Harris County High School

HIGH SCHOOL COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE TITLE

Introduction to Digital Technology

TERM

TEACHER

Memory Reed

ROOM

SPRING 2017
#

C-1

Email: reed-m@harris.k12.ga.us
Website: http://hchscomputerscience.weebly.com/

Contact
Teacher Support

Help sessions are available by appointment after school on Tuesdays unless otherwise announced.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Introduction to Digital Technology is the foundational course for Web & Digital Communications, Programming,
Advanced Programming, Information Support & Services, and Network Systems pathways.
This course is designed for high school students to understand, communicate, and adapt to a digital world as it impacts
their personal life, society, and the business world. Exposure to foundational knowledge in hardware, software,
programming, web design, IT support, and networks are all taught in a computer lab with hands-on activities and
project-focused tasks. Students will not only understand the concepts, but apply their knowledge to situations and
defend their actions/decisions/choices through the knowledge and skills acquired in this course.
Employability skills are integrated into activities, tasks, and projects throughout the course standards to demonstrate the
skills required by business and industry.
Competencies in the co-curricular student organization, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), are integral
components of both the employability skills standards and content standards for this course.
Various forms of technologies will be highlighted to expose students to the emerging technologies impacting the digital
world. Professional communication skills and practices, problem-solving, ethical and legal issues, and the impact of
effective presentation skills are taught in this course as a foundational knowledge to prepare students to be college and
career ready. The knowledge and skills taught in this course build upon each other to form a comprehensive introduction
to digital world.

COURSE CURRICULUM CONTENT

Course Standards

COURSE STANDARDS
IT-IDT 1 Demonstrate employability skills required
by business and industry
1.
IT-IDT - 2 Explore, research, and present findings on
positions and career paths in technology and
the impact of technology on chosen career 2.
3.
area.
IT-IDT-3
Demonstrate effective professional
4.
communication skills (oral, written, and 5.
digital) and practices that enable positive
6.
customer relationships.
IT-IDT-4
Identify, describe, evaluate, select and use 7.
8.
appropriate technology.
IT-IDT-5
Understand, communicate, and adapt to a
Syllabus, Introduction to Digital Technology, 2016

UNITS/TOPICS
FBLA leadership development, community
service, and employability skills
Online safety and digital citizenship
Emerging and future technology
Hardware and software
Problem solving, flowcharting and algorithms
Visual programming
Employability Skills
Information Technology Careers
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IT-IDT-6
IT-IDT-7
IT-IDT-8
IT-IDT-9
IT-IDT-10

IT-IDT-11

digital world.
9.
Explore and explain the basic components of
computer networks.
10.
Use computational thinking procedures to
11.
analyze and solve problems.
Create and organize web pages through the 12.
use of a variety of web programming design13.
tools.
14.
Design, develop, test and implement
15.
programs using visual programming.
16.
Describe, analyze, develop and follow
policies for managing ethical and legal
issues in the business world and in a
technology-based society.
Explore how FBLA is an integral part of
business and computer science courses
through leadership development, school and
community service projects,
entrepreneurship development, and
competitive events.

FBLA entrepreneurship development, competitive

events, professional communication
Operating systems
Customer relationships
Networking basics
Online resources
Web design
Ethics, legal issues, and cyber security
Information Technology Careers: Network Systems,
Information Support & Services, Web & Digital
Communications and Computer Forensics

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

Published Materials
No textbook, material will be provided electronically, in
notes through instruction and with handouts.

Instructional Supplies
Headphones, flash drive, pencils & pens

EVALUATION AND GRADING

Assignments
Classwork
Quizzes
Projects
Unit Tests
FBLA activities
Leadership activities
Ethics
Final Exam

Grade Weights
9 Weeks Grade:
Classwork:
Leadership/Ethics:
Major Projects/Tests

35%
15%
50%

A:
B:
C:
F:

Grading Scale
90 and above
80 89
70 79
69 or below

The two 9 weeks grades will be

averaged for the semester grade.

*Sign up for classroom updates by texting to 81010 the following code: @4a65e

OTHER INFORMATION
Expectations for Academic Success
1)Complete daily classwork assignments
2)Participate in class discussions and ask questions
3)Participate constructively as a team member
4)Problem solve and accept challenges
5)Challenge yourself to continuously improve

Additional Requirements/Resources
Acceptable Computer Use Policy
USB/Flash Drive (min. 2 GB)
Earbuds or earphones

The syllabus may be updated as needed throughout the semester.

MRS. REED
I am currently in my 17th year teaching, my 10th year at HCHS. Prior to coming to HCHS I taught Marketing
at Troup High School 2000-2007. Before I became a teacher I worked in the business world in several
different careers. I graduated from HCHS in 1979 and worked in my familys business, Fraziers Inc. in Pine
Mountain and worked for Callaway Gardens in the Education Department as a work-based learning student. I
graduated from Columbus State University in 1983 with a BBA in Marketing. I managed retail stores in our
Syllabus, Introduction to Digital Technology, 2016

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business in Columbus, Pine Mountain and LaGrange. I was President of Fraziers Inc. 1987-1990. I then left
the business and worked at Milliken & Company 1990-1996 in the International Department. In 1996 I went
to work at West Georgia Technical College as the manager of the Callaway Center for International Business
Development. In 1999 I left West Georgia Technical College and started on my Masters of Education at
Auburn University. I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a M. Ed. in Marketing Education in 2000.

MY EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY
I believe that students should be educated to be contributing and successful members of our society and in the
workplace. I believe it is the responsibility of the school, the student and the parents to make sure that our
students are prepared for their adult lives. Therefore, students need to learn to be self-sufficient, to solve
problems and to have excellent work ethics. To achieve this, I believe that students are best served by projectbased learning, where they are given problems and have to learn to solve those problems with as little input
from the teacher as possible so they can cope with the expectations of their jobs of the future. I believe all
students can learn and can contribute to their learning process and that the teacher is to facilitate their
learning.
Class/Lab Rules
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All phones will be placed in the phone holder at the beginning of class and will not be used during class, unless there is a class
activity requiring the use of the phone. Phones may be placed in the charging station and left there during class.
Personal electronic devices are not to be used or seen in the classroom.
Use of the computer is a privilege; you will lose that privilege if you abuse it. Playing games and being on unauthorized websites
will not be tolerated.
Students are not to unplug cords, move cords, open computers, etc. without teacher permission.
Stay in your assigned seat unless given permission to get up and move around the room.
No food or drink in the lab without teacher permission.
Treat everyone with respect.
Do not talk when the teacher is talking.
Putting your head down during class is considered disrespectful and not participating in class. You are assumed to be sleeping if
your head is down.
Follow dress code, including not wearing hats or hoods.
Do not touch the thermostat, if you are cold or hot you may let the teacher know, but realize you are one of many and the
temperature will be set to the comfort of the teacher.
Leaving class takes away from instructional time; passes to the restroom, counselor, locker, etc. will be limited. Plan accordingly,
use the restroom before class.
Students will be placed in a seating chart, you may not switch seats with another student or move to another seat without teacher
permission
Headphones are to be used for tutorials and videos during instruction, they are not to be in during teacher instruction. If they are
they will be confiscated.
All assignments are well thought out and planned to enhance your learning, they are not optional.

Classroom/Lab Agreement
I have read and understand the 2016-17 course syllabus and accompanying FBLA information. I also understand I will
be using school equipment and I will take care of it in a proper manner. I understand that signing this syllabus and
returning it to Mrs. Reed by the deadline will be a grade. Failure to return the syllabus by the deadline will result in a 0
for this grade.
Student Name ____________________________________Student Signature _________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name _____________________________Parent/Guardian Signature __________________________
Parent/Guardian email: _____________________________Parent/Guardian preferred phone #: ___________________
Syllabus, Introduction to Digital Technology, 2016

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