computerdisc-l: Discovery Curriculum Validation

In preparation for the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) technology literacy requirement, a Discovery Task Force was assembled to examine the direction of the current 7^th and 8^th grade discovery courses and how we can best serve the students of Mississippi to prepare them for the 21^st century workforce. The task force recommendations to the State Department of Education were taken into consideration as the curriculum writing team revised the 7^th and 8^th grade curricula. The result is a 2-year course conversion from career and computer discovery to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) I and ICT II. This high quality, research-based 7^th and 8^th grade ICT curriculum is aligned with industry, technology, 21^st century skills, and academic standards and will result in 8^th grade students having the opportunity to attain a technology industry certification called IC³. This outstanding curriculum is in precision with Governor Barbour’s educational improvement goals and can be a model for other states in the nation.

We are asking for input from you and other discovery instructors in your school about the revised curriculum. Please download and review the ICT Curriculum Draft and complete the ICT Curriculum Validation Survey. Please visit http://ict.rcu.msstate.edu/ to download the curriculum and complete the online survey. Please review the entire website for information related to the ICT curriculum. There is a link to FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) that will answer many of the questions you may have.

We need you to include teachers in related academic areas, members of your local craft/advisory committees, district technology coordinators, district curriculum coordinators, and parents in the review process. Please be sure to complete the entire validation survey, including contact information located at the beginning of the survey. Please make sure your administrator completes the survey and at least one parent per school.

In order to process your responses and finalize the revision of this curriculum, please complete the validation survey by February 16, 2006. Thank you for your assistance and we look forward to your input.

If you have questions, please contact me at 662-325-2510 or rab3@ra.msstate.edu. I will be at the MECA conference January 30 – February 1. If you are there, I will be glad to talk to you about this exciting curriculum. If you are not able to attend, please email or call, just know that I will check email but be unable to return calls until Thursday, February 2.

Hope you have a great day,

Robin Parker

Research and Curriculum Unit

Instructional Design Specialist

Email: rab3@ra.msstate.edu

Web Address: http://rcu.msstate.edu

Phone: 662.325.2510

Fax: 662.325.3296