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Course Description — Students will understand basic computer and internet usage and obtain word processing skills as well as practice in-depth with the following: first grade, typing; second grade, Paint, Publisher; third grade, PowerPoint; fourth grade, Scratch (computer programming); fifth grade, WordPress blogs; sixth grade, HTML; seventh grade, graphic design including photo manipulation; eighth grade, spreadsheets; high school computer courses are listed on the high school page. (Equivalent free software can be used for any of the listed programs.)

Week 1

Welcome to your first day of school! I wanted to give you one important reminder before you begin. Many of your lessons below have an internet link for you to click on. When you go to the different internet pages for your lessons, please DO NOT click on anything else on that page except what the directions tell you to. DO NOT click on any advertisements or games. DO NOT click on anything that takes you to a different website. Just stay focused on your lesson and then close that window and you should be right back here for the next lesson. Okay?

1. If you didn’t get here through My EP Assignments, I suggest you go there and create an account.
2. Internet Safety Reminders: Do not download anything onto your computer without permission. Do not click on any advertising on a website even if it looks like a game to play. You can also turn off advertising, so you don’t see bad images. Don’t give out your name, address, phone number, email address, photo, etc., online without permission.
3. Use kid-friendly search engines that your parents choose for you. Search as specific as you can, so the thing you are looking for will come up and not other stuff you shouldn’t be looking at. Here is one place you can go to search the internet. You can also turn on Google safe search.
4. If you don’t have a junk email account, talk to your parents about starting one at a site like yahoo.com or live.com. Give that email address to all the companies you don’t need to hear from and save your real email address for those you do need and want to hear from. Even though you are giving out your “junk” email address, still click to check or un-check all boxes to let companies know you do not want emails from them.
5. Name three things you shouldn’t do while on the internet. Name two ways to protect yourself while searching.
6. This is the end of your work for this course for today. You are allowed to move at your own pace (this is homeschooling), but it’s intended you complete one lesson each week.

Week 2

1. Internet Safety Reminders, yes, again: Do not download anything onto your computer without permission. Do not click on any advertising on a website even if it looks like a game to play. Don’t give out your name, address, phone number, email address, photo, etc. online without permission. Use kid-friendly search engines that your parents choose for you. Search as specific as you can, so the thing you are looking for will come up and not other stuff you shouldn’t be looking at.
2. If something should pop up, just look for an X to close it down. It is often hidden. Look in the top right corner. Sometimes you have to click on “No Thanks.” It’s usually written in smaller letters and in a font that makes it harder to see. They don’t want you to close it and refuse their offer. But you can outsmart them. Don’t let them make you feel forced to accept whatever they are pushing.

Week 3

1. Create a new document in your word processing program. Save it into a folder with your name on it. Change the margins on all sides and set it to be double spaced. Insert an image and a text box. Change the color of the inside of the text box. Write in it. Then change the font style, color and size. Save!

Week 4

1. Find the templates on your word processing program. Create a certificate. Choose a template. Change it around. You can add and delete elements. Make a certificate for someone in your family to congratulate him or her on something. If you need help, search for it. Having to figure it out for yourself and seek the info you need is a good way to learn. You’ll get it! Don’t stop until you have a certificate.

Week 5

1. Create a flyer. Find a template. Change the elements. Create a flyer to advertise something–you decide.

Week 6

1. Create a calendar. Find a template. Fill it in and change as you like.

Week 7

1. Create a letter. Find a template. Write in it. Why not write to your favorite food company and ask for coupons 🙂

Week 8

1. Go to your blog. If you haven’t used EP’s fifth level computer, you have a choice. Either switch courses if you’d like to make a blog, or just go to wordpress.com and set up a free blog quickly, not worrying about what it’s called or says, just so you can use it as a place to practice the coding.
2. Click on “Edit” on a page or post. You have been working on editing in the “Visual.” Do you see the word “Visual” on a tab? Next to it there is a tab that says, “HTML” or “text.” Click on that. That is your blog in the programming language, HTML. You are going to be learning some about writing in this language. This is the language of websites. First we are going to take a mini course in HTML. Today go to this page for an introduction.
3. Click on “Get Started” and read the next lesson page on communication. You don’t need to click on “next.”

Week 9

1. Read the next lesson on publishing.
2. Read the next lesson on the five pieces. Don’t click on the links on the page.