Posture is a basic skill taught throughout primary and middle school, which will help relieve strain on the body and teach correct typing techniques. The student should keep the back straight with the head up and arm out at a perpendicular angle from the body. Teaching this skill early will help prevent posture-related injuries in the future.
The Internet is a useful tool that allows students to research subjects as well as correspond to teachers and classmates via e-mail. During middle school, students will be able to navigate the Internet, use search engines properly and understand the basics of Internet safety. It is essential that students learn to spot harmful e-mails as well as websites that could contain malware, a virus or scams. Middle school children should be aware of the dangers of frequenting social media websites as many child predators use these sites to target victims.
Proper typing skills allow students to type faster and with greater accuracy. During middle school, students need to practice their typing skills often to increase their words-per-minute, which will be a valuable skill in the job market. Proper hand placement and using the correct fingers to strike keys improves this speed and encourages proper posture.
Middle school students can use a variety of office applications to help with their studies. They should be able to use a word-processing program to write papers and understand basic editing techniques, including changing margins and spell check. Students should understand the basics of spreadsheet and database management software, such as manipulating sheets and tables, and even tracking a household budget. Middle-school students should be able to create beginner slide-show presentations with a visual media program such as PowerPoint for class presentations. Knowledge of these extended applications should be basic and will be learned in greater detail in the high school years.