Our Y7s do some Powerpoint and desktop publishing; spreadsheets then questionnaires and datahandling in excel; Control using Logo and then websites. I’ve got to pull a websites module together. But I’m wondering if they shouldn’t be doing something else? Afterall they will get websites in Y8 and Y9.
Technology changes and in the last 5 years broadband Internet has penetrated into the majoring of homes. What about:
- Internet Safety
- Search, authorship and domain names, copyright and plaigiarism
- Storytelling, video editing or interactive media (Flash?)
Non of these are taught very well in the average comprehensive school – if at all.
You could probably do a good module teaching about internet safety followed by search, although search may be a difficult area to teach if your school has an iron curtain over its net connection.
I say we should do something on Internet safety – I’ve got a good KS3 video on it from the BBC buried away somewhere… I think there were some other resources too.
Sally mentioned that some kids actually never get chance to use email. This is actually one of the few skills actually specified in the National Curriculum.
However the school is about to change the email system for pupils (& teachers) so now might not be the best time to do it. On the other hand Chris Tunwell said we could always set them up on Hotmail.
I would say at Beacon more than half the kids will be familiar with signing up for sites and creating a user name. But I am sure that a significant percentage will never have done this.
(email from Sally DEN@beacon)
hi Richard
further to our conversation about yr 7 yesterday…
1. It would be useful to get them logged on as users to moodle and have a
couple of moodle based activities.
2. students need to know how to access “my documents” via Beacon
interactive.
3. i am very conscious that yr 7 have not really done an assessed piece
since spreadsheets and College requirements are that there should be an
assessed piece in each module. It may be difficult to achieve this in the
final few weeks particulary given the nature of what we are trying to do.
However, perhaps they could do a written summary piece (perhaps with a
writing frame for some) in timed, exam conditions on internet safety.
Following a lesson(s) on use of internet they could be given a question for
hw to plan , some materials to look at before coming a long to the next
lesson and having 30 minutes to write it?? This may be difficult to level
according to ICT NC criteria but I think that we could come up with
something that would assess their understanding. I would be happy to work on this with you.
Thanks Sally