What does it mean to be a BCD student? BCD Students Are... Responsible.
Accountability is increasingly becoming a lost value. At BCD our motto is “Respect Yourself, Respect Others, Take Responsibility for Your Actions.”
“The teachers at BCD are truly exceptional people. I did not realize how unusual this was until I went to shadow at the high schools. Here, the teachers know you personally and the level of trust astounds me every day.”– BCD Middle School student
The computer technology curriculum in kindergarten - fifth grades broadly follows the National Educational Technology Standards which prepares the students for the middle school program. The curriculum is designed to make the students fully familiar and comfortable with the computer as a tool for the modern age of information technology. The curriculum encourages the students natural imagination and creativity. It teaches them basics of numbers, writing techniques, arts and graphic design through the use of standard commercial software which the students love. The students in the kindergarten class become familiar with different parts of the computer and then begin using simple software like Kid pix and Reader Rabbit, which are both fun and educational. In higher grades, students use Jump Start, Phonics, Hyper studio, and science, math, and graphing software. The students gradually learn techniques like word processing, file management, networking, and progressively become more advanced in the same techniques as they reach higher grades. Windows operating system and Internet Explorer are used throughout.
A special emphasis is placed on teaching of keyboarding in all grades, which is a very useful skill for using computers. There is a close integration between computer technology instruction and other courses. It is important for the students to recognize that the computer is a very powerful tool that can be useful in almost all areas in the modern age of information technology.
The curriculum for the middle school is based on the IBO MYP (International Baccalaureate Organization Middle Years Program). The MYP divides the teaching of technology into three components, information, materials, and systems. These three parts are integrated and programmed over the three years of the middle school years. In the sixth grade year on a trimester system, the curriculum consists of teaching necessary tools such as spread sheet, data base, word processor, PowerPoint, web designs in HTML and key boarding.
The seventh and eighth grade computer technology courses are combined and offered as a trimester course to students. In this program, curriculum topics such as hardware systems, peripheral devices, computer mathematics, and applications to real systems such as virtual business and newspaper publishing and media are covered. In addition to imparting knowledge of computers, students acquire valuable problem solving skills and learn to use a systems approach to real life activities. Students also learn to use the software Adobe Photoshop CS3. With the help of this software, they learn advanced photo editing techniques that challenge their imagination and promote their technical as well as artistic skills.
A special component of the computer technology course for the middle school students is Robotics. It is an interdisciplinary field that is at the frontiers of modern technology. This course trains the students in various aspects of project planning and engineering design. It challenges the imagination of the students and promotes their creativity. Robotics is the science fiction of yesterday, a technological marvel of today, and a glimpse of tomorrow.