Chapter126.

TexasEssentialKnowledgeandSkillsforTechnologyApplications
SubchapterB.MiddleSchool
StatutoryAuthority:TheprovisionsofthisSubchapterBissuedundertheTexasEducationCode,
7.102(c)(4)and28.002,unlessotherwisenoted.
126.13.ImplementationofTexasEssentialKnowledgeandSkillsforTechnologyApplications,Middle
School,BeginningwithSchoolYear20122013.
Theprovisionsof126.14126.16ofthissubchaptershallbeimplementedbyschooldistrictsbeginningwith
the20122013schoolyear.
Source:Theprovisionsofthis126.13adoptedtobeeffectiveSeptember26,2011,36TexReg6263.
126.14.TechnologyApplications,Grade6,BeginningwithSchoolYear20122013.
(a)Generalrequirements.Districtshavetheflexibilityofofferingtechnologyapplicationsinavarietyof
settings.Districtsareencouragedtooffertechnologyapplicationsinallcontentareas.Thiscontentmayalsobe
offeredinaspecificclasswhilebeingintegratedinallcontentareas.
(b)Introduction.
(1)ThetechnologyapplicationscurriculumhassixstrandsbasedontheNationalEducational
TechnologyStandardsforStudents(NETSS)andperformanceindicatorsdevelopedbytheInternational
SocietyforTechnologyinEducation(ISTE):creativityandinnovationcommunicationand
collaborationresearchandinformationfluencycriticalthinking,problemsolving,anddecisionmaking
digitalcitizenshipandtechnologyoperationsandconcepts.
(2)Throughthestudyoftechnologyapplications,studentsmakeinformeddecisionsbyunderstanding
currentandemergingtechnologies,includingtechnologysystems,appropriatedigitaltools,andpersonal
learningnetworks.Ascompetentresearchersandresponsibledigitalcitizens,studentsusecreativeand
computationalthinkingtosolveproblemswhiledevelopingcareerandcollegereadinessskills.
(3)Statementsthatcontaintheword"including"referencecontentthatmustbemastered,whilethose
containingthephrase"suchas"areintendedaspossibleillustrativeexamples.
(c)Knowledgeandskills.
(1)Creativityandinnovation.Thestudentusescreativethinkingandinnovativeprocessestoconstruct
knowledge,generatenewideas,andcreateproducts.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)identify,create,andusefilesinvariousformatssuchastext,rasterandvectorgraphics,
video,andaudiofiles
(B)createoriginalworksasameansofpersonalorgroupexpression
(C)explorecomplexsystemsorissuesusingmodels,simulations,andnewtechnologiestomake
predictions,modifyinput,andreviewresultsand
(D)discusstrendsandpossibleoutcomes.

(2)Communicationandcollaboration.Thestudentcollaboratesandcommunicatesbothlocallyand
globallytoreinforceandpromotelearning.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)participateinpersonallearningnetworkstocollaboratewithpeers,experts,orothersusing
digitaltoolssuchasblogs,wikis,audio/videocommunication,orotheremergingtechnologies
(B)communicateeffectivelywithmultipleaudiencesusingavarietyofmediaandformatsand
(C)readanddiscussexamplesoftechnicalwriting.
(3)Researchandinformationfluency.Thestudentacquires,analyzes,andmanagescontentfromdigital
resources.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)createaresearchplantoguideinquiry
(B)discussandusevarioussearchstrategies,includingkeyword(s)andBooleanoperators
(C)selectandevaluatevarioustypesofdigitalresourcesforaccuracyandvalidityand
(D)processdataandcommunicateresults.
(4)Criticalthinking,problemsolving,anddecisionmaking.Thestudentmakesinformeddecisionsby
applyingcriticalthinkingandproblemsolvingskills.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)identifyanddefinerelevantproblemsandsignificantquestionsforinvestigation
(B)planandmanageactivitiestodevelopasolution,designacomputerprogram,orcompletea
project
(C)collectandanalyzedatatoidentifysolutionsandmakeinformeddecisions
(D)usemultipleprocessesanddiverseperspectivestoexplorealternativesolutions
(E)makeinformeddecisionsandsupportreasoningand
(F)transfercurrentknowledgetothelearningofnewlyencounteredtechnologies.
(5)Digitalcitizenship.Thestudentpracticessafe,responsible,legal,andethicalbehaviorwhileusing
technologytoolsandresources.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)understandcopyrightprinciples,includingcurrentlaws,fairuseguidelines,creative
commons,opensource,andpublicdomain
(B)practiceethicalacquisitionofinformationandstandardmethodsforcitingsources
(C)practicesafeandappropriateonlinebehavior,personalsecurityguidelines,digitalidentity,
digitaletiquette,andacceptableuseoftechnologyand
(D)understandthenegativeimpactofinappropriatetechnologyuse,includingonlinebullying
andharassment,hacking,intentionalvirussetting,invasionofprivacy,andpiracysuchas
software,music,video,andothermedia.
(6)Technologyoperationsandconcepts.Thestudentdemonstratesathoroughunderstandingof
technologyconcepts,systems,andoperations.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)defineandusecurrenttechnologyterminologyappropriately

(B)selecttechnologytoolsbasedonlicensing,application,andsupport
(C)identify,understand,anduseoperatingsystems
(D)understandandusesoftwareapplications,includingselectingandusingsoftwarefora
definedtask
(E)identify,understand,andusehardwaresystems
(F)understandtroubleshootingtechniquessuchasrestartingsystems,checkingpowerissues,
resolvingsoftwarecompatibility,verifyingnetworkconnectivity,connectingtoremoteresources,
andmodifyingdisplayproperties
(G)demonstrateeffectivefilemanagementstrategiessuchasfilenamingconventions,location,
backup,hierarchy,folderstructure,fileconversion,tags,labels,andemergingdigital
organizationalstrategies
(H)discusshowchangesintechnologythroughouthistoryhaveimpactedvariousareasofstudy
(I)discusstherelevanceoftechnologyasitappliestocollegeandcareerreadiness,lifelong
learning,anddailyliving
(J)useavarietyoflocalandremoteinputsources
(K)usekeyboardingtechniquesandergonomicstrategieswhilebuildingspeedandaccuracy
(L)createandeditfileswithproductivitytools,including:
(i)awordprocessingdocumentusingdigitaltypographystandardssuchaspagelayout,
fontformatting,paragraphformatting,andlistattributes
(ii)aspreadsheetworkbookusingbasiccomputationalandgraphiccomponentssuchas
basicformulasandfunctions,datatypes,andchartgeneration
(iii)adatabasebymanipulatingcomponentssuchasenteringandsearchingforrelevant
dataand
(iv)adigitalpublicationusingrelevantpublicationstandards
(M)planandcreatenonlinearmediaprojectsusinggraphicdesignprinciplesand
(N)integratetwoormoretechnologytoolstocreateanewdigitalproduct.
Source:Theprovisionsofthis126.14adoptedtobeeffectiveSeptember26,2011,36TexReg6263.
126.15.TechnologyApplications,Grade7,BeginningwithSchoolYear20122013.
(a)Generalrequirements.Districtshavetheflexibilityofofferingtechnologyapplicationsinavarietyof
settings.Districtsareencouragedtooffertechnologyapplicationsinallcontentareas.Thiscontentmayalsobe
offeredinaspecificclasswhilebeingintegratedinallcontentareas.
(b)Introduction.
(1)ThetechnologyapplicationscurriculumhassixstrandsbasedontheNationalEducational
TechnologyStandardsforStudents(NETSS)andperformanceindicatorsdevelopedbytheInternational

SocietyforTechnologyinEducation(ISTE):creativityandinnovationcommunicationand
collaborationresearchandinformationfluencycriticalthinking,problemsolving,anddecisionmaking
digitalcitizenshipandtechnologyoperationsandconcepts.
(2)Throughthestudyoftechnologyapplications,studentsmakeinformeddecisionsbyunderstanding
currentandemergingtechnologies,includingtechnologysystems,appropriatedigitaltools,andpersonal
learningnetworks.Ascompetentresearchersandresponsibledigitalcitizens,studentsusecreativeand
computationalthinkingtosolveproblemswhiledevelopingcareerandcollegereadinessskills.
(3)Statementsthatcontaintheword"including"referencecontentthatmustbemastered,whilethose
containingthephrase"suchas"areintendedaspossibleillustrativeexamples.
(c)Knowledgeandskills.
(1)Creativityandinnovation.Thestudentusescreativethinkingandinnovativeprocessestoconstruct
knowledge,generatenewideas,andcreateproducts.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)identify,create,andusefilesinvariousformatssuchastext,rasterandvectorgraphics,
video,andaudiofiles
(B)createandpresentoriginalworksasameansofpersonalorgroupexpression
(C)explorecomplexsystemsorissuesusingmodels,simulations,andnewtechnologiestomake
predictions,modifyinput,andreviewresultsand
(D)discusstrendsandmakepredictions.
(2)Communicationandcollaboration.Thestudentcollaboratesandcommunicatesbothlocallyand
globallytoreinforceandpromotelearning.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)createpersonallearningnetworkstocollaborateandpublishwithpeers,experts,orothers
usingdigitaltoolssuchasblogs,wikis,audio/videocommunication,orotheremerging
technologies
(B)communicateeffectivelywithmultipleaudiencesusingavarietyofmediaandformatsand
(C)createproductsusingtechnicalwritingstrategies.
(3)Researchandinformationfluency.Thestudentacquires,analyzes,andmanagescontentfromdigital
resources.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)createaresearchplantoguideinquiry
(B)useandevaluatevarioussearchstrategies,includingkeyword(s)andBooleanoperators
(C)selectandevaluatevarioustypesofdigitalresourcesforaccuracyandvalidityand
(D)processdataandcommunicateresults.
(4)Criticalthinking,problemsolving,anddecisionmaking.Thestudentmakesinformeddecisionsby
applyingcriticalthinkingandproblemsolvingskills.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)identifyanddefinerelevantproblemsandsignificantquestionsforinvestigation
(B)planandmanageactivitiestodevelopasolution,designacomputerprogram,orcompletea
project

(C)collectandanalyzedatatoidentifysolutionsandmakeinformeddecisions
(D)usemultipleprocessesanddiverseperspectivestoexplorealternativesolutions
(E)makeinformeddecisionsandsupportreasoningand
(F)transfercurrentknowledgetothelearningofnewlyencounteredtechnologies.
(5)Digitalcitizenship.Thestudentpracticessafe,responsible,legal,andethicalbehaviorwhileusing
technologytoolsandresources.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)understandandpracticecopyrightprinciples,includingcurrentfairuseguidelines,creative
commons,opensource,andpublicdomain
(B)practiceethicalacquisitionofinformationandstandardmethodsforcitingsources
(C)practiceandexplainsafeandappropriateonlinebehavior,personalsecurityguidelines,
digitalidentity,digitaletiquette,andacceptableuseoftechnologyand
(D)understandthenegativeimpactofinappropriatetechnologyuse,includingonlinebullying
andharassment,hacking,intentionalvirussetting,invasionofprivacy,andpiracysuchas
software,music,video,andothermedia.
(6)Technologyoperationsandconcepts.Thestudentdemonstratesathoroughunderstandingof
technologyconcepts,systems,andoperations.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)defineandusecurrenttechnologyterminologyappropriately
(B)selectandapplytechnologytoolsbasedonlicensing,application,andsupport
(C)identify,understand,anduseoperatingsystems
(D)understandandusesoftwareapplications,includingselectingandusingsoftwarefora
definedtask
(E)identify,understand,andusehardwaresystems
(F)understandtroubleshootingtechniquessuchasrestartingsystems,checkingpowerissues,
resolvingsoftwarecompatibility,verifyingnetworkconnectivity,connectingtoremoteresources,
andmodifyingdisplayproperties
(G)implementeffectivefilemanagementstrategiessuchasfilenamingconventions,location,
backup,hierarchy,folderstructure,fileconversion,tags,labels,andemergingdigital
organizationalstrategies
(H)explainhowchangesintechnologythroughouthistoryhaveimpactedvariousareasofstudy
(I)explaintherelevanceoftechnologyasitappliestocollegeandcareerreadiness,lifelong
learning,anddailyliving
(J)useavarietyoflocalandremoteinputsources
(K)usekeyboardingtechniquesandergonomicstrategieswhilebuildingspeedandaccuracy
(L)createandeditfileswithproductivitytools,including:

(i)awordprocessingdocumentusingdigitaltypographystandardssuchaspagelayout,
fontformatting,paragraphformatting,andlistattributes
(ii)aspreadsheetworkbookusingadvancedcomputationalandgraphiccomponentssuch
ascomplexformulas,basicfunctions,datatypes,andchartgeneration
(iii)adatabasebymanipulatingcomponentssuchasdefiningfields,enteringdata,and
designinglayoutsappropriateforreportingand
(iv)adigitalpublicationusingrelevantpublicationstandards
(M)planandcreatenonlinearmediaprojectsusinggraphicdesignprinciplesand
(N)integratetwoormoretechnologytoolstocreateanewdigitalproduct.
Source:Theprovisionsofthis126.15adoptedtobeeffectiveSeptember26,2011,36TexReg6263.
126.16.TechnologyApplications,Grade8,BeginningwithSchoolYear20122013.
(a)Generalrequirements.Districtshavetheflexibilityofofferingtechnologyapplicationsinavarietyof
settings.Districtsareencouragedtooffertechnologyapplicationsinallcontentareas.Thiscontentmayalsobe
offeredinaspecificclasswhilebeingintegratedinallcontentareas.
(b)Introduction.
(1)ThetechnologyapplicationscurriculumhassixstrandsbasedontheNationalEducational
TechnologyStandardsforStudents(NETSS)andperformanceindicatorsdevelopedbytheInternational
SocietyforTechnologyinEducation(ISTE):creativityandinnovationcommunicationand
collaborationresearchandinformationfluencycriticalthinking,problemsolving,anddecisionmaking
digitalcitizenshipandtechnologyoperationsandconcepts.
(2)Throughthestudyoftechnologyapplications,studentsmakeinformeddecisionsbyunderstanding
currentandemergingtechnologies,includingtechnologysystems,appropriatedigitaltools,andpersonal
learningnetworks.Ascompetentresearchersandresponsibledigitalcitizens,studentsusecreativeand
computationalthinkingtosolveproblemswhiledevelopingcareerandcollegereadinessskills.
(3)Statementsthatcontaintheword"including"referencecontentthatmustbemastered,whilethose
containingthephrase"suchas"areintendedaspossibleillustrativeexamples.
(c)Knowledgeandskills.
(1)Creativityandinnovation.Thestudentusescreativethinkingandinnovativeprocessestoconstruct
knowledge,generatenewideas,andcreateproducts.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)identify,create,andusefilesinvariousformats,includingtext,rasterandvectorgraphics,
video,andaudiofiles
(B)create,present,andpublishoriginalworksasameansofpersonalorgroupexpression
(C)explorecomplexsystemsorissuesusingmodels,simulations,andnewtechnologiesto
develophypotheses,modifyinput,andanalyzeresultsand
(D)analyzetrendsandforecastpossibilities.

(2)Communicationandcollaboration.Thestudentcollaboratesandcommunicatesbothlocallyand
globallytoreinforceandpromotelearning.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)createandmanagepersonallearningnetworkstocollaborateandpublishwithpeers,experts,
orothersusingdigitaltoolssuchasblogs,wikis,audio/videocommunication,orotheremerging
technologies
(B)communicateeffectivelywithmultipleaudiencesusingavarietyofmediaandformatsand
(C)createandpublishproductsusingtechnicalwritingstrategies.
(3)Researchandinformationfluency.Thestudentacquires,analyzes,andmanagescontentfromdigital
resources.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)createaresearchplantoguideinquiry
(B)plan,use,andevaluatevarioussearchstrategies,includingkeyword(s)andBoolean
operators
(C)selectandevaluatevarioustypesofdigitalresourcesforaccuracyandvalidityand
(D)processdataandcommunicateresults.
(4)Criticalthinking,problemsolving,anddecisionmaking.Thestudentmakesinformeddecisionsby
applyingcriticalthinkingandproblemsolvingskills.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)identifyanddefinerelevantproblemsandsignificantquestionsforinvestigation
(B)planandmanageactivitiestodevelopasolution,designacomputerprogram,orcompletea
project
(C)collectandanalyzedatatoidentifysolutionsandmakeinformeddecisions
(D)usemultipleprocessesanddiverseperspectivestoexplorealternativesolutions
(E)makeinformeddecisionsandsupportreasoningand
(F)transfercurrentknowledgetothelearningofnewlyencounteredtechnologies.
(5)Digitalcitizenship.Thestudentpracticessafe,responsible,legal,andethicalbehaviorwhileusing
technologytoolsandresources.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)understand,explain,andpracticecopyrightprinciples,includingcurrentlaws,fairuse
guidelines,creativecommons,opensource,andpublicdomain
(B)practiceandexplainethicalacquisitionofinformationandstandardmethodsforciting
sources
(C)practiceandexplainsafeandappropriateonlinebehavior,personalsecurityguidelines,
digitalidentity,digitaletiquette,andacceptableuseoftechnologyand
(D)understandandexplainthenegativeimpactofinappropriatetechnologyuse,includingonline
bullyingandharassment,hacking,intentionalvirussetting,invasionofprivacy,andpiracysuch
assoftware,music,video,andothermedia.

(6)Technologyoperationsandconcepts.Thestudentdemonstratesathoroughunderstandingof
technologyconcepts,systems,andoperations.Thestudentisexpectedto:
(A)defineandusecurrenttechnologyterminologyappropriately
(B)evaluateandselecttechnologytoolsbasedonlicensing,application,andsupport
(C)identify,understand,anduseoperatingsystems
(D)understandandusesoftwareapplications,includingselectingandusingsoftwarefora
definedtask
(E)identify,understand,andusehardwaresystems
(F)applytroubleshootingtechniques,includingrestartingsystems,checkingpowerissues,
resolvingsoftwarecompatibility,verifyingnetworkconnectivity,connectingtoremoteresources,
andmodifyingdisplayproperties
(G)implementeffectivefilemanagementstrategiessuchasfilenamingconventions,location,
backup,hierarchy,folderstructure,fileconversion,tags,labels,andemergingdigital
organizationalstrategies
(H)evaluatehowchangesintechnologythroughouthistoryhaveimpactedvariousareasof
study
(I)evaluatetherelevanceoftechnologyasitappliestocollegeandcareerreadiness,lifelong
learning,anddailyliving
(J)useavarietyoflocalandremoteinputsources
(K)usekeyboardingtechniquesandergonomicstrategieswhilebuildingspeedandaccuracy
(L)createandeditfileswithproductivitytools,including:
(i)awordprocessingdocumentusingdigitaltypographystandardssuchaspagelayout,
fontformatting,paragraphformatting,mailmerge,andlistattributes
(ii)aspreadsheetworkbookusingadvancedcomputationalandgraphiccomponentssuch
ascomplexformulas,advancedfunctions,datatypes,andchartgeneration
(iii)adatabasebymanipulatingcomponents,includingdefiningfields,enteringdata,and
designinglayoutsappropriateforreportingand
(iv)adigitalpublicationusingrelevantpublicationstandardsandgraphicdesign
principles
(M)planandcreatenonlinearmediaprojectsusinggraphicdesignprinciplesand
(N)integratetwoormoretechnologytoolstocreateanewdigitalproduct.
Source:Theprovisionsofthis126.16adoptedtobeeffectiveSeptember26,2011,36TexReg6263.
Foradditionalinformation,emailrules@tea.state.tx.us.