BTA Syllabus

BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS SYLLABUS

Business Cluster

Mrs. Gandy

Business Teacher /FBLA Advisor/Academy of Finance Director

Contact Info:

Demopolis High School

701 Hwy 80 West

Demopolis, AL 36732

School: (334) 289-0294

Email address:  kgandy@dcsedu.com

Planning Time: 1st Period (7:55 – 8:48)

After School Lab Hours: By Appointment ONLY

DHS Mission: 

The mission of Demopolis High School is to promote excellence in academic and extra-curricular activities, to develop productive citizens in a safe environment, and to employ a team of highly-qualified personnel who will implement the latest support materials and strategies.

Course Title:  Business Technology Applications

Instructor: Kelly Gandy

Text: Microsoft Office 2013 Fundamentals

Prerequisite: None

Course Fee: $25.00

FBLA Fee: $30.00

Program: Finance Academy

INSTRUCTIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Employees are expected to meet all company goals and apply knowledge through real life situation.  A variety of training methods are employed to teach decision-making, problem solving, communication, and employability and technological skills to employees of Tiger, Inc.  Techniques include the use of small and large group discussions, lecture, independent study, simulations, gaming, demonstration, peer teaching, project-based and cooperative learning methodology.  Hands on and problem solving experiences are utilized to allow employees to become engaged in the learning activities, learn appropriate business protocol, and to practice desired behaviors and attitudes.  Employees are expected to become actively involved in activities, experiences, and assessment that deal with applying, synthesizing, and evaluating knowledge and skills.  Tests, performance assessment, laboratory work, project reports, assignment completion and project presentation are used in assessing employee learning and progress throughout the course. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION 

Business Technology Applications is a one credit course designed to assist students in developing technological proficiencies in word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, communications, Internet use, ethics, and careers using technology applications.  Simulations and projects promoting teamwork, leadership, and workplace skills offer further opportunities for application of knowledge and skills.

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

                FBLA is a co-curricular component of the Business/Marketing program.  This student organization will enhance classroom instruction, develop leadership skills, and provide opportunities for professional growth and service.  The fee to join is $30.00

PROGRAM GOALS:  To provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for economic success in the twenty-first century and to provide employers an adequately prepared workforce that meets labor market demands.

• To encourage critical thinking skills.
• To promote educational values including economic understanding and consumer competencies.
• To promote character growth and development including human relations, good work habits, positive attitudes, and ethical standards.
• To provide a realistic understanding of the work environment.
• To enhance employability skills
• To reinforce basic skills in such areas as communication, mathematics, and technology.
• To simulate interest in career development.
• To foster an appreciation of the free enterprise system.

COURSE GOALS

The student will be able to:

1. Utilize advanced technology utilities, including compressing files, converting files, importing files, exporting files, and transferring data among applications.
2. Analyze computer hardware to determine software compatibility.
3. Diagnose problems related to technology systems, including advanced network systems, hardware, and software.
4. Utilize advanced features of word processing software, including outlining, tracking changes, hyperlinking, creating macros, developing forms, and mail merging.
5. Utilize word processing software to demonstrate professional writing skills by producing and editing business correspondence documents using various data input techniques.
6. Utilize spreadsheet features, including formulas, functions, sorting, and filtering data, templates, charts, and graphs in creating, editing, and printing workbooks.
7. Utilize advanced features of database software, including sorting, filtering, querying and merging data, and creating reports.
8. Utilize advanced features of multimedia software, including photo, video, and audio editing, to create and present multimedia presentations using effective communication skills.
9. Utilize digital tools to deliver commerce and information technology curriculum-related content to an audience.
10. Critique the Internet and digital information for validity, accuracy, bias, and current relevance.
11. Create a product that integrates information from multiple software applications.
12. Utilize research results to determine career and entrepreneurial opportunities, responsibilities, and educational and credentialing requirements in commerce and information technology.
13. Practice safe, ethical, and legal use of technology systems and digital content.
14. Analyze the cultural, social, economic, environmental, and political effects and trends of technology to assess emerging technologies and forecast innovations.
15. Apply safe and healthy work standards in the workplace for procedures and conditions; tools, dress, and the use of technology; emergency procedures; and work area maintenance.
16. Analyze the organizational structure of a business to determine roles and responsibilities of employees and functions of departments or units.
17. Demonstrate knowledge and skills gained through student organization activities to enhance leadership and teamwork.
18. Demonstrate collaborative skills using curriculum-related content in digital environments. 
19. Create simulations using digital tools.
20. Critique various ways to become financially literate, including identifying credit card use and misuse; explaining ways to avoid identity theft; identifying reasons for budgeting, saving, and investing; comparing rates of interest as they relate to various time frames in the repayment of loans; and determining how debt influences future employment and purchases.
21. Explain data encryption procedures.
22. Utilize interactive models and digital sources to address real-world problems using.
23. Demonstrate knowledge and skills gained through student organization activities to enhance leadership and teamwork.
24. Critique various ways to become financially literate, including identifying credit card use and misuse; explaining ways to avoid identity theft; identifying reasons for budgeting, saving, and investing; comparing rates of interest as they relate to various time frames in the repayment of loans; and determining how debt influences future employment and purchases.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

• What criteria should a person or business use in selecting hardware and software in various environments?
• Why are these criteria important?
• How are self assessments beneficial in career planning?
• What is your self assessment ranking and how will it help you in the future?
• How do you create and format a variety of personal and business related documents?
• How do you professionally create and develop business documents? Why is this process important?
• How do spreadsheets applications simplify data commonly used in business settings?
• How do database applications organize data commonly used in business settings?
• How is multimedia software used to enhance informational presentations?
• What criteria should a person or business use in selecting hardware and software in various environments?
• Why are these criteria important?
• How does being financially responsible affect your personal and professional life?
• How do emerging technologies and innovations affect your cultural, social, economic, environmental, and political life?
• What skills are more important in the workplace – performance skills or interpersonal skills?
• How does participating in a CTSO affect one’s leadership and teamwork skills?

COURSE OUTLINE

1. Computer Hardware / Architecture
• Transferring Data
• Security
• Network Systems
• Hardware
• Software functions
• Maintenance
2. Data Input Skills
• Create a Document
• Format Content
• Use Word Tools
3. Word Processing Application
• Manage lengthy documents
• Columns, tables, and graphics
• Collaborate with others
4. Spreadsheet Application
• Excel basics
• Create data and content
• Format data and content
• Analyze data
• Manage workbooks
5. Database Application
• Access basics
• Structure a database
• Enter and organize data
• Maximize database functions
• Manage databases
6. Presentation Application
• PowerPoint basics
• Create content and collaborate
• Format content
• Manage presentation
7. Internet Applications
• Validity
• Accuracy
• Bias
• Current Relevance
8. Financial Literacy
• Credit card use
• Budgeting
• Identity theft
• Saving
• Investing loans
• Effects of debt
9. Ethics
• Effects of technology
• Factors affecting access
• Impact of technology
10. Workplace skills
• Tools
• Dress
• Technology
• Emergency procedures
• Maintenance
11. Leadership
• Qualities of a leader
• Teamwork
• CTSO’s

CULMINATING PRODUCT(S)

Students will:

1. Create a portfolio based on the career of their choice.
2. Create an employment portfolio with a letter, job application, resume, letters of recommendation, etc.
3. Create, format, and publish professional business report.
4. Collect data; create charts and graphs, and present information about an important, current issue.
5. Use the data generated from the Spreadsheet product to generate reports with the database applications.
6. Create and deliver commerce and information technology curriculum-related content to an audience.
7. Prepare a financial literacy presentation.
8. Become certified in Microsoft Office.

RESOURCES FOR INSTRUCTION

Canvas

Google Classroom

Microsoft Office 2016

Windows 10

Internet Access

Computer Access

MATERIALS

Bring the following to class every day:

·         Folder/3-ring binder

·         Pen / Pencil

·         Ear Phones or buds

**Each student is responsible for all books, papers, pens, etc. necessary for the day’s lesson.  No hall passes will be given for a student to get materials.

ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES:

Employees will receive a bi-weekly softskill assessment.  The softskill assessment will be counted within the 30% portion of your grade each 9 week period.  Each employee will be assessed 4 times of each 9 weeks.  Employees will be given a rubric and assessments will be available to employees at all times.  The following:

1. Disrespect of peer or teacher.
2. Destruction or abuse of school property/equipment.
3. Tardiness.
4. Not being on task.
5. Not following safe work practices.
6. Cell phone use

COURSE EVALUATION

Homework	10%
Daily Assignments/SoftSkills	30%
Written/Performance Based Tests	60%
Total 100% pre-exam grade

*A minimum of 4 or more written/performance based test grades will be taken per nine weeks.

 *A minimum of 4 or more daily assignments & softskills grades will be taken per nine weeks.

 * A minimum of 2 or more homework assignment grades will be taken per nine weeks.

GRADING SCALE:

A             100-90%

                B             89-80%

                C             79-70%

                D             69-60%

                F              59-0%

INSTRUCTIONAL PHILOSOPHY:

In this class, each student has the opportunity to increase their knowledge, understanding, and advantages of technology in the classroom. Each student is encouraged to learn efficiently and distribute their knowledge successfully to others. With the Parent, Student, and the Teacher working together, it is possible to prepare students to be lifelong learners and gain skills necessary to be successful in the future.

CLASSROOM RULES:

1. Be On Time
2. Be Respectful (to others and equipment)
3. Be Prepared
4. Be Resourceful
5. No Food, Drink, Candy, or Beauty Products
6. No Cell Phones

COMPUTER USAGE:

                Your student is expected to abide by the Demopolis City School’s computer usage agreement.  Any student caught misusing the equipment and software will be referred to the administration, appropriate action will be taken.  If any financial loss is incurred, your student will be responsible to pay. 

CELL PHONE USAGE:
Cell phone use is prohibited in the classroom unless instructed by the teacher.  Students will deposit their cell phone into the designated storage bin at the beginning of class and will collect it on the way out the door AFTER the bell rings.  The office manager will account for each bin and if the students deposits their phone daily then softskills will not be deducted from their grade.  If a student does not abide by the cell phone rule and is caught using their phone then 1st offence will result in "cell jail" for the day and can be picked up after school.  2nd offense will result in it being turned into the office.  Lose of softskills will occur in both instances.  

COMPUTER LAB RULES: (in addition to classroom rules)

1. Leave backpack on the shelf as you enter the computer lab.
2. Speak at appropriate times, using appropriate voice and language.
3. Respect other people’s and the school’s property.
4. Keep your hands to yourself.
5. Do not prevent other students from learning.
6. Come to class prepared to learn. 
7. No outside disks/jump drives are allowed in the computer lab.
8. Do not access the Internet (unless instructed by the teacher) or play games on the computer during class time.
9. Do not attempt access restricted sites such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
10. Do not place a personalized screen saver or change the display properties of a computer.
11. No “rough housing” or playing allowed in the computer lab.
12. All rules in the student handbook will be enforced.

CHEATING:

                Cheating will not be tolerated.  If your student is caught typing on another student’s computer, using a document produced by another student, printing off a paper for another student, talking during a test, or doing anything else that would have the teacher believe the work turned in or used was not the sole product of that individual, all students involved will receive a zero on the assignment, and will not be allowed to make it up. 

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS:

                If a substitute teacher is in the classroom, the student is expected to show the utmost respect for the individual.  Students are to refrain from using the computers when a substitute is present.  Any student that is a problem for a substitute may be required to come in before or after school and type a letter of apology to the individual.  This will count as an assignment.  Students may be referred to the administration.

QUESTIONS:

                If your student is having any problems or concerns for this class, please contact me at the school.  If I am not available to answer your call, please leave a message and a time it is convenient to return your call.  I check e-mail regularly so please don’t hesitate to contact me.  I look forward to having a wonderful school year!