2 Teaching ICT at Key Stage 1 – within English
Using ICT in English at Key Stage 1
This website offers guidance to teachers on the use of ICT within English:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ 20100823130703/ http:/ curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/ key-stages-1-and-2/ learning-across-the-curriculum/ ictinsubjectteaching/ ictinenglish/ index.aspx [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]
This document, ICT learning in English at KS1, lists some ways that ICT can be used to support learning and invites reflection.
Reflection
- What suggestions are made in the document ‘ICT Learning in English’ for using ICT skills within English?
- Are any of those suggestions evidenced within your classroom practice?
- Why might some be under-represented? Is this caused by lack of resources, lack of curriculum time, poor teacher confidence or something else?
- Have you used ICT to support learning and/or teaching in English in a different way?
Practical applications
ICT statutory requirements
Pupils should be given opportunities to apply and develop their ICT capability through the use of ICT tools to support their learning. Here are the statutory requirements to use ICT in the English programme of study:
Key stage 1
En2 Reading: Breadth of study
7a: The range should include print and ICT-based information texts, including those with continuous text and relevant illustrations.
En3 Writing
2b: Assemble and develop ideas on paper and on screen.
Watch the following two video clips from Teachers TV:
http://www.schoolsworld.tv/ videos/ ks1-ks2-literacy-reading-film-at-ks1-the-lesson
This clip looks at how using the language of film and film techniques can help children to understand narrative texts and to structure their own writing.
http://www.schoolsworld.tv/ videos/ new-ideas-in-primary-ict
This clip takes a look at how ICT tools can be used to support speaking and listening activities, amongst other things.
Reflection
- Which of these requirements were evident in the videos? What else?
- What issues might prevent you from adopting the ideas offered? Where are these issues located – for example are they to do with resourcing in school? Or to do with matching your curriculum? Or something else?
- Is there any scope for teaching ICT objectives alongside English objectives? (Hint: ‘Finding things out’ and ‘Exchanging and sharing information’.) What might the benefits/problems be?
Other resources
Ictopus: Ictopus (ICT online primary user support) is a free web-based support service for primary education. Amongst the resources it provides are lesson plans designed to promote the use of ICT within the curriculum. The ‘Lessons2Go’ resources can be sorted by subject or age group once you are logged in.
National Curriculum in Action: these examples of pupils' work show how the programmes of study and non-statutory frameworks for Key Stages 1 and 2 translate into real activities. The resource Creating poems from templates provides an activity in which children create poems using templates, http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/ key-stages-1-and-2/ assessment/ nc-in-action/ items/ english/ 2/ 1367.aspx
Background reading
Becta (2009), ICT in Primary English: A Pupil’s Entitlement, http://teachfind.com/ becta/ becta-schools-curriculum-pupil-entitlement-ict
1 Introduction to ICT