Tech TEKS Review

The Pre-K TEKS website is very impressive and interactive. It establishes the need for the the Pre-K students to begin to develop basic computer and communication skills through technology practices. The videos are informative and demonstrate the development of basics of self awareness and learning motivation. The guidelines articulate what basic technological knowledge the students need to be prepared for in Kindergarten. Children start Kindergarten at a wide range of social and emotional levels and the task of providing them with basic technology skills is equally as drastic.

The Technology TEKS are designed much like the TEKS for other subjects in that it is a scaffolding curriculum that constantly builds off of already learned knowledge. For example, In the high school desktop publishing class students must be able to "distinguish design requirements as they relate to purposes and audiences including one-surface objects, multiple or bound pages, stationery, book jackets/magazine covers, pamphlets, magazines, brochures, and labels." If you track back to the middle school TEKS you will find this is also an expectation, but at a more appropriate level: "use productivity tools to create effective document files for defined audiences such as slide shows, posters, multimedia presentations, newsletters, brochures, or reports." Then if you track further back into the Elementary guidelines you find the foundation of this expectation: "publish information in a variety of media including, but not limited to, printed copy, monitor display, Internet documents, and video."

The requirements are established as building blocks through out the student's school years. Each component is readdressed numerous times and the student is allowed to demonstrate their ability at their level as they grow.