Return to the Computer Lab.

Computer-Assisted-Instruction: CCC Successmaker

About the computer lab:

Sebring Middle School obtained a 30 station Macintosh LC 550 networked computer lab in 1995. Located orginally in the middle of the media center, the lab now has a permanent location in room 100.

About CCC:

Established in 1967, Computer Curriculum Corporation pioneered the application of technology to education. Today, Computer Curriculum Corportation is a leading multimedia publisher for education, with products in use by more than a million students in over 7,500 schools in six countries.

Computer Curriculum Corportation is a division of Simon & Schuster, the world's largest educational pulbisher. Simon & Schuster is the publishing operation of Viacom Inc., a worldwide information and entertainment company.

Planning for Success:

Middle school students are at a point in their education where good foundation skills are necessary be be academically, vocationally, and technologically successful in the twenty-first century workplace. The key to this foundation is individualization. Not every student is functioning on the same level nor experience the same rate of learning. Students assigned to the CCC SuccessMaker Lab will work on science, math, language arts, reading, and keyboarding skills that is tailored made to their level and rate of learning. Individualized worksheets in most subjects can be printed out for additional practice. A detailed course description is listed below.

What is CAI?

CAI is Computer Assisted Instruction that uses a computer to assist and faciltate instruction. Key componants include: individualization, automatic branching, self-pacing, and automatic record keeping.

Courseware Description:

Science Discovery: Promotes scientific literacy by creating an environment for students to practice scientific reasoning and process skills. Online laboratory simulations on CD-ROMs enable students to perform experiments that explore a variety of science topics. Ten modules covered are Static Electricity, Light and Lenses, Motion, Forces, Waves, Sound, Simple Machines, Circuits, Plate Tectonics, and Cells.
Math Concepts and Skills: A comprehensive course on fundamental mathematics. Graphics enhance concepts and sharpen problem-solving skills. Audio instruction and feedback reinforce the learning process. The course is divided into 16 content areas or strands. Computation strands include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, equations, and speed games. Application strands include number comcepts, geometry, measurement, word problems, problem-solving, science application, and probability & statistics. Other math modules for advanced students include Introduction to Logic and Algebra Topics.
Reading: Several reading modules are available at all levels. [1] Reader's Workshop develops basic reading comprehension with emphasis on higher-order thinking skills. Strands include Passage Comprehension, Thematic Lessons, Word Analysis, Word Meaning, Literal Comprehension, Interpretative Comprehension, and Reference Skills. [2] Reading Investigations invites the student to turn detective and discover meaning in materials from three content areas: literature, science, and social studies. Students build comprehension and thinking skills in reading both fiction and non-fiction, develop a variety of reading strategies, and build vocabulary. [3] Practical Reading Skills develop functional reading materials from practice everyday materials, including reference sources, charts, maps, schedules, menus, labels, advertisments, posters, directions, and applications. [4] Critical Reading Skills develops advanced vocabulary and comprehension skills with passages from literature, social studies, and science. Features include extensive tutorial messages guide students to crtically analyze and interpret reading selections, backup exercises automatically presented for students who need more help, and all selections are exerpts from authenic literature. [5] The Reading Network develops reading comprehension for adults with a reading level of first through sixth grade. All content is based on real-life experience.
Spelling Skills: Helps students achieve spelling mastery by combining practice, quizzes, and games. Rules and patterns are introducted as students study words they do not know. Words are arranged in over 60 groups such as homophones, word endings in double consonants, and adjectives with suffixes. This enable the students to make generalizations about rules and develop generally applicable strategies for learning new vocabulary. This course offers over 3,200 words selected from commonly misspelled words, words frequently encountered in reading and writing, and spelling portions of standardized achievement tests.
Language Arts Strands: Develops skills in correct langage usage through contexual practice, rather than rules. Stands include: Principal Parts of Verbs; Verb Usage; Subject-Verb Agreement; Pronoun Usage; Contractions; Possessives and Negatives; Modifiers; Sentence Structure; and Mechanics. Additional exercises provide extra practice for students who need help in a particular area.
Writer's Express: In this introductory course, skills are developed through a series of process-based assignments that promote analytic and creative thinking. Each lesson focuses on a phase of the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, and checking. WE emphasizes descriptive and narrative writing and introduces expository and persuasive writing as well.
Writing: Process and Skills: This course follows Writer's Express. Its purpose to develop basic writing skills so that the students can recognize and demonstrate effective writing. Students are taught to generate ideas and use a word processor to organize, write, evaluate and revise their composition. WPS focuses on grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
Fundamentals of English: This advanced course provides instruction and practice in the formation of correct, complete sentences. This course address the types of errors often made by students in secondary schools.
Keyboard Skills: Its purpose is to develop speed and accuracy by typing. Provide practice sessions with numbers, special character keys, and specific computer keys to that the students become comfortable using a keyboard. This course helps prepare students for Writer's Express that requires typing. Beginning with the home-key position, students learn the position and function of each key. After a series of instructional exercises, students practice using each new keys as they play an arcade-style game. This course is flexible enough for a wide range of grade levels.
ESL and Bilingual: Four courses are offered to help make the transition easier for student from diverse language backgrounds. These courses are suitable for those who first language is not English. Discover English uses colorful animaiton, graphics, and audio to help stuidents develop English-language proficiency. English As A Second Language develops the English skills of grade 7 to adult learners. Students begin by building grammar and vocabulary skills with reading, writing, and listening comprehension activities. First Adventure Bookshelf support the reading, writing, listening, and speaking development of young listeners. Math Concepts and Skills, Spanish reflects the content of standardized achievement tests and NCTM standards. All instruction is in Spanish.
School to Work Transition: Success In the Workplace presents interactive videos to build realistic scenarios from many workplace settings and job sectors. Students learn and practice interpersonal communications, thinking skills, decision-making, personal development, teamwork, and leadership skills and competencies required to achieve success in the workplace. Essentials for Living and Working teaches academics along with skills and behaviors specified by the Job Traning Partnership Act (JTPA). Such topics as health and nutrition, consumer skills, personal finance, and information sources. This may be suplemented with The Reading Network and GED Preparation.
Computer Literacy: Available on two levels: elementary and secondary, CL is designed to provide a clear and nontechnical introduction to computers and computer programming. CLE (elementary) is targeted for student with little or no knowledge of computers. CLS (secondary) picks up where CLE finishes to provide a more comprehensive knowledge of computers and programming. The content of this course is a compilation of literacy skill objectives gathered from a variety of school districts. Included are: how computers work; their uses; the history of computers; how computers affect people; and programming instruction. The three programming environments are: Turtle Graphics (TG) which allows students to write programs to draw graphics shapes using simple commands. It introduces programming that minimizes the need for mathematical knowledge and language skills; Computer Literacy BASIC (CLB) teaches fundamental programming techniques in the BASIC language. Students use this high-level language to write, debug, and test programs; and Computer Literacy Machine (CLM) which illustrated the flow of data and control within the computer's memory and registers. Students use CLM to gain understanding of the interaction between hardware and software and how machine language commands are combined to create commands in a high-level language.

CAI Curriculum at SMS

Students currently assigned to a CAI class at SMS are currently enrolled in Math Concepts and Skills, Reader's Workshop, Language Arts Strands, and Keyboard Skills for two 20 minute lessons per day. Upon successful completion of these core courses, students will continue in Fundamentals of English, Reader's Investigations, and Math Investigations.