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Key Stage 3 ICT
Curriculum
In
Key Stage 3 we follow the 2008 National Curriculum, which incorporates Personal Learning
and Thinking Skills
(PLTS). These are:
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Our main focus is on software competencies and these include the industry standard Office Suite, which teaches Word Processing, Desktop Publishing, Spreadsheets, Presentations and Database skills. If you would like to buy a discounted copy of MS Office for use at home, you can visit: www.software4students.co.uk |
We
also teach Graphics design with Photoshop Elements and Inkscape,
3D design using Google Sketchup,
audio editing with Audacity,
basic video editing, project planning using Ganttproject,
simple programming with Scratch, Web design with Kompozer
and visual thinking skills with XMind.
Another
key part of ICT is to ensure that
students learn the technical language and this is done through a series
of
quizzes and exercises in class. To
ensure that students use ICT in realistic situations, where possible a
project
approach is taken to teaching ICT.
These
projects include, creating presentations which have a real impact on
life in
Finborough, creating Web pages on Internet safety, profit and loss
spreadsheets, designing electronic publications and using the Internet
intelligently for research. Towards the end of Keystage
3 students will be encouraged to study more independently and plan
projects for
themselves.
This ensures that students are ready for employer demanded ECDL (European Computer Driving License) and the new Edexcel GCSE, which requires students to do coursework under controlled conditions and exams where they are expected to think for themselves.