COMPUTER LAB

PATH is committed to providing a  high quality technology education and experience for its students.

Castlebay employs a full time computer teacher, Steve Ignacio. The children know him as Mr. Lee. He provides technology classes from Kindergarten to 5th grade.

The computer lab uses Microsoft XP Professional equipped DELL computers and enjoys high speed fiber optic network connectivity to the world wide web.

Thanks and appreciation go to PATH (Parents and Teachers Helping) and the Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council (PRNC) for their significant ongoing personal and financial  contributions to Castlebay's technology.

THE CURRICULUM

The first week of computer class we discuss the Rules of the Lab and the Acceptable Use Policy for LAUSD. A signed parent release form must be returned before a student can go on the Internet.

Computer classes are 30 minutes long. Each class in every grade level attends once per week.

ALL GRADES

Computer Hardware:
Learn to identify input and output devices such as keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, CPU, speakers.

Mouse:
How to hold it, double click, right clicking, click, hold and dragging. Scrolling.

Typing Practice:
We utilize a typing program to learn home row, keyboarding skills, developing accuracy and speed.

Sound recorder:
Record and edit voice and sounds using Microsoft sound recorder.

Photo editor:
Resize, crop, edit and save photos for use in other projects.

KINDERGARTEN / FIRST GRADE


Jumpstart Kinder and 1st Grade CDs:
Involves utilizing interactive CD lessons for developing pre-reading skills, alphabet, counting, fractions, telling time, phonics, painting, matching, sizes, shapes, money, music and more.

KidPix Cd’s:
Create graphics, slide shows, movies,
animated pictures, greeting cards.

Microsoft Word:
Locating, opening / closing program.

Typing simple documents using letters, numbers, capitals, punctuation, fonts, font sizes. change colors, use word-art, clip-art and fill effects.

Print documents.

Internet:
Limited and directed use of internet for specific age appropriate educational sites to learn to tell time, count numbers, spell words.

2ND THROUGH 5TH GRADE

Microsoft Word Processor:
Open /close/save files, cut, copy and paste from within a document and import text, images from external sources. Use text formatting, wordart, clipart, fill effects, 3d effects, auto shapes, drawing tools, text wrapping, insert tables. Utilize advanced toolbar management.

Microsoft Powerpoint Presentation software:
Open /close/save files, create slides with title, image and text. Enhance with backgrounds, sound effects, slide transitions and motion. Download and insert original images and sound.

Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet software:
Open /close/save files.
Create basic spreadsheets using labels, values and formulas.

Create profit and loss statements, simple budgets. Create various pie charts, bar charts, more.

Multimedia software:
Explore and use Microsoft photo editor, image viewer, paint programs, screen capture, media player, sound recorder.

RESEARCH SKILLS: 2nd through 5th Grade

Emphasis on developing research skills. Finding facts about people, animals, places, things. We use a wide range of search engines. Search for products, prices, reviews.

Browser management skills: minimize, maximize, resize, move, back / forward buttons and menu bar.

Understanding web page links, menus and search boxes, utilize network file storage and sending services.

Utilize address bar, search history, bookmarks, search engines and keywords to locate information effectively.

Internet safety, privacy, copyright and downloading legal issues.

Computer Lab Topics
Below are links to pages where we describe in greater detail some of the things the children are working on.

Excel
Free Software -Warning: this page has sound on it.
Internet Research
Keyboarding
Multi-Media
PowerPoint
Word