Career and Technical Education

COMMUNICATION

850/850SM                 Grade Level 6

Students are introduced to the history of the computer and internet. This course also examines the intent and correct usage of social media, develops basic computer programming skills, and introduces students to the Google platform and its various capabilities.

TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

806/806SM                 Grade Level 6

Students develop an understanding of the progression and scope of technology. Through group and individual activities, students will develop an awareness of the designed (human-made) world. Students will begin to see the relationships among technologies and the connection between other fields of study, specifically math and science. Through analyzing technological products and processes, students will assess the impacts of technology. Students will begin to identify that the core technologies are the building blocks to all technological systems. Problem-solving skills are enhanced throughout the course using hands-on activities.

AEROSPACE

863/863SM                 Grade Level 7

Students are introduced to the historical development of flight, while engaging in interesting, hands-on aviation and space-related STEM activities.

COMMUNICATION

851/851SM                 Grade Level 7

Students are introduced to the evolution of technology and specific milestones in history of the computer and Internet. This course also examines Adobe Photoshop and develops higher-level computer programming skills through computational thinking.

DESKTOP PUBLISHING

794/794SM                 Grade Level 7

Students are introduced to desktop publishing and/or word processing software to teach them to produce documents in a professional, effective manner. Students learn to communicate ideas to readers. These skills help students produce effective documents with any software program.

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE

800/800SM                 Grade Level 7

Students will learn the scientific and technological concepts involved in the production of agricultural commodities, such as food, fiber, horticultural crops, and other plant and animal products. The course also explores food processing and marketing, health, nutrition and food consumption, and the conservation of land and water resources. Available at Boonsboro Middle School.

TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

807/807SM                 Grade Level 7

Students will focus on the design process. Brainstorming, modeling, testing, evaluating, and modifying will be used to apply the design process in the invention or innovation of a new product, process, or system. Students participate in engineering design activities to understand how criteria, constraints, and processes affect design. Throughout the design process, students will develop skills to communicate design information. Students will learn how various inventions and innovations impact their lives.

COMMUNICATION

852/852SM                 Grade Level 8

Students are introduced to the Microsoft platform and examine the intent and correct usage of those programs. This course also develops advanced computer computational thinking skills and enhances students’ knowledge of the Google platform and its various capabilities.

FOUNDATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY

870/870SM                 Grade Level 8                                              1 High School Technology Credit

Students will focus on the three dimensions of technological literacy: knowledge, ways of thinking and acting, and capabilities with the goal of students developing the characteristics of a technologically literate citizen. The course is designed to engage students in exploring and deepening their understanding of “big ideas” regarding technology and makes use of a variety of assessment instruments to reveal the extent of understanding. Students will develop an understanding of the influence of technology on history by learning how people have increased their capability by using their skills to innovate, improvise and invent. They will gain an understanding of how technological innovation results when ideas, knowledge, or skills are shared within a technology, among technologies or across other fields of study. Students will develop an understanding of engineering design, the formal process that transforms ideas into products or systems of the designed world. They will select and use manufacturing technologies and understand that modern manufacturing technologies influence peoples’ quality of life. Students will select and use construction technologies that impact the design of structures. Students will select and use energy and power technologies and explore the processing and controlling of energy resources. They will become familiar with information and communications technologies and their role in maintaining competitive economic growth. The course will conclude with the synthesizing of major ideas through an understanding of the core concepts of technology with an emphasis on systems-thinking and related principles. This course fulfills the graduation requirement for Technology Literacy.

HONORS FOUNDATIONS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

A350H                         Grade Level 8                                              1 High School Technology Credit

Foundations of Computer Science, the first course in the computer science completer, is designed to introduce students to the breadth of the field of computer science through an exploration of engaging and accessible topics. Rather than focusing the entire course on learning particular software tools or programming languages, the courses is designed to focus the conceptual ideas of computing and help students understand why certain tools or languages might be utilized to solve particular problems. The goal is to develop in students the computational thinking practices of algorithm development, problem solving and programming within the context of problems that are relevant. Students will also be introduced to topics such as interface design, limits of  computers, and societal and ethical issues. This course includes a broad range of topics in computing, including robotics; programming in several languages such as Processing and Java; and cyber security.

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE

800/800SM                 Grade Level 8

Students may select several occupational families, which are related to the areas of interest initially investigated during the sixth and seventh grades. Learning activities should be provided which emphasize "hands-on" experiences in realistic or simulated work environments. Activities such as constructing small wood or metal projects, distributing and selling a product, or landscaping a portion of the school campus enable students to examine various work roles and acquire manipulative skills and knowledge related to the occupational area. The subject areas of mathematics, science, social studies and English should be integrated with the learning activities of the program. Offered at Boonsboro Middle School.

TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

808/808SM     Grade Level 8

Students will learn how technological systems work together to solve problems and extend human capabilities. A technological system consists of parts (such as electrical and mechanical) working together to accomplish a task. Systems have inputs, processes, outputs, and feedback. This course will give students a general background on the different types of systems, how systems have evolved over time, how systems can be modified, and how systems work together.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME DESIGN SUBJECT GROUP COURSES

The following courses are offered only at Northern Middle School. Discover more about the IB MYP at Northern Middle School by reading the Signature Programs Descriptions section. Each of these Grades 6, 7, 8 courses are part of the Design Subject Group. The Design Subject Group is one of the 8 MYP Subjects in which MYP students must participate. These courses include the content of the foundational courses that are similarly-named on the preceding pages. Additionally, the curriculum includes the following components:

• Key Concepts and Related Concepts, such as Perspective and Adaptation that are explored over an MYP student’s time in the Programme.

o   Global Contexts, such as Scientific & Technical Innovation and Identities & Relationships.

o   Approaches to Learning skills, such as Self-Management and Communication Skills.

o   Statements of Inquiry, which allow the students to explore the content and skills through a conceptual lens.

MYP Digital Arts and Technology Education

MYP806/MYP806SM  Grade Level 6

MYP807/MYP807SM  Grade Level 7

MYP808/MYP808SM  Grade Level 8

MYP Foundations of Technology

MYP870/MYP870SM  Grade Level 8