9th-12th Grade Standards

Ninth – Twelfth Grade Overview



Students in Grades 9-12 experience significant growth and development as they assume more complex responsibilities such as working and making career choices.  They are continuing to develop unique personalities and are making important life decisions.  High school students are strengthening and practicing leadership and interpersonal communication skills in the school and community that facilitate entrance into adulthood.  They continue to experience physical and emotional changes as well as seek opportunities for realizing independence and individuality.


Grades 9-12 students have broadened their perspective regarding the importance of existing and developing technologies and have an understanding of the scope of technology in today’s world.  As students progress through the high school years, they are able to address a variety of problems on a variety of topics in a logical manner.  Technology offers students an efficient means by which many types of problems may be solved.


Because of cultural and ideological diversity in a technologically-advanced global society, many students have opportunities to interact with others whose backgrounds are different from their own.  As the use of technology brings humankind closer together, concepts and skills addressed in the Computer Applications course will assist students in developing skills necessary for becoming productive adults.


The Computer Applications course is designed to provide students with technology fluency appropriate for the twenty-first century.  This fluency includes the knowledge of current technology systems as well as the skills and attitudes necessary to adopt new technologies and systems as they emerge.  Additional components of the course equip students with the ability to conduct research and solve problems; demonstrate creative thinking and develop innovative products; practice safe, ethical, and legal use of technology systems; and use technology and information to communicate and collaborate at all levels from interpersonal to global.


The content standards in this course include hands-on, practical pursuits that extend beyond the computer classroom or laboratory.  Course content is integrated into other curricular areas to allow students to reinforce and expand technology competencies.  As students become proficient users of computers and other technologies in the classroom, the benefits of using these tools for researching, analyzing, and synthesizing information beyond the classroom become evident.  Technology-fluent students realize that technology tools and resources enhance not only educational endeavors but also personal and professional success as well.

Computer Applications



Technology Operations and Concepts


Student will:


  1. Explain data encryption procedures.


  2. Diagnose hardware and software problems.

    Examples:  viruses, error messages


    • Applying strategies to correct malfunctioning hardware and software
    • Performing routine hardware maintenance
    • Describing the importance of antivirus and security software


  3. Demonstrate advanced technology skills, including compressing, converting, importing, exporting, and backing up files..
    • Transferring data among applications
    • Demonstrating digital file transfer

      Examples:  attaching, uploading, downloading


    • Recognizing dangers of online predators
    • Protecting personal information online

      Example:   recognizing risk of identity theft



      Digital Citizenship


      1. Practice ethical and legal use of technology systems and digital content.

          Examples:  cyberbullying, plagiarism

        • Citing sources of digital content using a style manual







  6. Utilize advanced features of multimedia software, including image, video and, audio editing.


  7. Utilize advanced features of database software, including sorting, filtering, querying, merging data, and creating reports.


  8. Practice safe uses of social networking and electronic communication.
  9. Analyze capabilities and limitations of current and emerging technologies.



      Research and Information Fluency


  10. Critique digital content for validity, accuracy, bias, currency, and relevance.



    Communication and Collaboration


  11. Use digital tools to publish curriculum-related content.



  12. Demonstrate collaborative skills using curriculum-related content in digital environments.

    Examples:  completing assignments online, interacting with experts and peers in a structured online learning environment



    Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making


  13. Use digital tools to defend solutions to authentic problems.

    Example:   disaggregating data electronically



    Creativity and Innovation


  14. Forecast technology innovations based on trends.


  15. Create a product that integrates information from multiple software applications.

    Example:   pasting spreadsheet-generated charts into a presentation


  16. Create an interactive digital product using programming logic.

Examples:     products—digital games, interactive learning tools

                  programming logic—if-then statements, authoring software
