RSS Feed

  Middle School Technology

Have a great summer!

About the Teacher

Name: Mrs. Johannah Franich
Grade: Middle School Technology and IT Director
College:  New Mexico State University
Degree:  Masters of Arts in Communication Studies, 1997
Years teaching: 12 (Adjunct Faculty, Marquette University & Technology Director/Teacher in Boys & Girls Clubs across the country.)
Years at Saint Pats: 5
Certification: Conditional Certification in the State of Washington

Mrs. Franich received her degree in Communication Studies which emphasizes human communication as well as computer mediated communication.  Technology in its many forms (teaching, network management, web development) provides a great opportunity to work with human communication systems.
 
Mrs. Franich has a few hobbies she loves like: Cooking (primarily) vegetarian, gardening (growing fun food like raspberries and gourmet lettuce), and traveling to see nature's beauty.
The diversity of climate and cultural in this region is especially beautiful and provides so many opportuntieis to learn, to dream big and achieve big. 

Favorite Bible Verse:

Where there is hatred, let us sow love
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)


Curriculum Goals
 

Overview of Computer Lessons

Sixth Grade
We are practicing typing every day for a minimum of 10 minutes.  We have established the baseline WPM for each student and will attempt to beat those numbers by the end of this first trimester.  Students should be practicing at home or anywhere they have access to a typing program.  We recommend Mavis Beacon Typing which sells on Amazon.com or nearly any software store these days.

We are also learning how to utilize productivity software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and hone our research skills online and follow internet safety guidelines.


Technology Elective Overview (Seventh & Eighth Grades)
This elective class meets an average of 4 times a week for each trimester.  Students are encouraged to take technology at least once during a school year but it is not required.  We teach a variety of multimedia skills and basic computing and office skills.  We use many sources including learning.com to increase their exposure to the many tasks required to flourish in our educational system.  We try to prepare them for their high school experience and give them a sense of what technology can do for them - and what they can do with technology!

Each trimester requires that along with assigned curriculum they choose 3 projects that motivate them personally.  These projects may include:  Music Creation, Video Capturing and Editing, Graphic Manipulation, Web Design, and Typing Mastery.  

Class Expectations:
BEHAVIOR:  Students must demonstrate a positive attitude toward learning and be respectful to their peers.  Many times when lessons are completed ahead of time students may choose to work on projects or (on occassion) get free choice of computer use.  It is very important that a positive and respectful attitude be foremost during these times.  This accounts for 30% of their grade.
ACADEMIC LEARNING:  Students complete various assigned lessons online and periodically take quizzes or challenge themselves with typing drills.  These lessons are self-paced to a degree and can be done at home if one chooses.  These lessons account for 40% of their grade.
INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS:  Students complete 3 projects that they choose to learn about.  Choosing a project is as simple as having a curiosity and finding a way to satisfy that curiosity.  Some students learn about multimedia and others master typing skills.  This is a free choice project and each project accounts for 10% of their final grade.  Students may choose to work on a project together, however, each student must complete one part of the project entirely by their own motivation and skill before any such parts can be combined. 

Learning.com login instructions for students who want to work from home:  follow the link www.learning.com and type in your login name and password.  The District needs to say  "St. Patrick" (spell it correctly and make sure there is one space between the period and the P).