The National Curriculum

I was quite surprised about the curriculum for computing programmes of study. In Key stage 1 child are expected to understand algorithms, create and debug simple programmes and recognise common uses of information technology beyond school. I was unsure what all of these terms meant until we had completed seminar 1, therefore I think they are quite advanced expectations for children so young. However in today’s modern world it is essential that children are fully competent with technology as it is an essential part of modern life.

In key stage two children are taught to understand the internet, design write and debug programmes that accomplish specific goals and use search technologies effectively. I can see this is useful information for children to be able to successfully progress to key stage 3 and use these skills across the curriculum. According to the curriculum a high quality computing education will allow children to become digitally literate- able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through ICT.

Personal Reflection

ICT is not strength of mine, I find it complicated and hard to grasp. Of all the subjects to teach ICT is my greatest concern. My weaknesses are remembering how to access and use certain programmes and/or apps. I find it difficult to grasp the technical terminology in aspects of ICT. It has been a long time since I have had any training in ICT (since school).I also feel my schooling would not have been as advanced as most of my peers. Because ICT is not an interest of mine (I use it more for necessity) I feel I may be further behind and may find it harder to grasp the new learning.

My strengths are social networking sites. This is because I use them regularly and am familiar with the concepts. I can use all programmes in Microsoft such as word, PowerPoint, excel; again this is because in today’s modern world particularly on academic courses this is a necessity. I feel it is extremely important to improve my areas of weakness and further improve my skills during this module, ICT is an important aspect of everyday modern life, and I need to acquire the necessary skills to teach effective, engaging and exciting lessons.

Algorithms

An algorithm is a sequence of instruction or a set of rules for performing a specific task. This is an ‘unplugged’ activity, which means a computer is not a necessity.

Algorithms are important because all computer scientists strive to find the most effective and efficient algorithms. Search engines such as Bing or Google use algorithms to put a set of search results into order, so that more often than not, the result we’re looking for is at the top of the front page. The recommendations from Amazon, Netflix and eBay are algorithmically generated, based in part on what other people are interested in.

Algorithms and taught activities:Algorithms can be used across the national curriculum.

- Design Technology- Food, set of cookery instructions- Literacy/English- written instructions- Programmes designed to create algorithms on the computer can be used in ICT as well as

Maths, children need to establish how many times they want e.g. repeat 10 times, turn 90 degrees.

- Physical education- children may follow a sequence of steps for many actives; this could also be applied to day to day life in the classroom. Children constantly follow steps of instructions, when tidying away, getting ready for lunch etc.

- Science- Experiments can be a set of instructions

Everyday life can assist the learning of algorithms within the school. Children as young as early years can be taught to line up sequencing it with leaving the classroom. Similarly role play allows sequencing of events- algorithms.

Class Pladlet- Thought on national curriculum