(a) General requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grades 9 and 10. Students shall be awarded one credit for successful completion of this course.
(b) Introduction.
  (1) Career and technical education instruction provides content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills for students to further their education and succeed in current or emerging professions.
  (2) The Information Technology (IT) Career Cluster focuses on building linkages in IT occupations for entry level, technical, and professional careers related to the design, development, support, and management of hardware, software, multimedia, and systems integration services.
  (3) In Principles of Information Technology, students will develop computer literacy skills to adapt to emerging technologies used in the global marketplace. Students will implement personal and interpersonal skills to prepare for a rapidly evolving workplace environment. Students will enhance reading, writing, computing, communication, and reasoning skills and apply them to the information technology environment.
  (4) Students are encouraged to participate in extended learning experiences such as career and technical student organizations and other leadership or extracurricular organizations.
  (5) 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.
(c) Knowledge and skills.
  (1) The student demonstrates professional standards/employability skills as required by business and industry. The student is expected to:
    (A) identify and demonstrate work behaviors and qualities that enhance employability and job advancement such as regular attendance, attention to proper attire, maintenance of a clean and safe work environment, pride in work, flexibility, and initiative;
    (B) employ effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills;
    (C) employ effective reading and writing skills;
    (D) solve problems and think critically;
    (E) demonstrate leadership skills and function effectively as a team member;
    (F) identify and implement proper safety procedures; and
    (G) demonstrate planning and time-management skills such as storyboarding and project management, including initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing a project.
  (2) The student identifies various employment opportunities in the IT field. The student is expected to:
    (A) identify job opportunities and accompanying job duties and tasks;
    (B) research careers of personal interest along with the education, job skills, and experience required to achieve personal career goals; and
    (C) describe the functions of resumes and portfolios.
  (3) The student uses evolving and emerging technologies to exchange information. The student is expected to:
    (A) identify and describe functions of various evolving and emerging technologies;
    (B) send and receive text information and file attachments using electronic methods such as email, electronic bulletin boards, and instant message services;
    (C) demonstrate effective Internet search strategies, including keywords and Boolean logic, using various available search engines;
    (D) identify the various components of a Uniform Resource Locator;
    (E) demonstrate ability to effectively test acquired information from the Internet for accuracy, relevance, and validity;
    (F) explain issues concerning computer-based threats such as computer viruses, malware, and hacking; and
    (G) explain issues concerning Internet safety such as identity theft, online predators, cyber-bullying, and phishing.
  (4) The student demonstrates knowledge of the hardware components associated with information systems. The student is expected to:
    (A) identify major hardware components and their functions;
    (B) use available reference tools as appropriate; and
    (C) connect and use a variety of peripheral devices such as mouse, keyboard, microphone, digital camera, and printer.
  (5) The student demonstrates knowledge of the different software associated with information systems. The student is expected to:
    (A) differentiate between systems and application software;
    (B) identify and explain major operating system fundamentals and components such as disk operations, graphical user interface components, and hardware drivers;
    (C) explain the purpose of file types across software products;
    (D) demonstrate use of computer numbering systems and internal data representation such as identifying the hexadecimal value of a color;
    (E) compare and contrast open source and proprietary software;
    (F) explain use of system management tools;
    (G) apply proper file management techniques such as creating, naming, organizing, copying, moving, and deleting files;
    (H) use appropriate file protection and security; and
    (I) explain the process for discovering, quarantining, and removing viruses from a computer system.
  (6) The student analyzes network systems. The student is expected to:
    (A) identify hardware associated with telecommunications and data networking such as servers, routers, switches, and network connectors;
    (B) identify and describe various types of networks such as peer-to-peer, local area networks, wide area networks, wireless, and Ethernet;
    (C) identify functions of network operating systems; and
    (D) explain troubleshooting techniques for various network connection issues.
  (7) The student applies word-processing technology. The student is expected to:
    (A) identify the terminology associated with word-processing software;
    (B) edit a variety of text documents using functions such as pagination, appropriate white space, tab settings, and font style, size, and color; and
    (C) create professional documents such as memorandums, technical manuals, or proposals using advanced word-processing features.
  (8) The student applies spreadsheet technology. The student is expected to:
    (A) identify the terminology associated with spreadsheet software;
    (B) use numerical content to perform mathematical calculations;
    (C) use student-created and preprogrammed functions to produce documents such as budget, payroll, statistical tables, and personal checkbook register;
    (D) identify, generate, and describe the function of comma separated value files;
    (E) create and analyze spreadsheets incorporating advanced features such as lookup tables, nested IF statements, subtotals, cell protection conditional formatting, charts, and graphs; and
    (F) perform sorting, searching, and data filtering in documents.
  (9) The student explores computer programming concepts. The student is expected to:
    (A) identify the function of compilers and interpreters;
    (B) explain the difference between the operation of compilers and interpreters;
    (C) identify various computer languages and how the languages are used in software development;
    (D) recognize data representation in software development such as string, numeric, character, integer, and date;
    (E) identify and explain the concept of algorithms; and
    (F) describe the flow of a structured algorithm, including linear and iterative instructions such as using a flow chart.
  (10) The student explores database technology. The student is expected to:
    (A) identify the terminology associated with database software and database functions;
    (B) explore the application of databases;
    (C) identify and explain the purpose and elements of a query language;
    (D) identify and explain the purpose of fields and records; and
    (E) describe the process of constructing a query, including multiple search parameters.
  (11) The student applies presentation management technology. The student is expected to:
    (A) identify the terminology and functions of presentation software; and
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