Course Description
Gen SCI offers a web based suite of tools that help teachers coordinate a technology based student directed classroom. In a Gen SCI environment students assist in developing learning resources and curriculum content while enhancing their own understanding of the material. The instructor guides the students through the learning process with the online tools. The student projects become renewable learning resources for other students and staff. Students demonstrate their learning problem solving real life school technology situations.

Contracts are used to facilitate learning.
At the beginning of the term students draft a detailed goal sheet and contract describing the project they wish to complete during the term via the web site. Constructed into this contract will be a time line to guide them and a assessment system that is co-established with the teacher.

For the rest of the term students work independently or in groups on projects. For groups, each individual will need to document in their own contract their specific involvement on the project. The focus of these projects will be to develop competency with technology while simultaneously enhancing the functionality of technology at the school. Students will work with the technology staff on a regular basis on a variety projects. These projects will compliment the student composed contract and assist in fulfilling leadership requirements.

In summary students compose a contract that allows them the freedom to embrace technology in an area of their interest at their comfort level. They also explore and share new ideas and enhance their own communication skills.

Objectives
We create self-reliant learners. Students learn how to access learning resources. Furthermore, they are able to assess the quality of these resources and are able to synthesize the relevant information from them. Competency comes from working hands-on with the material. Students demonstrate skill development on their way to the mastery of the learning.

Students will be exposed to time management, peer mentoring, resource development, problem solving and will have the opportunity to develop competency with numerous computer programs and procedures.

Depending on your school's hardware, students will have opportunity to support either Macintosh and/or IBM/PC compatible computers in an ethernet network environment.

Program Goals
The goal of this class is to develop life long learning skills in addition to the related technical skills. This class is based on competency learning and "world of work" characteristics. Students must work within an acceptable level of quality and accomplishment to be considered competent with the skills developed. Support is given to meet these standards; quality process is modeled, benchmarks are set and numerous examples given of competent, quality work.