

    1. Brief history of computing
    2. Components of a PC
    3. Spreadsheets/Charts
    4. Presentations
    5. Databases (Access/Paradox)
    6. Networking basics (how file sharing works, a little bit about ethernet, using FTP)
    7. How the internet works (what's a server? where do these pages come from? What does a browser do?)
    8. HTML (nothing too fancy)
    9. More HTML, basic graphics (paint shop pro?)
    10. Security issues
    11. Social issues in computing
    12. Final projects/presenatations due

    It's a big help if you can emphasize hands-on learning, and that's part of what's so great about computer classes. Topics (like intro to networking or social issues) that don't lend themselves well to hands on work provide a great opportunity for students to hone their charts/presentations/HTML skills by using them to format simple research projects. This is more of a plan for a full-year high school class or a one-semester college class, I guess, now that I think back on how easy it is to waste time in high school classes.

    --JRZ