Description of Classes

Small Basic

This course is designed to provide  introduction to Small Basic.  Small basic is a programming language that is designed to make programming extremely easy and user friendly for beginners.  Students will have fun learning the following: writing their first program; introducing variables and creating loops; learning conditions and branching; learning about graphics; having fun with shapes. learning properties and operations; learning subroutines and creating arrays; using event signals and interactivity; using editor to create programs; analyzing programs; learning rules for naming variables; using “intellisense” and handling multiple events.                          

Visual Basic

Students will learn the following skills:  Objects oriented programming, building interfaces, customizing forms, adding controls to the form, writing the code.  How to work default properties, events, and operators.  Also students will learn: how to debug runtime errors, working with controls picture boxes, combo boxes and list boxes, dealing with data, working with variables, constants, arrays and collections.  Using event handlers. Dealing with how to create and use classes.  Performing arithmetic operations, working with numeric and strings, using if..then..else.  Creating a web browser and animations are studied.  Looping for repetitive jobs, creating and understanding sub procedures.  Working with mathematical functions, trigonometric functions. How to use a timer, working with checkboxes and radio buttons.  Handling errors, creating graphics, creating ellipses and circles, drawing text, polygons and pies are studied.                                                                         
                                                                                       
Python Programming

This is a course designed to introduce students to the Python Programming language.  Students learn fundamental skills such as input and output, decision repetition structures.  Students learn to work with files, inheritance, strings, files and object oriented programming.  Students will learn to complete programming projects.  Students learn diverse fields from web and game development to machine learning.  Students will gain knowledge for all programming coding.   Most automation, data mining, and big data platforms rely on Python.
 
 Scratch

This course is designed to teach scratch using 21st century skills: coding, critical thinking, problem solving.  Students will learn to code with interactive lessons and projects.  Scratch uses code blocks where students learn to build simple games and use animated characters to tell stories.  Students will create interactive stories, games and animations.  They will use configurable blocks to think creatively, reason systematically and work collaboratively as students create their projects.  Students will gain the ability to imagine, create, play, and reflect.
                         
Java Script Programming

This course is design to teach students using JavaScript and HTML with a simple text editor for testing.  Student will learn about functions, DOM Objects, JavaScript Object Notation, using JQuery, Cascading Style Sheets, loops, variables, functions, objects, properties and methods.  Learn how to script common elements with JavaScript such as forms and tables using events and triggers for event handling.                                

Greenfoot Programming

This course is a visual and interactive computer program that uses Java to build games, stimulations and other graphical programs.  The course is designed to be simple and easy to use keeping beginners in mind.  The student will create actors which  live in worlds to build programs.  Greenfoot teaches the basics of Java syntax and object orientation which makes Java applications easier to understand.  Students will learn how to have actors interact with other actors, using parameters and Greenfoot execution.  Students will use actor objects and program execution controls.  Greenfoot uses the full IDE interface which uses common tools of most IDE interfaces and can propel a student to transition into their professional IDE’s.                                                                     
   
Alice 3D Programming

Explore an innovative 3D programming environment (Alice) that makes it easy for students to create an animation for telling a story, playing an interactive game, or a video to share on the web.   Instructions for the interactive interface will correspond to standard statements  in programming languages such  as Java, C++ and C#.  Students will gain experience with all the programming constructs taught in an introductory programming course.  Alice allows students to see how their animation programs run, enabling them to understand the relationship between the programming statements and the behavior of objects in their animation.  

C ++

This course is designed to Introduce C++ with types, Variables, and Standard I/O.  C++ has influenced many other languages such as Python and Java which are built by C++.  Many operating systems such as Linux, Windows, Android and Mac are written in C++.  Also many modern game engines and browsers like Firefox and Chrome are also written in C++.  Learning C++ will allow the student to create an executable file, how to deal with errors and terminating statements.   Learn how to use arithmetic operators.  Learn to declare variables, name variables, assign values to variables, initialize variables and display variables.  Use performing arithmetic operations with variables such as increment and decrement operators.  Use and learn how to work with constants.  Learn to use the else clause, switch statement, while loops, do loops, for loops, strings and arrays.  Learn how to understand all types of string objects and indexing arrays.  Using the IF statement (function), understanding when to use the break and continue.  Create, declare, define, and call functions.  Learning nested and separate scopes programs.  Use global variables, declaring, accessing, minimizing global variables, altering and hiding variables.  Taking this class will allow the student to progress into the world of many operating systems used in the world today and for the future with C++.

Digital Art I Class

During this course students will learn to use the computer to create their ideas and become more knowledgeable in color theory, story boarding, and basics of animation.  Throughout this course we will be using the digital art software FireAlpaca, along with a Wacom tablet and pen.  Students will learn critical digital art/design, how to animate, and how to use tools in FireAlpaca.

Digital Art II Class

This course is where students explore more advanced tools and techniques.  Students will use all the knowledge they have from Digital Art I to create an individually designed project, with help from the instructor.  Students are expected to have more intricate and developed art and be able to start working on their portfolio.      

 Introduction to Access

This course is designed to introduce students to basic database management techniques: Skills learned include: planning and creating a database file; designing tables; using a variety of data types; formatting data sheets; entering records; creating records in form view; adding and deleting fields; enhancing a form design; sorting records; filtering records; creating a query, creating a query using multiple tables; relating tables; enforcing referential integrity.Students also learn to: import a text file; export to a text file; import an Excel file; export to an Excel file; create a table in design view and datasheet view; use the new object button to create forms; enter records in datasheet view and form view; use database wizards; print tables, datasheets and forms; window  between objects; use advanced filter sort; sort a form subset.
                               

Advanced Access

This course is designed to provide instruction to the student at the advanced level in the Windows environment.  Some tasks include: working with charts; presenting numeric data; working with filters; working with relationships; joining tables in queries; maintaining data integrity; using advanced form features; working with macros; using advanced report features; using advanced queries.                                   

Web Design

The course objectives include: an introduction to a website builder to create your own web pages; using web page graphics; add  images with hyperlinks; arranging text and images for the best effects for your website.   Students will learn basic Web Site Design using HTML coding language.  The course also includes: learning to use a text editor to write your information for web pages, basic HTML document structure and learning HTML tags.  Learn to make your webpages pop to get the most out of your website.  Showing the student the HTML page; formatting text, creating reply forms; working with frames and publishing your web site on the World Wide Web.  View your own website on your favorite browser.                              

Beginning Microsoft Word

This course is designed to introduce the student to computers.  The student will learn the computer screen and the basic toolbars used in Microsoft Word.  Basic document maintenance, formatting functions and editing functions are covered.  Document maintenance includes:  Save, Save As, Open, Close, Print, Print Preview and Page Set Up.  Formatting functions include: Using alignments, using auto wrap, changing font face and font size, inserting symbols, using bullets and numbering, adjusting margins and adjusting tabs, and using leader tabs.  Editing functions include:  Cut, Copy, Paste, Find and Replace.
                           

Microsoft Word—Intermediate Word Processing

This course teaches productivity tools in Word at an intermediate level. Desktop publishing is introduced. Students learn to create newsletters and brochures.  Skills learned include: creating newspaper style columns; inserting graphic images on a page; sizing, resizing, and positioning graphics and text in a document; adding objects to a document; adjusting line spacing; and creating tables.
                            

 Microsoft Word—Advanced Word Processing                

This course teaches productivity tools in Word at an advanced level.  Productivity tools covered include:  creating, sorting, and filtering databases; creating mail merges; merging databases to documents, labels, and envelopes. Skills learned for customizing professional documents include: creating outlines;  creating tables of contents, tables of figures, bibliographies, and tables of authorities. 
                            

Desktop Publishing

Students will create documents for their home, business and church using Microsoft Word.  Popular projects include:  church bulletins; greeting cards; calendars; business marketing brochures and school event programs.  Students will learn:  to create columns; to use borders and shading and dropped capitals; to use the computer’s printer to produce documents.
                                 

 Introduction to PowerPoint

This course is designed to teach the student the productivity tools of PowerPoint in the Windows environment.  Major concepts that are covered include: creating presentations; understanding the toolbars; using templates; inserting clip-art; using rulers, guides and gridlines, inserting graphs, tables, and spreadsheets into presentations; creating and modifying color schemes; creating original drawings on slides; adding builds, sound files, and timing to slides; creating transition and animation effects.
                               

Intermediate PowerPoint

This course teaches productivity tools in PowerPoint at an advanced level.  
Skills learned include:  inserting tables, spreadsheets and charts into presentations; working with organization charts; inserting sounds and music; customizing slide masters.  Tasks learned also include: rehearsing timings; inserting an action button; drawing and formatting shapes; changing fill, outline, and effects; adding text to objects; arranging, ordering and grouping objects; inserting a picture from file.

Advanced PowerPoint

This course is designed to teach the student the productivity tools of PowerPoint in the Windows environment.  Major concepts that are covered include:  customizing slide masters, adding elements to slide masters, creating a customer show, creating advanced animations, creating and modifying SmartArt diagrams and charts.  The students  will learn to: insert an action button, hide slides, add and link existing content to presentations, annotate slides during a presentation, control slide advance, animate text and objects, and rehearse timing and advance slide timing.  The student will also learn to review presentations, protect presentations, Secure and share presentations, prepare printed materials and rehearse presentation delivery.                   

Introduction to Excel

This course is designed to introduce the student to basic spreadsheet design technique.  Tasks include:  selecting cells; opening, saving, printing, andclosing a workbook; creating headers and footers; using page breaks and page setup; editing data; creating a series; creating natural language formulas; entering labels, values, formulas, and functions; making corrections; formatting the workbook; copying data; using the function wizard.
                  

 Intermediate Excel

This course is designed to teach the student intermediate spreadsheet design techniques.  Tasks include; using paste special and paste link; using functions; crating data lists and charts; linking files to Excel spreadsheets; using absolute references; moving & copying sheets; using the IF function; adding,  deleting, & sorting records; headers & footers; the page break view; print titles; grouping worksheets; the function wizard.
                           

Advanced Excel

This course designed to teach functions to predict Forecast, Trend and Growth.  Tasks include:  PMT Function, One-Input and Two-Input data tables; Goal seek and solver; VLOOKUP and HLOOUP functions; PivotTables and PivotCharts.
                                

Creative Writing

This course is designed to teach Creative Writing to older students.   Expressive writing is explored.  Students learn the features of a personal narrative.  Writing in the first person, using time and time-order words, and expressing the writer’s personal feelings are covered.  Writing, revising, proofreading and publishing the first draft are studied.  Students also learn about persuasive writing.
                                

Essay Writing I

This course is designed to teach children skills needed to write essays.  Skills studied for developing an essay include finding and limiting a subject, developing the thesis and organizing the essay.  Creating the outline and maintaining paragraph unity and coherence are studied.  Writing the first draft, revising the first draft and preparing the final draft are covered in the class.                     
                              
                                                                        

ACT Test Prep Class

This is a course designed to introduce students to the ACT.  It is also designed to help students to focus and place more time and effort into preparing for the ACT.  Strategies and procedures of the ACT are covered.  A diagnostics test is given on each subject of the ACT.   This is to help students quickly identify their weakness.  Speed reading is also taught to help with the reading section of the ACT.  An ACT practice review of English, Math, Reading and Science is covered in class.  This is followed by a short quiz.  Homework will given each week.