Computing & ICT
Our curriculum intent for Computing and ICT is to equip learners with the ability to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the continuously developing world.
Computing has strong links with core subjects and provides awareness into both natural and artificial systems. Students are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming.
With this knowledge, students are prepared to be able to use technology through creating, designing and using systems. Students will become digitally-literate and will be able use information technology to develop their ideas into a suitable level that will set them up for the future workplace and to become active contributors in the digital world we now live in.
For more information on the Computing and ICT curriculum please contact Michael Chan M.Chan@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk.
Curriculum details
Download the Computing & ICT Long Term Curriculum Plan for Years 7-13.
Homework
Key Stage 3 homework is set to help students' broader thinking around the Computing/ICT world. These are graded together with an in-class project. Students at Key Stage 3 will be expected to complete three homework tasks per half term.
Key Stage 4 students will be given time at home to independently work on their coursework and ensure that drafts are up to a suitable standard before the final BTEC DIT assignment is completed. Students will be expected to complete these tasks using Microsoft Teams to access their folders online. The homework set and completed will directly affect their grade at the end of their BTEC DIT course.
Key Stage 4 students will also be set exam-style questions as homework tasks in order to prepare them for the exam in Year 10. The revision tasks will be completed weekly and will relate to theoretical lessons that week and develop students' ability to discuss the social, moral, ethical, and legal implications surrounding the use of ICT. The exam students sit in Year 10 counts for 40% of their final grade at the end of Year 11.
Key Stage 5 students should complete at least five hours of independent study per subject each week. Independent study is an essential element of success in all our post-16 courses, enabling students to consolidate and extend their learning in lessons. This is a key aspect of students' preparation for university. This includes completing coursework started in lessons, reading around the topic being studied, exam preparation and pre-learning for future topics.
Helpful resources
As we head into a more challenging and demanding curriculum, assessment and examination system it is important that students in all year groups in the academy understand how to prepare efficiently and successfully for exams.
All students sit termly assessments, which they must prepare for using a variety of revision resources available.
We believe in teaching our students how to prepare for exams, as they are an important life skill. GCSE progress sessions for Year 11 students begin in September and runs until the summer examinations.
Revision links
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zqmtsbk
http://reviseict.co.uk/revision/hardwaresoftware.shtml
https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/making-software/choosing-technology
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJfw3xt4emY
http://www.digitallyconfident.org
http://www.gcflearnfree.org/technology
http://netforbeginners.about.com/od/multimedia/f/codec.htm
Books
- BTEC Tech Award Digital Information Technology Student Book, David Waller (ISBN: 9781292208374, published by Pearson 2018)
- Revise BTEC Tech Award Digital Information Technology Revision Guide, Alan Jarvis (ISBN:9781292272740, published by Pearson 2018)
Careers
Careers relevant to Computing and ICT include:
- Software Developer
- Applications Programmer
- Systems Programmer
- Multimedia Programmer
- Systems Analyst
- Computer Sales Support
- Database Administrator
- IT Technical Support Officer
- Web Developer
- Graphic Designer
- Data Scientists
- Internet of Things (IoT) Engineers
- Blockchain Engineers
- Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst
- Cyber Security Analyst
- Cloud Engineer
