Identify, select, and apply hardware, software
Students figure out which tools, apps, or devices best fit a given task, then work through basic fixes when something stops working.
What does a student learn in
This is the stretch when students stop using technology and start building with it. They write real programs with loops and variables, break big problems into smaller steps, and work with data to spot patterns and back up a claim. They also start asking harder questions about how apps, networks, and online choices affect people. By spring, students can plan a short program with a partner, test it, fix what breaks, and explain what it does and why it matters.
- Coding
- Algorithms
- Data and patterns
- Networks and the internet
- Online safety
- Digital citizenship
- Teamwork on projects
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 7.
Concepts
Concepts
- Grades 6-8
- Grades 6-8
Explain how computer networks and the Internet enable communication…
Students learn how the internet connects computers so people can share files, send messages, and work together, and why security measures like passwords and encryption keep that data from falling into the wrong hands.
- Grades 6-8
Collect, transform, and represent data
Students gather raw data, organize it into charts or tables, and use software tools to spot patterns. Then they back up their conclusions with what the data actually shows.
- Grades 6-8
Design, develop, and analyze algorithms and programs to solve problems…
Students write and test step-by-step instructions that tell a computer what to do, then check whether those instructions actually solve the problem or get a task done faster.
- Grades 6-8
Investigate the social, ethical, legal
Students examine how computing technology shapes daily life, including who benefits, who gets left out, and what rules should govern it. They look at real examples like social media, apps, and data collection.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Identify, select, and apply hardware, software Grades 6-8 | Students figure out which tools, apps, or devices best fit a given task, then work through basic fixes when something stops working. | MD-CSDF.C1.6-8 |
| Explain how computer networks and the Internet enable communication… Grades 6-8 | Students learn how the internet connects computers so people can share files, send messages, and work together, and why security measures like passwords and encryption keep that data from falling into the wrong hands. | MD-CSDF.C2.6-8 |
| Collect, transform, and represent data Grades 6-8 | Students gather raw data, organize it into charts or tables, and use software tools to spot patterns. Then they back up their conclusions with what the data actually shows. | MD-CSDF.C3.6-8 |
| Design, develop, and analyze algorithms and programs to solve problems… Grades 6-8 | Students write and test step-by-step instructions that tell a computer what to do, then check whether those instructions actually solve the problem or get a task done faster. | MD-CSDF.C4.6-8 |
| Investigate the social, ethical, legal Grades 6-8 | Students examine how computing technology shapes daily life, including who benefits, who gets left out, and what rules should govern it. They look at real examples like social media, apps, and data collection. | MD-CSDF.C5.6-8 |
Practices
Practices
- Grades 6-8
Foster an inclusive computing culture that values diverse perspectives and…
Students practice working with classmates who have different backgrounds and viewpoints when solving computing problems. The goal is to make sure everyone feels like they belong in the room.
- Grades 6-8
Collaborate around computing — divide work, share ideas
Students work with others to build something on a computer: splitting up tasks, sharing ideas, and using each other's feedback to improve the final product.
- Grades 6-8
Identify and define problems that can be solved with computation and decompose…
Students look at a real problem, decide whether a computer could help solve it, and then break it into smaller pieces that are easier to tackle one at a time.
- Grades 6-8
Use abstractions to simplify complexity, generalise solutions
Students take a complicated problem and strip it down to the parts that actually matter, then use that simplified version to solve similar problems or explain how a program works.
- Grades 6-8
Create computational artifacts — programs, simulations, models — by applying…
Students write programs or build digital simulations by planning, testing, and revising their work in repeated rounds until the project does what they want.
- Grades 6-8
Systematically test computational artifacts and refine them based on evidence…
Students run tests on their programs or apps to find what breaks or confuses users, then fix those problems using real results. The goal is a program that works correctly and is easy for others to use.
- Grades 6-8
Communicate clearly with appropriate vocabulary, visualizations
Students explain how a program or algorithm works by using clear vocabulary, diagrams, or data to back up their points. They describe not just what the code does, but why it matters.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Foster an inclusive computing culture that values diverse perspectives and… Grades 6-8 | Students practice working with classmates who have different backgrounds and viewpoints when solving computing problems. The goal is to make sure everyone feels like they belong in the room. | MD-CSDF.P1.6-8 |
| Collaborate around computing — divide work, share ideas Grades 6-8 | Students work with others to build something on a computer: splitting up tasks, sharing ideas, and using each other's feedback to improve the final product. | MD-CSDF.P2.6-8 |
| Identify and define problems that can be solved with computation and decompose… Grades 6-8 | Students look at a real problem, decide whether a computer could help solve it, and then break it into smaller pieces that are easier to tackle one at a time. | MD-CSDF.P3.6-8 |
| Use abstractions to simplify complexity, generalise solutions Grades 6-8 | Students take a complicated problem and strip it down to the parts that actually matter, then use that simplified version to solve similar problems or explain how a program works. | MD-CSDF.P4.6-8 |
| Create computational artifacts — programs, simulations, models — by applying… Grades 6-8 | Students write programs or build digital simulations by planning, testing, and revising their work in repeated rounds until the project does what they want. | MD-CSDF.P5.6-8 |
| Systematically test computational artifacts and refine them based on evidence… Grades 6-8 | Students run tests on their programs or apps to find what breaks or confuses users, then fix those problems using real results. The goal is a program that works correctly and is easy for others to use. | MD-CSDF.P6.6-8 |
| Communicate clearly with appropriate vocabulary, visualizations Grades 6-8 | Students explain how a program or algorithm works by using clear vocabulary, diagrams, or data to back up their points. They describe not just what the code does, but why it matters. | MD-CSDF.P7.6-8 |