Course Description
Digital Communications is an exploratory course designed to introduce students to project-based curriculum using specific sills and tools necessary for today’s world and the world of the future.
Instructor
Jason Timm ("Techno")
Office: Room 206
Email: jason.timm@gmail.com
Website: http://www.technosworld.com
Availability: Generally available in room 206 during lunch and Per 4 and for at least 15 minutes after school
Units We Will Cover
- Computer Basics
- Internet Skills
- Word Processing
- Presentations
- Spreadsheets
- Websites
Things You Will Need
We will be turning most assignments in electronically which means that you will most likely need to have your own storage device (jump drive, etc.) in order to transport your assignments from home to school.
Class Format
In this class you will experience a variety of teaching methods including individual work, partner/group work, and team work. Sometimes you will have the option of choosing your partners, and other times they will be assigned by me.
Classroom Policies
These policies were generated from you and your classmates and were ratified into law:
1. Be on time.
2. Respect other people’s property.
3. Leave your work area clean.
4. Drinks must be in closed containers.
5. Use of profanity is prohibited.
6. Excessive requests to leave the room will be denied.
7. You must demonstrate respect for everyone in this classroom. 8. Personal electronics may be used only if they do not distract you or others.
Discipline Plan
In addition to or in place of more traditional school recommended discipline procedures, the following consequences may be given:
1. Verbal warnings – only if the behavior is not repetitive
2. Lunchtime or afterschool detention
3. Loss of personal electronics or food and drink privileges
4. Confiscation of electronic devices
5. Time out
6. Singing performance (song of my choice)
7. Physical task – pushups, laps around building, etc.
8. Cleaning chore 9. Embarrassing headwear
Grading
Points will be given for various activities. The following shows the weight of each type of activity.
Classwork (25%) - anything not part of a project or test
- Exercises - 25 points
- GLPs - 25 points
- Critical Thinking Problems - 25 points
- Journals - 25 points
Project (25%) - business plan, world tour, life plan, create/market a game, etc.
- Project milestones - 100 points
- Progress checks - 25 points
Tests ($25%) - performance
- Unit tests - 100 points x 6
- Final Exam - 250 points (cumulative)
Professionalism (25%) - quality work, adherance to rules, good attitude, good effort
- Once a month review - 100 points
- Spot checks - 25 points
Grades will be computed by dividing the total number of points earned by the total number of points possible. Semester grades will be cumulative over both quarters. Quarter and semester grades will be based on the following scale:
A 93 - 100%
A- 90 - 92%
B+ 87 - 89%
B 83 - 86%
B- 80 - 82%
C+ 77 - 79%
C 73 - 76%
C- 70 - 72%
D+ 67 - 69%
D 63 - 66%
F/I/NC 0 - 62%