I.C.T.
ICT is a very important part of The Abbey Junior School curriculum. It is taught in a modern, air conditioned ICT suite which has 26 networked computers. The suite has many facilities including a data projector, an interactive whiteboard, a colour printer, a scanner, several digital cameras and a digital video camera. It also offers controlled access to the internet. ICT does not only happen in the ICT suite; all other classrooms are now equipped with their own networked computer with Internet access and data projector. The Junior school library also has four networked computers, and many of the rooms also have 'E Beams' for interactive lessons.
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The Head of Junior ICT teaches all girls from the age of 4 in the ICT Suite and is supported in all lessons by a specialised ICT Teaching Assistant. Reception girls have one single lesson and Preparatory (Year 1) have 2 single lessons a week. Transition (Year 2) have one double and one single lesson and UI (Year 4) to Lower III (Year 6) have one double lesson. In the Nursery the girls are taught on a one-to-one basis.
The girls use a variety of programs which includes an RM package. They are introduced to word-processing, spreadsheets, graphs, desk top publishing, and presentation skills by using Microsoft Office. They experiment with painting on the computer using a program called Colour Magic and investigate and create databases. They explore the areas of control and monitoring and simple programming by the use of Roamer, other programmable toys and also the software ‘Roamer World’. ‘Super Logo’ is used to introduce the girls to writing simple procedures. Girls in Year 5 learn to use PowerPoint and devise their own multi-media presentations on individual topics. There are CD ROMs installed for research on a variety of subjects and adventure games such as ‘E Mail Detectives’ and ‘Mission Control’. For the younger girls, programs such as ‘Izzy’s Island’ and ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’ are very popular.
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The girls are taught ICT skills in a cross-curricular manner. The Head of ICT liaises with form and specialist staff and devises a lively and stimulating programme of activities which ensures that ICT skills are learnt in ways that are relevant to their studies in other subject areas.
The girls learn how to load software and exit the programs correctly, how to ‘Save’ and use ‘Save As’ to make copies of work, to import graphics and so on. The girls use the basic Microsoft software from the outset so that all the skills they learn can be transferred to their home and other computers.
Although keyboarding is not taught as a curriculum subject, it is anticipated that by the end of their time at the Junior School the girls will have a good knowledge of the keyboard. A touch typing club is offered on a weekly basis during lunchtimes and is very popular with girls of all ages.
The girls are encouraged to use the Internet at home or in the library and to this end we have a Web Wall which recommends good safe sites that have been fully evaluated by staff. These are both educational and fun. In turn, the girls can also recommend sites which are then evaluated and passed on to the rest of the school. The World Wide Web is used regularly in lessons; however, the sites used are only those that have been carefully assessed and girls are not allowed to surf the net independently. An Intranet is being built in order to provide ‘safe surfing’ for the future.
Computer Clubs of different types are run at lunch times for different age groups and there is also a weekly after school club for UII (Year 5). This takes the form of a Young Enterprise Club which was set up to produce high quality products for sale at various public functions during the year. The proceeds are sent to a charity. This venture offers an excellent opportunity for a creative approach while teaching the girls basic business skills.
In LIII an after school club is offered for the girls to explore the exciting world of animation using the Digiblue Camera.
ICT is also explored outside the school. The LI (Year 3) girls visit Legoland where they use the Robot Lab and learn how to program and control model robots. They also have the opportunity to look at the mechanisms of some of the rides and learn about the technology involved, once they have experienced them first hand!
Our vision for ICT in the Junior School is that all the girls should have an excitement and enthusiasm for the subject and see it as an essential part of their life. We want them to enjoy using computers rather than to be frightened of them and to see them as a wonderful tool which can enhance the rest of their education. Our aim is that the girls should learn ICT skills in a stimulating and creative way and continue to build on them as they progress through the school and out into the wider world.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of ICT within the Junior School please email on scracesu@theabbey.co.uk
