Homeschool Computer Skills Curriculum Digital Savvy

I think we all agree, technology rules today’s world —whether we like it or not. No matter which journey our children may decide to embark on, chances are computers will be an integral part of it. Becoming digital savvy is thus, a smart step to get them prepared for these commonplace realities of today.

The Digital Savvy Course

We received full access to Digital Savvy, a $120, one-year self-study introduction to computer science course from CompuScholar, Inc.  An option for a $15 per month subscription is available also. And lastly, CompuScholar, Inc. offers enhanced instruction with a teacher-led annual program, $300, and monthly for $35.

What to Expect with Digital Savvy

Digital Savvy delivers a comprehensive introduction to computer skills for children in grades 6 to 12.  It presents a clear, logical sequence of topics, with easy access to all materials from anywhere within the course. Being web-based, it delivers lessons via video-streaming, with an option for media download.  As with most web-based programs, PDF documents for lectures, activities, and answer keys, are included as well.

There are 25 chapters, including mid-term and final projects.  These are the topics covered:

• Fundamentals of Computer Hardware
• Fundamentals of Computer Software
• Operating Systems
• Computer Files
• Computer Maintenance and troubleshooting
• Computer Networks
• Search Engines
• Computer Security
• Word processing
• Spreadsheet programs
• Presentation programs
• Database technology
• Project management and teamwork
• Digital Images
• Internet Communications
• Social Media
• More Social Media
• Creating Web Pages
• Web Links, Images and Animation
• Programming Concepts
• Digital Logic
• Careers and Professional Skills

Chapters are listed in a straight-forward, easy to access fashion

Each chapter in turn offers 3 to 6 lessons, each with a quiz, an activity, and a test.  A lesson offers the same content in two formats: video and text.  It seems we always prefer video over text, but it’s excellent to have both alternatives.  A video may take 10 to 20 minutes. Then comes the quiz. It’s short and easy, and Super Hero could take it up to 3 times to get a 100%, if he wants to.  He usually does so in 1 or 2 attempts.  The activity offers a hands-on project, excellent to bring everything together and wrap it all up.

At one lesson per day, Super Hero could easily complete one chapter per week.  He does take a more leisurely approach, and studies about 3 lessons weekly. Still, he’s learned a great deal so far, and that’s only with the first four chapters. He will definitely continue on and complete the course. He definitely wants to finish it.

Parent/Teacher Dashboard

Teachers or parents are provided with an independent account to manage the course. It offers teacher guides, answer keys, the ability to enter grades for activities submitted, etc. One can also edit quiz grades if needed, and enter additional siblings/students.

Gradebook in the Parent/Teacher dashboard

Clicking on a particular quiz reveals the actual student’s responses. It’s possible to click on each question to view more details.

I believe high schoolers in particular, will appreciate these grading functionalities.

Using Digital Savvy

Digital Savvy’s video production seems quite professional, except for the audio. It is clear but not loud enough. We always have to crank up the volume way up lest we freeze still to avoid any competing sounds. The video itself is engaging with lots of relevant images and a pleasant female voiceover. There’s a mix of images varying from photographs to illustrations to cartoonish clipart. I like the photographs and illustrations, but not the cartoons. They grant an inelegant image in my opinion. But then again, I am not in the intended audience. Super Hero is, and he finds the clipart just fine.

Engaging videos with lots of visuals and a pleasant female voiceover

A sample of the cartoonish clipart I mentioned

I do like to have a video player offering options to go forwards or backwards 5, or 10 seconds. Digital Savvy’s player doesn’t offer that. Nor is it possible to pause the video with the spacebar —I’ve grown so used to doing that. I do like to pause from time to time to comment or throw in something relevant.  Super Hero somehow managed to get the spacebar working on the laptop. Yet, we still haven’t been able to make it work on the desktop.  Obviously, these are petty pet peeves that do not alter the quality or delivery of this excellent course. I just thought I should mention them for the sake of completeness.

Our Opinion of Digital Savvy

Being a homeschool with two computer scientist adults, I’d like to think we’re savvy enough in this field.  Both, Roberto and I, try to impart the knowledge of technology to Super Hero constantly, and often casually.  Now we’re tying several concepts together, thanks to Digital Savvy’s solid, structured introduction to computers. I’m enjoying the course as much as Super Hero. I don’t sit with him to study it together, but I will sometimes ask him to bring it to our kitchen’s nook to watch while we lunch or dine.

Interested in other Computer Courses?

If so, my fellow Crew members reviewed different CompuScholar courses including web design and web programming. Make sure to pay them a visit. And of course, please visit CompuScholar, Inc. at their social media accounts to learn about what they offer the homeschooling community:

Homeschool Programming
Facebook – www.facebook.com/HomeschoolProgramming
Twitter – https://twitter.com/HSProgramming   @hsprogramming

CompuScholar, Inc
https://www.facebook.com/CompuScholar
https://twitter.com/CompuScholar   @compuscholar

Disclaimer

Summary

Author Rating

Aggregate Rating

1 based on 99 votes

Brand Name

CompuScholar, Inc.

Product Name

Digital Savvy

Price

USD 120

Product Availability

Available in Stock