The Terrace Computer Centre, as established in 1991, caters for a wide range of computer-based classroom experiences in Year 8.

Information Technology in Year 8 is a practically-based subject that is taken by all Year 8 students for five periods per timetable cycle, for one semester. Each student works on his own computer within a structured environment, is responsible for the completion of graduated exercises, and is charged with the maintenance of his own personal home directory.

Goals: Students will

• gain exposure and skills in the following application based areas: keyboarding, word processing, spreadsheets, computer graphics, presentation graphics, multimedia and web publishing fundamentals.
• readily transport those skills acquired across other curriculum areas and subsequent Year levels.
• gain exposure to applications used 'in the real world', and appreciate computers as a powerful tool for problem solving.

Information Technology in Year 8 also aims to promote a de-mystification of the real place of computers and to challenge their application in the real world.

Assessment
Student assessment is achieved in a sequential set of production tasks in each of the application areas. Students are given adequate class time for completion of said production tasks, and so are rarely given homework (of a practical nature). The computer Labs are available as per the notice schedule for any extra hands on completion or assistance.

Conclusion
Many students will choose to further their formal computing studies in Years 11 and 12 in Information Processing and Technology. Students from Year 8 are given a firm application introduction to Information Technology that will be easily transportable into other year level subject areas.