Addison Trail High School

Computer Literacy
A District Graduation Requirement

Why is Computer Literacy Important? In order to continue the tradition of excellence, the leadership of DuPage High School District # 88 invests in technology and access to information for all students. Since 1998 all students are required to demonstrate basic competence using the technologies required to meet the Illinois State Learning Goals. It is the responsibility of each building to provide an introduction to the services,

Why This Goal Is Important:
To be successful in school and in the world of work, students must be able to use a wide variety of information resources (written, visual and electronic). They must also know how to frame questions for inquiry, identify and organize relevant information and communicate it effectively in a variety of formats. These skills are critical in school across all learning areas and are key to successful career and lifelong learning experiences.

As a result of their schooling students will be able to:

Learning Standards	Early High School	Late High School
A. Locate, organize, and use information from various sources to answer questions, solve problems and communicate ideas.	5.A.4a Demonstrate a knowledge of strategies needed to prepare a credible research report (e.g., notes, planning sheets). 5.A.4b Design and present a project (e.g., research report, scientific study, career/higher education opportunities) using various formats from multiple sources.	5.A.5a Develop a research plan using multiple forms of data. 5.A.5b Research, design and present a project to an academic, business or school community audience on a topic selected from among contemporary issues.
B. Analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources.	5.B.4a Choose and evaluate primary and secondary sources (print and non-print) for a variety of purposes. 5.B.4b Use multiple sources and multiple formats; cite according to standard style manuals.	5.B.5a Evaluate the usefulness of information, synthesize information to support a thesis, and present information in a logical manner in oral and written forms. 5.B.5b Credit primary and secondary sources in a form appropriate for presentation or publication for a particular audience.
C. Apply acquired information, concepts and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.	5.C.4a Plan, compose, edit and revise information (e.g., brochures, formal reports, proposals, research summaries, analyses, editorials, articles, overheads, multimedia displays) for presentation to an audience. 5.C.4b Produce oral presentations and written documents using supportive research and incorporating contemporary technology. 5.C.4c Prepare for and participate in formal debates.	5.C.5a Using contemporary technology, create a research presentation or prepare a documentary related to academic, technical or occupational topics and present the findings in oral or multimedia formats. 5.C.5b Support and defend a thesis statement using various references including media and electronic resources.

5.A.4a Demonstrate a knowledge of strategies needed to prepare a credible research report (e.g., notes, planning sheets).

5.A.4b Design and present a project (e.g., research report, scientific study, career/higher education opportunities) using various formats from multiple sources.

5.B.4a Choose and evaluate primary and secondary sources (print and non-print) for a variety of purposes.

5.B.4b Use multiple sources and multiple formats; cite according to standard style manuals.

Concepts:

      knowledge of strategies
      research report
      notes, planning sheets)
      primary (print and non-print)
      secondary (print and non-print)
      standard style manuals
      plagiarism
      MLA

Skills:

     Demonstrate
      Prepare
      Design
      Present
      Choose
      Evaluate
      Use
      Cite

Big Ideas:

      Communicating problems and solutions requires skill using primary and secondary sources for information.
      Valid and reliable information is needed for good choices and establishes creditability.
      Responsible communication credits original sources.

Essential Questions:

      How are multiple sources used effectively to support your thoughts and opinions?
      Why is it important to use information that is valid and reliable?
      How is a MLA citation created for specific sources?

Scenario (THE ASSIGNMENT to the student):

You are going to communicate your opinion and ideas about______________ and present the supporting facts in a mini "Sheet of Relevant Facts." The information you locate and review will be helpful for the project your teacher has assigned. Focus on what you need to know for your project. You will begin the process by:
1. Touring the Library Media Center and learning where the resources are located.
2. Accessing the Library Media Center web page to locate both print and non-print sources.
3. Reviewing potential articles and resources, using both print and non-print sources, that address your topic.
4. Selecting relevant portions of the information, paste to a Word document titled "Sheet of Relevant Facts" and save to your "S" drive.
5. Evaluating a non-print source for:

(The following was compiled and used by permission from Jane Sharka Naperville #203.)
A. WHO WROTE IT? (Authority)
Who is responsible for the content of the source? Can you determine the name of the individual, the organization that produced it?

B. WHY WAS IT WRITTEN? (Objectivity)
The purpose of a source is very important to understand its BIAS. Every creator has a purpose or viewpoint behind what they publish. Print sources often state or imply the purpose or intent of the text in the introduction or preface. The purpose of an internet source is sometimes harder to pinpoint. Look at the address for clues, and read the material carefully for language that gives opinion, viewpoint or perspective. The BIAS helps us determine how to interpret the information for our own use.

C. WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN? (Currency)
Timeliness is often an important factor in the usefulness of information. Look for copyright dates, updates, and sources used. If the source contains references to other pieces of information, can you discover when those were produced? You need to look for CURRENT (within the last 3 to 4 years). For some topics, you will need information even more current than that. This is when databases of periodicals become valuable. Sometimes the documents in the databases are posted before the item is on the newsstands or in the mail!

D. WHERE HAS THE INFORMATION BEEN PUBLISHED PREVIOUSLY? (Accuracy)
The more reliable a source the more likely it is the information contained in it was checked and verified. If the information was just put out without such checks, you cannot tell if it is true or not. Be cautious. Try to find additional sources that confirm the information.

E. HOW IS THE INFORMATION ORGANIZED AND PRESENTED? (Content & Organization)
Does this source give you the information you need in an ORGANIZED, well presented manner? Does it flow logically from one point to another? If what you get is superficial or gives only minimal data - one or two sentences or paragraphs- then the source does not really give you much content. Just a mention of your topic is NOT enough!

F. IS THE SOURCE A PRIMARY OR SECONDARY SOURCE?

This can be done by copying and pasting this section to your document now saved on your "S" drive titled "Sheet of Relevant Facts." Answer the main questions A-E and save your answers in the same document.

6. Citing one print and one non-print source using the MLA format. Save these citations to the same document " Sheet of Relevant Facts."

7. Printing two (2) copies and give one copy to your teacher and the other to Dr. Buch at the conclusion of the class.