Middle School Computer Class Information (2011/12)
Welcome to Middle School at FCA! This year we will be learning about technology, computing, the internet, collaboration, presentations, word processing, spreadsheets, email, safety, virus avoidance, and much more. Here are some important points for parents and students to begin the year.
Your middle school student will need to bring a laptop each week and have access to a gmail email address.
Laptops
Many have asked about what kind of laptop will work. Any Windows or Apple Mac laptop will work fine (iPads or other tablets, while really neat devices, will not be able to be used in place of a laptop). Need to buy a laptop for your middle school student? Here are a few ideas:
If you want to buy a netbook (light, tiny screen, long life battery), the Samsung NF310 ($390) is a favorite. Larger regular sized laptops (larger screen, faster): The Dell V131 ($450) or Asus A53 ($350) are great choices.
Buy some of the above at www.newegg.com, www.amazon.com, or www.dell.com. I also have a few used Dell Latitude D610 laptops for sale between $180-$200. They run well and have virus protection.
Email address
Each student will need to have access to a gmail email address. We make use of the free google docs applications that are associated with a free gmail account instead of requiring each student to have Microsoft Office available. Parents will need to set up the account for their student, since students’ age prohibits them from having full ownership of the account. The parents birth date should be used when signing up. Please keep a record of your students email address and password; it was common last year for students new to email to forget their email address or password for a few weeks. Sign up for free at www.gmail.com. Please have this completed by August 22nd in anticipation of our first class.
Assignments will be turned in through email at times, other times will need to be printed out. All assignments will appear on the engrade website that is used by all middle school teachers.
Looking forward to a great school year! Please share any thoughts, comments, or questions with me at: sean@firstchristianacademy.com.
Sean Caldwell
