Unit 1
Introduction to
Comm Tech
As an introduction to the course, we will be looking at how we communicate, and breaking down some of the processes involved. We will also start addressing the types of problems we will encounter throughout the semester and discover systematic approaches to problem solving.
Once we have covered these introductory processes, each student will be tasked with creating a blog-based website which will act as a portfolio and work submission platform for the remainder of the course.
Topics Covered
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Responsible Digital Citizenship
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Policies, rules, expectations, account set up, class website
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The Apple User Interface
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Saving work, file names, folder structures and organizational best practices
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The Universal Communication Model
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The Design Process
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Website design & setup
Documents / Links
& Activities
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Assignment: What is technology?
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Blog entry: Described drawing
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Blog entry: Tallest Tower
Other Notes
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The seating plan will take effect on Monday of our second week of class
Accounts to set up:
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school email
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Google Classroom
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Wix.com
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Dropbox.com
Assessment notes
WIX WEBSITE
In addition to saving your working files and final output files in your personal directory, you will be required to create a website to be used for displaying all work created during this course. This portfolio style website will be organized by unit and all complete tasks will be displayed along with related written work, if relevant. Website entries will fall into two categories: blog entries and completion tasks.
BLOG ENTRIES
During the course you may need to demonstrate learning by writing descriptions, answering questions or defining terms. These will contribute to your knowledge and communication mark.
This work should be uploaded to your WIX blog, categorized accordingly and the link should be submitted to the correct BrightSpace assignment.
Unless otherwise noted, these tasks are marked out of 4 available marks and are collectively worth 10% of your total grade in the course.
COMPLETION TASKS
You will also demonstrate learning by following tutorials and working through activities. These will contribute to your knowledge, thinking and application mark.
This work should also be uploaded to your WIX blog, categorized accordingly and the link should be submitted to the correct BrightSpace assignment. Because this work will also include created files, you will need to submit 'authoring files' to your BrightSpace portfolio.
Unless otherwise noted, these tasks are marked out of 4 available marks and are collectively worth 20% of your total grade in the course.
THEORY TESTS
Each topic in the course will include a theory quiz/test. Typically, the questions are multiple-choice and true/false questions. Collectively quizzes are worth 15% of your total grade in this course.
There will be two theory tests during this unit. The first (Quiz 1.1) covers filenames. The second (Quiz 1.5), at the end of the unit, covers all key concepts, class discussions and diagrams.
SKILLS TEST / CULMINATING TASK
The Illustrator and Photoshop units include a skills test assessment. This is a practical activity that must be completed during the course of one class/period. The typography unit includes a practical culminating activity. More information is available on the main pages for each unit.
These will contribute towards your knowledge, thinking, and application marks. These tasks are worth 25% of your total grade in this course.