Instructor: Mr. Eckhoff
The Digital Info Tech (DIT) class gives a broad overview of all the technology we use in our everyday lives. Digital citizenship is also a key focus as it is a necessary behavior in age of technology— how we act, interact and react to all things digital. This course is designed to provide an introduction to information technology concepts and careers as well as the impact information technology has on the world, people, and industry. The content includes information technology career research; operating systems and Microsoft Office applications; electronic communications including e-mail and Internet services; and basic HTML and web page design.
DIT students also learn how computers work, learn about their components and how our digital world works and is constantly changing.
Industry Certification: MOS
Students in Intro to DIT can become a certified as Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS). This certification proves that students can complete tasks involved in various Microsoft Office programs.
Microsoft Office Suite
Students learn to become more proficient using the Microsoft Office Suite by utilizing the advanced capabilities Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Publisher. Most “millenial” students already know how to type and use the basics of the Microsoft Word to type up a report for class, but most students don’t know how to really set up documents that have tables, styles, themes, page numbering, footers, headers, etc. In PowerPoint, students learn how to utilize master slide layouts, add video/audio clips, set up timed slideshows,and add advanced animation and transition effects. The audio and video clips are products that the students make themselves utilizing the equipment in the lab. In Excel, students learn the basics of formulas used in spreadsheets so they can easily manipulate data and see how the change in data is automatically processed by the software. All of these skills will make the DIT student more successful during their college years, not to mention more marketable in the working world.
Additional Learning Experiences
All DIT students create a résumé and learn how to do career research. IT students are introduced to basic HTML programming in the second semester. Students learn how to create web pages that include text, images and videos. Students design their own personalized calendars that can be printed in color for a small fee.
One goal we have for DIT students is to give them an edge over the competition when it comes to their academic projects. For example, a student in a history class may make a poster for a project on the Ancient China for AP World History; whereas an DIT student creates an interactive digital presentation that includes video clips that they filmed themselves, or the DIT student creates a tri-fold brochure to pass out to each of their classmates. DIT students also learn to create podcasts that can be uploaded to the web. You may ask, why would you want a podcast? Well, let’s say you and your friends have a band and you want to post your music online for the world to hear. We all know how quickly something can become “viral” on the web!
Another goal we have for DIT students is to have a basic understanding of how computers work, how the Internet works, and how data is transmitted. Students learn diagnostic and troubleshooting skills for basic computer function.