KS3
ICT is taught as a discrete subject from year 7 as part of our aim to ensure that all students have an opportunity to gain an up-to-date and thorough knowledge of computer skills.
Computers and the use of information technology are all around us and in our day-to-day lives. At Chelmer Valley High School, students learn various types of computer software to enable them to choose the most appropriate software for the tasks they need to undertake.
Computers can make our life easy if we use them correctly to our fullest advantage. We aim to prepare students with good ICT skills to support their learning in higher education and when they face the real world. We aim to make ICT learning fun by using video, animations, group work and intersperse fun topics in between challenging topics. We use various teaching resources. www.teach-ict.com is one of the websites we use and students can access this website at home, if they have internet access.
We have developed units of work which follow the Key Stage Three Strategy.
Year 7
ICT is taught in dedicated computer suites 3 lessons fortnightly for the Year 7 groups. Units of work that students are taught in the first year include:
File Management—Students learn the importance of getting organised when working and saving their work on the computer.
E-safety— Students learn about cyber bullying via text messages and the web. They also learn about how to keep themselves safe whilst online.
Spreadsheet/Modelling—Students learn how simple models are built by first investigating rules and then by seeing how rules can govern the behaviour of simple models.
Interactive Presentation—Students will plan and create presentations about endangered animals. They will explore the concept of “fitness for purpose” when using images, text, colour and sound to enhance their presentations. They will also evaluate the suitability of their work for different audiences and purposes.
Data Handling—Students learn how to access and use databases, how to collect and search data effectively.
Desktop Publishing—Students improve their familiarity with using a DTP package by creating a school booklet which can be given to the Year 6
Year 8
In Year 8, students have two lessons fortnightly. They begin to work on projects and learn to produce work according to project brief. Units of work that students are taught in Year 8:
Web design—Students learn how to design and create a website according to three given scenarios; tourist attraction, teenage football club or to promote local bands.
Information, reliability, accuracy and bias— Students learn to assess the validity of information, identify biased and inaccurate information and avoid those which they deem to be unreliable. They also learn how to search for information more effectively.
Data Handling—Students continue to develop their database skills by constructing a CD shop database. They learn how to design, create the database, using form to enter data, search using queries and run a report on new customers.
Animations—In between challenging topics such as Data Handling and Modelling, students get a break for three lessons where they have some fun to create an animated film using Pivot stick animations software. Free download for home use.
Modelling—Students continue to develop their spreadsheet skills by constructing a model on a CD shop stock system. They develop further the use of formulae so that values change automatically when stocks are reduced alerting the need to order more stock, helping a smoother operation of their CD shop.
For the full scheme of work and lesson plans, click here
The ICT department has begun to develop/review the assessment criteria for each module using the new Assessing Pupil Progress model since September 2009.
