(a) Introduction.      
        (1) The technology applications curriculum has six strands based on the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS•S) and performance indicators developed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE): creativity and innovation; communication and collaboration; research and information fluency; critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making; digital citizenship; and technology operations and concepts.       
        (2) Through the study of the six strands in technology applications, students use creative thinking and innovative processes to construct knowledge and develop products. Students communicate and collaborate both locally and globally to reinforce and promote learning. Research and information fluency includes the acquisition and evaluation of digital content. Students develop critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills by collecting, analyzing, and reporting digital information. Students practice digital citizenship by behaving responsibly while using technology tools and resources. Through the study of technology operations and concepts, students learn technology related terms, concepts, and data input strategies.       
        (3) Statements that contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.       
      (b) Knowledge and skills.      
        (1) Creativity and innovation. The student uses creative thinking and innovative processes to construct knowledge and develop digital products. The student is expected to:                  (A) create original products using a variety of resources;                   (B) analyze trends and forecast possibilities, developing steps for the creation of an innovative process or product; and                   (C) use virtual environments to explore systems and issues.         
        (2) Communication and collaboration. The student collaborates and communicates both locally and globally using digital tools and resources to reinforce and promote learning. The student is expected to:                  (A) draft, edit, and publish products in different media individually and collaboratively;                   (B) use font attributes, color, white space, and graphics to ensure that products are appropriate for multiple communication media, including monitor display, web, and print;                   (C) collaborate effectively through personal learning communities and social environments;                   (D) select and use appropriate collaboration tools;                   (E) evaluate the product for relevance to the assignment or task; and                   (F) perform basic software application functions, including opening applications and creating, modifying, printing, and saving files.         
        (3) Research and information fluency. The student acquires and evaluates digital content. The student is expected to:                  (A) use various search strategies such as keyword(s); the Boolean identifiers                     and,                     or,                    and                     not;                    and other strategies appropriate to specific search engines;                   (B) collect and organize information from a variety of formats, including text, audio, video, and graphics;                   (C) validate and evaluate the relevance and appropriateness of information; and                   (D) acquire information appropriate to specific tasks.         
        (4) Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. The student researches and evaluates projects using digital tools and resources. The student is expected to:                  (A) identify information regarding a problem and explain the steps toward the solution;                   (B) collect, analyze, and represent data to solve problems using tools such as word processing, databases, spreadsheets, graphic organizers, charts, multimedia, simulations, models, and programming languages;                   (C) evaluate student-created products through self and peer review for relevance to the assignment or task; and                   (D) evaluate technology tools applicable for solving problems.         
        (5) Digital citizenship. The student practices safe, responsible, legal, and ethical behavior while using digital tools and resources. The student is expected to:                  (A) adhere to acceptable use policies reflecting positive social behavior in the digital environment;                   (B) respect the intellectual property of others;                   (C) abide by copyright law and the Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia;                   (D) protect and honor the individual privacy of oneself and others;                   (E) follow the rules of digital etiquette;                   (F) practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology; and                   (G) comply with fair use guidelines and digital safety rules.         
        (6) Technology operations and concepts. The student demonstrates knowledge and appropriate use of technology systems, concepts, and operations. The student is expected to:                  (A) demonstrate an understanding of technology concepts, including terminology for the use of operating systems, network systems, virtual systems, and learning systems appropriate for Grades 3-5 learning;                   (B) manipulate files using appropriate naming conventions; file management, including folder structures and tagging; and file conversions;                   (C) navigate systems and applications accessing peripherals both locally and remotely;                   (D) troubleshoot minor technical problems with hardware and software using available resources such as online help and knowledge bases; and                   (E) use proper touch keyboarding techniques and ergonomic strategies such as correct hand and body positions and smooth and rhythmic keystrokes.         
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §126.7 adopted to be effective September 26, 2011, 36 TexReg 6263