ICT in Years 7, 8 and 9.

Our aim:

To enable all pupils to become thoroughly familiar with the computer skills they will need to be able to retrieve and process information, and to present their work to others in a professional manner in all areas of the curriculum.

WHAT IS ICT?

ICT stands for Information and Communication Technology and includes the full range of computer hardware, computer software and telecommunications facilities. It also includes the full range of devices that can be used to input data into and to interpret data from computers.

Pupils will have the opportunity to develop skills in the use of personal computers, working with standard commercial software. In addition they will become familiar with the workings of the School’s local area network and the wide area networks that allow computer systems and people to communicate globally.

What will your child study

YEAR 7

· Keyboard skills. Pupils will be introduced to software that they can access at any time, which is self tutoring and designed to improve their keyboard skills.

· Graphics. In this unit pupils are introduced to a vector based graphics program. They are taught the principles of how the program works and learn how to draw and manipulate in both 2 and 3 dimensions. The work is closely associated with their studies in DT Product Design.

· Spreadsheets. In this unit pupils will use spreadsheets to model simple situations. They will use basic spreadsheet functions to construct, explore and amend simple models and will consider how to manipulate graphs and tables in order to present their findings effectively.

· Databases. In this unit pupils will consider how to collect relevant data to answer a question. They will design a file to handle the data and check the entries for errors. They will also use the database functions in a spreadsheet to interrogate their data and will be expected to consider the plausibility of their conclusions.

· Internet. Pupils are taught how to make maximum use of the Internet to research topics making use of search engines, and how to incorporate retrieved information into their work. Pupils are not given school email accounts but can access their own web-based accounts such as Yahoo.

· Presentations. In this unit pupils will plan and create a presentation about themselves. The presentation will be projected onto screen to be viewed by the rest of the class and will be accompanied by a spoken commentary. In creating the presentation pupils will explore how images, text, colour and sound are ‘fit for purpose’ and choose the most appropriate to enhance their work.

· Control. Pupils will learn that technology is used to control many everyday events, such as the operation of traffic lights and the raising of car park barriers. Pupils will use software to simulate a range of familiar scenarios and to develop and refine flowcharts for control programs.

YEAR 8

· Spreadsheets. In this unit pupils will create a complex model involving the generating of random numbers. They will change the data in the model in order to answer simple questions. They will also make simple predictions and use the model to test their predictions. Charts will be created to display the information appropriately.

· Web design. In this unit pupils will design and create a web site using HTML coding. The linked pages will also be created using web page creation software. In creating the web pages pupils will explore how images, text, colour and sound are ‘fit for purpose’ and choose the most appropriate to enhance their work.

· Data logging and Control. Pupils will learn that special devices can be used to record data over a period of time. They will revise the aspects of control learned in Year 7 and will develop further control systems using flowcharts and the application ‘Flowol’.

· Databases. Pupils will be shown how to create and use databases for a variety of purposes.

YEAR 9

· Throughout the year pupils will study a number of combined projects enabling them to use all the skills they have learned during the course of Years 7 and 8. One such project investigates how the School can help in producing a pantomime to be shown to the pupils in Year 6 and their parents. Pupils will need to consider which parts of the process of putting on a production, advertising the production and selling the tickets can be helped by computerisation. Pupils will investigate problems such as how to record how many tickets have been sold and how to book seats for adults and children and calculate the profit or loss made on each performance.

How will pupils be assessed?

· Pupils’ work will be regularly assessed
· Pupils will be encouraged to review their own work
· Pupils will be given verbal and written advice on ways in which work could be enhanced

Work will be differentiated:
· By providing extension tasks
· By setting open-ended tasks which allow the more able to explore more advanced features of the software being used
· By asking for LSA support where pupils will benefit from it

Homework is set occasionally to support work done in class. Pupils may be asked to:
· Answer questions
· Collect data for processing in class
· Improve and enhance work being undertaken in class

Wider uses of ICT

Use of the Computer Room

Pupils will use the Computer Room in a number of ways:

· In Years 7, 8 and 9, each pupil has one lesson a week dedicated to ICT
· All subjects are encouraged to bring classes to the Computer Room. For example pupils may find themselves in the Computer Room during English lessons while they prepare a newsletter, or in a Maths lesson using some of the interactive Maths software or using spreadsheets
· The Computer Room is open all day until the boarders go to bed. This means that pupils can use the computers at break time, during the lunch period, after school and during the evening
· Out of lesson time pupils may use the computers for their own personal use including the Internet and email, but non-educational games are not allowed
· All pupils have access to the Internet through our filtered Internet Service Provider

Home: Most of our pupils have access to a PC and the Internet at home, and this is of considerable help to them in their studies at secondary level, especially access to a PC with Microsoft Office.