1 Understanding ICT at Key Stage 2
The National Curriculum requirements for teaching ICT at KS2 can be found in the programmes of study [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .
Reflection
This Teachers TV programme from 2005, Primary ICT – Back On Line (http://www.schoolsworld.tv/ videos/ primary-ict-back-on-line), shows the progress of a school moving out of special measures – it had failed its Ofsted inspection due partially to its lack of ICT capability. Since then it has worked to invest in resources and training in ICT.Watch this programme then browse the resources about the self-review framework below.
The self-review framework
The self-review framework (SRF) provides a scaffolding for looking your school’s use of ICT and how that use of technology affects your school improvement.
It was made to help you review your use of technology in a planned and systemised way; this will then help to shape your whole school improvement strategy and plans.
The framework is designed to support all schools, and all of the aspects are equally as relevant to infant schools, special schools and early years settings as to mainstream primary or secondary schools.
In June 2010 the self-review framework was revised following consultation with teachers, head teachers, and organisations such as the TDA, National Strategies, Naace and SSAT, in order to ensure that it remains up to date and relevant to changes in quality standards, practices and ICT.
Although Becta no longer exists as a government body, their resources on the self-review framework for ICT are excellent. These are currently available at:
https://selfreview.becta.org.uk/
Reflection
Go to https://selfreview.becta.org.uk/ srf_Element_Descriptors.zip to see where you might be in your cycle of planning of ICT in your school.
- If you are just beginning, what do you need to get started and to sustain the use of ICT throughout the curriculum?
Sources of information and support
Other teachers
The ICT register (http://www.ict-register.net/) is a database of schools who are doing things with ICT that they are happy to share with others. You can search by topic, region, school name, etc. to find others who might support what you plan to do.
Look on the TeachMeet site (http://www.teachmeet.org.uk/) to see if there are other teachers in your area who are meeting to share elements of expertise in ICT.
TeachMeets are social events, usually in the evening, where teachers get together to network and socialise as well as to share good practice. A number of films of TeachMeets can be seen at http://teachmeet.blip.tv or http://learn4life.blip.tv/.
The TeachMeet area of the Vital site is ongoing and has resources added regularly. All these films are issued under a Creative Commons share-all licence and allow you to download, use, modify and redistribute them for educational purposes.
Naace (http://www.naace.co.uk/) is the professional association for the advancement of ICT in education (Naace is a subscription-based organisation, and so not free). For specialist IT and computing there is also the Computing at School Working Group (http://www.computingatschool.org.uk/).
National Curriculum in Action
http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/ key-stages-1-and-2/ assessment/ nc-in-action/ index.aspx
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.
ICT in subject teaching
This area of the National Curriculum website deals specifically with ICT across the curriculum.
From this area there are relevant links to both cross-curricular and subject-specific information, for example in mathematics and geography:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100823130703/http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/ key-stages-1-and-2/ learning-across-the-curriculum/ ictinsubjectteaching/ ictinmathematics/ index.aspx
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100823130703/http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/key-stages-1-and-2/learning-across-the-curriculum/ictinsubjectteaching/ictingeography/index.aspx
This latter activity for geography could now be easily adapted using Google Maps – perhaps more of a narrative feel could be given and the Robot used within a story situation.
Resources