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52.1200 Computer Operation and Programming

This cluster offers a sequence of planned educational classroom and laboratory experiences concerned with the preparation of individuals to use various programming languages to write, compile, and run computer applications to solve various problems. It will also prepare individuals to update, repair, modify and expand existing programs. Instruction will include systematic development of algorithms and programs, programming style and design, techniques for testing, debugging, and documenting programs, the software cycle, and procedural and object oriented approaches to programming.

This cluster includes a sequence of planned educational classroom laboratory experiences which will develop competencies in the following duty areas:

Employment opportunities which are available to workers with competencies in the Computer Operation and Programming Cluster include banking institutions, manufacturing companies, educational institutions, government offices, insurance companies, retail and wholesale companies, accounting firms, hotel-motel firms, real estate firms, savings and loan institutions, medical offices, legal offices, transportation firms, advertising companies, and computer firms. Through entrepreneurship, other employment opportunities are also available.

The following are examples of occupations for which instruction may be provided at the secondary level.

Terminal Operator
Computer Operator

The following occupational listing shows examples of occupations that may require additional training in a specialized program at the post-secondary level.

Computer Programmer
Database Programmer
Applications Programmer
System Programmer
System Analysts
Mainframe Programmer
Internet Programmer
Computer Software Engineer
Computer Programmer Manager
Computer Operations Supervisor

Workplace skills, as well as 1) skills used in work performance that are transferable across jobs and occupations and that are instrumental to job and classroom success, 2) skills used to manage life's transitions, and 3) skills employed in the resolution of interpersonal, information or task-related problems, or problems related to behavior in cooperative group settings, should be included in this curriculum. Leadership skill development is an integral part of this program and is delivered through career and technical student organization (FBLA and/or BPA) activities. Individualized instruction and learning reinforcement are provided through cooperative career and technical education programs, as well as classroom instruction.

COURSE SEQUENCE

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY CONCEPTS

Length of course: 2 Semesters
Credits per semester: 0.5
Grade level: 9, 10

This orientation-level course will provide an overview of all aspects of business marketing and management, including the concepts, functions, and skills required for meeting the challenges of operating a business in a global economy. Students will be introduced to a wide range of topics and careers in fields such as accounting, financial services, information technology, marketing, and management.

Students will be introduced to accounting topics such as accounting principles and procedures, recording and reporting financial data, preparing budgets and financial reports, and using related software to complete basic accounting functions. Students will explore many facets of financial decision-making including money management, budgeting techniques, savings and investment strategies, record keeping, economics and banking. Students will explore information technology-related topics including computer programming, administrative support, computer network design, support and management, and web page development. Students will develop an understanding of promoting, pricing, selling, purchasing, and distributing various products and services. Students will also explore basic principles of managing people, equipment, products, and services.

Emphasis will be placed on using the computer while studying applications in these careers along with business communication, math, problem solving and thinking skills.

KEYBOARDING AND FORMATTING I

Length of course: 1 Semester
Credits per semester: 0.5
Grade level: 9, 10

Keyboarding and Formatting I is a course designed to develop basic skills in touch keyboarding techniques for entering alphabetic, numeric, and symbol information found on computers and terminals. For the 2nd and 9 weeks major emphasis is placed on increasing speed, improving accuracy, and formatting documents. Students will learn to edit and format text and paragraphs, change fonts, create tables, work with headers and footers, create footnotes and endnotes, cut and paste text, and work with multiple windows. Keyboarding terminology, technique, proofreading, and correcting errors are also stressed. Students will format documents such as letters, memorandums, reports, and tables for personal, educational, and business uses.

COMPUTER OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMMING I

Length of course: 2 Semesters
Credits per semester: 0.5
Grade level: 11

Business Computer Programming is the first of two skill-level courses designed to develop computer programming and program design skills through the use of various procedural and object-oriented programming languages such as Visual Basic, C, C++, Java and Small Talk. Instruction will include basic programming structures that are common to many programming languages, including output statements, constants, assignment statements, input statements, string and numeric variable types, conditionals, and branching and looping control structures. Students will learn programming techniques such as counting, averaging, rounding, and the use of random numbers to develop a good programming style. Students will apply what they learn to create programs and applications that solve real world business related problems. Students will create programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

COMPUTER OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMMING II

Length of course: 2 Semesters
Credits per semester: 0.5
Grade level: 12

Business Computer Programming II is a skill-level course for students who have completed the Business Computer Programming I. Students will learn programming concepts such as inheritance, polymorphism, advanced data handling (pointers, arrays, strings, and files), dynamic data structures (linked lists, stacks, queues, and trees) and common algorithms (recursion, searching and sorting). Applying knowledge gained, students will write, compile, run, test, debug, repair, modify, and expand programs and applications that solve real world problems such as tracking inventory, monitoring network performance, scheduling room and facilities, accessing information and performing calculations. Students will use various procedural and object-oriented programming languages such as Visual Basic, C, C++, Java and Small Talk.

COOPERATIVE OFFICE EDUCATION

Length of course: 2 Semester
Credits per semester: variable
Grade level: 12

Cooperative Office Education is a capstone course designed to assist students in the development of effective business skills and attitudes through practical, advanced instruction in school and on the job through cooperative education. Approximately half the school day is spent taking classes at school and the other half in on-the-job training supervised by the designated training sponsor and coordinated by the teacher-coordinator. The related class at school is planned to develop skills and attitudes that are applied on the job. A training plan is developed jointly by the teacher-coordinator, training sponsor, and student that identifies training to be provided. Training in the related class at school focuses upon the student's career and technical education, with additional assignments based upon areas where on-the-job performance indicates a need. Related instruction also includes workplace skills such as seeking and applying for employment, communicating on the job, maintaining professionalism, workplace ethics, etc.