ICT
Information and Communications Technology at Idsall follows the national curriculum and follows the iCT for life activebooks to consolidate and develop the computer skills taught in Primary School. Students are taught in specialist computer suites using a range of up to date equipment and software that includes Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Audactity, GameMaker, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher and MovieMaker. In Year 7 students learn how to use Information Technology equipment independently and appreciate the importance of using the correct software appropriate to their audience.
The Year 7 curriculum for ICT follows the ActiveBook “ICT 4 Life” Pupil Book 1 by Pearson Longman
The year is broken down into units of work, such as:
- Creating a multimedia tour of Idsall School using presentation techniques, image/video and audio capture and editing
- Helping an Animal Rescue Centre provide information for potential pet owners - data handling, spreadsheet modelling ad desktop publishing
- Creating a computer mouse trainer game
The Year 8 curriculum for ICT follows the ActiveBook “ICT 4 Life” Pupil Book 2 by Pearson Longman
The year is broken down into units of work, such as:
- Working in teams to create a video for parents to telling them about collaborating digitally and why it is important
- Creating an e-time capsule using web development software
- Helping fight global warming by using spreadsheet software to create an environmental calculator.
- Creating a simulated e-card system for the school
The Year 9 curriculum offers Edexcel's Functional Skills ICT qualifications
The qualifications are designed to give learners the skills to operate confidently, effectively and independently in education, work and everyday life. They have been created in response to employers' perceptions that many learners are not achieving a sufficiently firm grounding in the basics.
The year is broken down into units of work, such as:
- Managing information storage
- Using search techniques to locate and select relevant information
- Using appropriate software to meet requirements of straightforward data-handling task
- Combining information within a publication for a familiar audience and purpose
- Evaluating own use of ICT tools
ICT AT KEY STAGE 4
At Idsall all students, whichever Route they are allocated to, follow a core ICT course in Key Stage 4 leading to an Award in Digital Applications, equivalent to one GCSE. Pupils who opt for more ICT within their options will use these lessons towards that qualification.
In order to succeed in these courses, students will have to import data into databases they have made, analyse data in spreadsheets, as well as use some specialist software to create products to a near-professional standard. Students will also have to meet strict deadlines and organise your work well.
Diploma in Digital Applications (DiDA)
Digital media now plays an increasingly important part in our everyday lives and in the world of work. Mobile phones, text messages, browsing websites, digital photos, listen to CDs, even keeping an electronic diary are all now part of daily life. More and more people make a living by using their skill and expertise in this growing sector. Taking DiDA means you will be at the forefront of an industry that plays an increasingly important role in shaping our lives in the 21st Century.
All students will take the unit in Using ICT, with successful completion leading to the Award (AiDA), equivalent to one GCSE. This unit forms the basis of the other units on offer – ICT in Multimedia, ICT in Graphics and ICT in Enterprise. To get the Certificate (CiDA), you have to successfully complete using ICT and one other which is likely to be ICT in Graphics or ICT in Enterprise; the Certificate in Digital applications is equivalent to two GCSEs and you would choose it in one block. For the full DiDA students have to successfully complete all 4 Units, equivalent to 4 GCSEs, selecting it in two blocks. Each unit is assessed through a major project instead of taking an exam.
In ICT in Graphics students will create computer graphics from scratch and use graphics software to create everyday products such as t-shirts, logos, gift bags, banners, posters, packaging, window stickers, medals, etc. In ICT in Enterprise students will work as part of a team to create a business plan, use spreadsheets to check that the business will succeed and create promotional materials such as posters, leaflets, web pages, etc.
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Idsall School has a widespread computer network comprising over 400 workstations and notebooks that are linked together located throughout the school, such as the ICT Centre, the Library, Humanities, Design, English, Science and PE. Not only does this enable students to continue to use high quality hardware and software at various locations in the school, it also allows them to save their work on one computer workstation and retrieve it later from any other computer on the network. We are sure that students will appreciate the benefits that such facilities bring to their education.
Further information from: Mr McCarthy