Knox Middle School
Home of the Trojans
Computer Labs
Opening the doors for learning
Welcome back to all students and staff
Welcome to the SchoolNote page of Mrs. Ross-AllenTechnology Facilitator, Knox Middle School.
Educators at Knox Middle School are continuing to work hard to prepare our students to work and to be successfully prepared for the technological challenges and demands that are ahead of them. As we all know, technical skills are a must in every aspect of the world that we can imagine. A great effort is being made by both Administrators and Teachers at Knox for your child to receive the best computer training possible at the middle school level. Our accessibility to computers systems consist of a Technology Lab and a Keyboarding Lab using PC type computers systems that are windows based, 2- Academic Computer Labs utilizing I-Mac Computers for teacher integration teaching strategies, A Writing and Research Lab in the Library,and A REACH lab for Math and Reading remediation. A mobile Lab consisting of 22 I-books are also being utilized to for projects and for teaching technology skills
Any reinforcement that students receive at home will greatly improve and enhance their computer skills. If parents have internet access at home, please ensure that students are using it as a positive and productive learning/research tool. The Public library is a great place to take students to search the Internet if they don't have access at home. Parental Statements are required.
Test Background
In May 1991, the North Carolina State Board of Education approved the requirement that all students beginning with the class of 2000, demonstrate computer proficiencies in order to receive a high school diploma (Feature C of the Quality Assurance Program). In October of 1995, the State Board of Education modified the requirement making it effective beginning with the graduating class of 2001. Students in grade eight for the 19961997 school year and beyond are required to satisfy the computer proficiency requirement in order to receive a North Carolina high school diploma. The goals of the requirement are to ensure that: (1) most students enter high school with sufficient computer skills, and (2) no students exit North Carolina high schools without sufficient computer skills.
Original assessment designs implemented contained separate multiple choice and performance tests. This dual assessment design was used to test for curricula adopted in 1992 and updated in 1998. Students who entered grade eight from 19961997 through the 19992000 school year must meet the computer skills graduation requirement based on the 1992 computer skills curriculum. Students who entered grade eight from 20002001 through 2004-2005 must meet the computer skills graduation requirement based on the 1998 computer skills curriculum. Students entering grade eight from 2005-2006 and beyond will be required to meet the requirement based on the 2004 curriculum.
Beginning in spring 2001, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction began the test development process for an Internet-based computer skills test. The goal was to combine the previously designed dual multiple choice and performance tests into one test and to deliver it online. The redesigned computer skills test, as a single test, will be used to fulfill the computer skills proficiency graduation requirement. The online tests presentation and format will:
Modify the traditional performance test items to fit into an online format while maintaining the integrity of the performance component of the assessment;
Reduce the total actual test administration time by administering one computer skills test instead of two separate computer skills tests;
To the extent possible, no longer require students to save files, print documents, or match ID numbers from the test booklet to student printouts;
and provide students, parents, and schools with results of student performance in a shorter length of time.
As part of this development process, the NCDPI conducted a feasibility study in September 2003. The purpose of this feasibility study was to conduct research and further develop the redesigned instrument as well as gain feedback on the newly developed Java editor program known as NCEdit.
Results and feedback from the September 2003 study provided impetus to alter the original vision of the test interface to include additional applications and restructure the design of the test interface significantly. This new suite of applications and test interface is being called NCDesk and was used during the 2004-05 school year for study and field testing purposes. Check out the NCDesk web site for more information on this software at http://ncdesk.ncsu.edu.
During the fall of 2004 another feasibility study was conducted, this time with the new NCDesk application. Each middle school was required to test ten students. A field test was administered in the spring 2005 to collect form and item data for creating an operational test for fall 2005. The field test participants were selected using sampling techniques. Schools could voluntarily administer the spring field test.
Additionally, an alternate test was developed to address the needs of schools and/or individuals were the NCDesk application or bandwidth limitations presented administration difficulties. This assessment was administered to a subset of the spring 2005 field test participants. Results from this assessment are being used to create an equivalent operational alternate computer skills test for the 2005-06 school year. The alternate assessment does not require a connection to the Internet nor the need to use the NCDesk application.
Test items for this test assess the newly revised K-12 Computer/Technology Skills Standard Course of Study (adopted by the State Board of Education in February 2004).
Source: ncdesk.ncsu.edu/nccs/background.asp
Access the above website for more information regarding
the test.
Teachers at Knox continue to integrate technology skills into each curriculum area . This allows our teachers to enhance the teaching and learning of our students. A big Thank you to the Julian Robertson Foundation for equipping each grade level building with access to at least one Multimedia Presentation Cart for teaching, presenting and special projects. Each cart includes a computer, a multimedia projector, a keypad, and a locking cart. Because of the continue support of Businesses and the community, Knox has been able to provide access to updated equipment & technology to our students.
The greatest computer ever invented is your mind! 
If you have any question or concerns about the Technology at Knox, please feel free to E-mail me at charlesj@rss.k12.nc.us. or click on my schools note page.
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