NAF Ambitious New Project

NAF Ambitious New Curriculum Project

NAF is working closely with the Pearson Charitable Foundation to create an exciting new curriculum for its AOITs, AOHTs, and AOFs. In 2007, NAF began rolling out new courses for each of these themes. 

Additional courses will be announced at the 2008 NAF Annual Institute in Orlando, Florida. Be sure to check the NAF website in August, 2008 to see the courses that will be piloted by the NAF Curriculum Fellows in 2008-09!

Older courses will be supported for one year following the introduction of their replacements. We hope all NAF academies will adopt the new courses as soon as they have been piloted and offer them in draft from as soon as they are completed. All NAF courses are industry vetted, adhere to national standards, and contain substantial input from the NAF Network and higher education. Below are the current offerings, with new courses labeled as either NEW .

Academy of Information Technology
(NEW!) Principles of Information Technology
Principles of Information Technology provides an overview of Information Technology today. It serves as the foundation for all of the core courses offered by the Academy of Information Technology.

Principles of Information Technology provides students with an introduction to hardware, looking at both peripherals and inside the box. Then, with a hands-on orientation, students explore the most common types of operating systems, software applications, and programming languages. Students learn about the different types of networks and network topology, and set up an email client/server connection. During the course, students consider contemporary IT issues such as security and privacy, the effects of IT on society and on the individual, and technological inequality. Finally, students get a chance to discover the types of careers that exist in IT today.

Upon completion of the course, students will be well versed in the basics of all aspects of IT, and will understand how computers are designed and assembled to help users achieve their desired goals.

(NEW!) Digital Video and Media
Digital Video and Digital Media provides a hands-on introduction to digital media, with a focus on digital video. It is one of the core courses offered by the Academy of Information Technology.

Digital Video and Digital Media guides students through all phases of digital video production, including pre-production and planning, executing and managing a video shoot, and techniques of editing and post-production. Students explore methods of sharing and broadcasting digital videos, including multiple platform versions, CDs and DVDs, and web delivery. They also learn about the latest methods of spreading the word about a digital video, including methods of using online search engines to lead viewers to the production.

Finally, students have a chance to discover the types of careers that exist in digital media and design today.

Computer Networking
Computer Networking provides a hands-on introduction to networking, including LANs and WANs. It is one of the core courses offered by the Academy of Information Technology.

Computer Networking guides students through all phases of implementing and troubleshooting common TCP/IP Ethernet networks using readily available commodity network hardware connected with CAT5/6 cable. It covers network components, cables, and connectors. The course walks students through network standards, protocols, and topologies. It guides students through implementing and troubleshooting a LAN, as well as discussing access issues for WANs. The course also includes a brief history of networks. Finally, students get a chance to discover what types of network-related careers exist today.

Computer Systems
Computer Systems provides a hands-on introduction to computer systems, including aspects of servicing, upgrading, and maintaining hardware and software. It is one of the core courses offered by the Academy of Information Technology.

Computer Systems walks students through setting up hardware, installing software, connecting to a network, and connecting to the Internet. It guides students through servicing, upgrading, and maintaining processing components, memory and storage components, input components, and output components. Next it addresses protecting, maintaining, and upgrading software. It also provides troubleshooting techniques. Finally, students get a chance to discover what types of careers exist in systems work today.

Web Design
Web Design provides a hands-on introduction to designing, building, and launching websites. It is one of the core courses offered by the Academy of Information Technology.

The course begins with a study of how the web works and its evolution. Students learn about web development including HTML coding, usability, design, and web-based publishing tools. Next, students gather and prepare web content. Students assess and use various development and design tools and techniques. After conducting usability testing, students launch their websites, troubleshoot, and plan how to attract traffic. Finally, students get a chance to discover what types of web design careers exist today.

Academy of Hospitality & Tourism
(NEW!) Principles of Hospitality and Tourism

Principles of Hospitality and Tourism provides an overview of the current hospitality and tourism business. As a result, this course also serves as the foundation for the core courses offered by NAF's Academy of Hospitality and Tourism.

Principles of Hospitality and Tourism provides students with an initial background in the industry with a very brief history of hospitality and tourism. Students learn about the development of the industry and the motivations that drive consumers to travel. They also come to understand the history and development of tourism as an industry, including specific sectors of the industry including lodging, food and beverage, and transportation. Students also learn about changes to travel and the tourism business in a post-9/11 era, together with the role of government policies that may affect travel.

Finally, students get the chance to learn about specific careers in the Hospitality and Tourism industry and to consider questions about the future of the industry.

(NEW!) Geography and World Cultures

Geography and World Cultures introduces students to the importance of geography in the Hospitality and Tourism industry, placing specific geographic regions in the context of traveler's interests and presenting the businesses established in specific regions to serve this interest.

Geography and World Cultures gives students the opportunity to consider questions like "what makes a place a place?" This course encourages students to consider the way in which geography has impacted the way in which we organize our world and the manner in which specific cultures have formed as a result of geographic divisions and boundaries. Students explore a variety of domestic and foreign destinations and the tourist-related activities associated with these destinations.

Finally, students get the chance to learn about the types of careers available to them in the Hospitality and Tourism industry that require specific geographic knowledge and expertise.

Hospitality Marketing
Hospitality Marketing introduces students to the objectives, strategies, and tools that are important to marketing in the hospitality industry. This course exposes students to the wide range of marketing options that all marketing managers and business owners consider as they create marketing plans. Students explore many new concepts while expanding their understanding of several marketing topics that were introduced in the course Principles of Hospitality and Tourism.

Students become familiar with each phase of marketing and with strategies to build business and brand equity, for both large-scale operations (such as hotel chains) and smaller businesses (such as restaurants). They learn how to assess marketing niches, understand customer and consumer needs, research the competition, evaluate the health of a business from a marketing point of view, and develop an innovation plan as part of determining when it?s time for the marketing plan to change course. Finally, this course explores career opportunities in the field of hospitality marketing.

Customer Service
Customer Service introduces students to the concept of service as a critical component of a hospitality or tourism business. Students identify and analyze "good" and "bad" customer service in a variety of contexts and through various methods.

Customer Service guides students in learning how to identify and address the needs and expectations of customers. Students explore communication skills and strategies, including nonverbal behavior, writing proficiency, and cross-cultural awareness. They use a problem-solving perspective to discuss barriers to communication and sources of breakdown. Interactive activities give students a chance to apply what they are learning, and the assignments challenge them to place their learning in the context of the ?real? world.

Academy of Finance
Strategies for Success 
This one semester course of study helps to orient students to the world of work and school.  Ideally, this course is offered in the ninth or tenth grades as it addresses the need for students to develop good work and study habits, helps students to prepare portfolios, learn about school resources, develop career plans, start preparing for college and develop solid interpersonal skills.

Introduction to Financial Services
This course can be offered either as a one- or two-semester course to be given in either the ninth or the tenth grade as a means of introducing students to the various sectors for the financial services industry. The objective of this course is to help students learn about both the nature of the careers found in a particular sector and the scope of the work that comprises businesses such as insurance, real estate, public finance, accounting, and the securities industry.

(NEW!) Advanced Finance
Advanced Finance builds a deep understand of important aspects of finance. It also serves as an extension of the Introduction to Finance course.

Advanced Finance provides students with the basics for an understanding of finance, including such concepts as profit, sales, the risk-return tradeoff, and the time-value of money. In this course, students read common financial statements and are introduced to business plans. Students also have the chance to explore three specific topics of high interest in today's world of finance: employees, taxes, and, ethics. They learn the three most common methods by which businesses raise capital (stocks, bonds, and short-term financing).

Finally, students get a chance to discover the types of careers that exist in finance today.

(NEW!) Business Economics
Business Economics is a course that provides students with an overview of economics as it relates to business. It is one of the core courses offered by the Academy of Finance.

Business Economics provides students with an introduction to the key concepts of business economics ? supply, demand, profit, costs, and markets ? and differentiates microeconomics from macroeconomics. It discusses the American economy and the factors that influence the success of businesses and products. The course describes forms of business ownership and discusses the relationship of labor and business, then provides a broad overview of the global economy. Finally, because economics affects every business job, students get a chance to examine careers in business, both as an employee and as a business owner.

(NEW!) Ethics in Business
The Ethics in Business course provides students with an overview of the importance of ethics in a business environment. Ethics in Business is one of the core courses offered by the Academy of Finance.

Ethics in Business introduces students to the important aspects of Ethics in Business.  Students will focus on the significance and importance of ethics to stakeholders; examine who bears responsibility for ensuring an ethical code is followed; and explore ethical situations common in organizations. The course examines ethics through the lens of various business disciplines, and considers the impact of organizational culture on ethical practices. The course also explores ethics as social responsibility, the evolution of ethics as business becomes more international, and how the free market and organizational ethics can co-exist. Finally, because ethics is critical to every organization, students are given the chance to examine careers in ethics.

Financial Planning
Financial Planning and Services is a course that provides students with an overview of the job of a financial planner. Students look at financial planning in an objective way that requires them to regard all aspects of financial planning as relevant to a potential client (even if a particular aspect may not yet be relevant to students). It is one of the core courses offered by the Academy of Finance.

Financial Planning and Services provides students with an introduction to the job of a financial planner. It discusses financial planning and its importance in helping people reach their life goals. It describes how to set personal financial goals and a budget, as well as the factors that shape them. It also discusses the ethics of financial planners, time-and-money relationships, and tax reduction strategies. The course concentrates on saving, borrowing, credit, and all types of insurance. It discusses various types of investments, including income and growth investments, such as passbook savings, money market accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate. The course also discusses retirement and estate planning. Finally, students get a chance to examine careers in financial planning.

Financial Services
Financial Services provides students with an overview of banks and other financial services companies. It is one of the core courses offered by the Academy of Finance.

Financial Services introduces students to the complex world of financial services companies. It begins with an introduction of the origins of money and of banking, and explores the early history of banking in the U.S. Students then move into an in-depth study of the financial services industry and explore the types of companies that make up this industry. Students learn about the services offered by such companies, and analyze the ways these companies earn profits.

This course also introduces students to the main concepts behind investing and discriminates among different ways to invest money. Students examine contemporary issues including the level of personal saving in the U.S.; ethics in the financial services industry; and the industry?s effect on communities and families.

Finally, students get a chance to consider the types of careers that exist in financial services companies.

Principles of Accounting
Principles of Accounting uses an integrated approach to student learning within the context of an introductory high school level course. Principles of Accounting covers in depth many topics in a traditional introductory accounting course.

Principles of Accounting provides students with the knowledge that accounting is a process of providing data and information that serves internal and external stakeholders. In this course, students learn that accounting is an integral part of all business activities and that accounting plays an important role in the everyday accountability of a business as well as in high-stakes decision-making and analysis. In addition, students learn how to apply technology to accounting by creating formulas and inputting data into Excel, thus making the data easier and quicker to access and correct when necessary. Accounting plays an instrumental role in the personal as well as the professional aspects of one?s life. Moreover, accounting can be as fun as it is financially rewarding.

Students also examine career opportunities and the professional certifications and designations earned by individuals in the accounting profession.