Computer/ICT Report

COMPUTER/ICT

REPORT

In this formidable technological world, it is important that we equip our children with the necessary skills to enable them to cope in the digital world. They need to understand the importance of owning a clean and responsible digital footprint. Lessons in the computer lab explored a variety of digital applications suited to the boys’ ages.

By now, Coding has been incorporated into most school curriculums. Critical and analytical thinking skills are taught, which empowered students and gave them tools to express themselves in really creative ways. Programming allowed the children to create content and learn to problem solve. Coding helped children to develop an appreciation of how things in the real world work. It is a universal language which would most likely improve career paths.

Our boys are taught coding through various programmes, some freely available on the net and others which WBJS subscribe to; Computers4Kids and Code4Kids. Through coding, robotics and ICT, their projects are designed to align with other core subjects in the curriculum. Another platform we use is Code.org, which, because it is free, increases diversity in computer science. It instructs children in ways that inspire them to keep learning.

CS First is a Google computer science curriculum that makes coding easy to teach and fun to learn. Students code using the Scratch platform, a free, block-based programming language. The Minecraft Education Edition (MEE) platform seems to be the boys’ favourite choice. Here they learnt to code the Agent, created and built their own 3D world, navigated through the Hour of Code and participated in monthly Build Challenges. Minecraft also fosters social and emotional learning. Many vocations require soft skills such as teamwork, communication, time management, and self-motivation. Minecraft can help build all of these skills in students.

As the boys get older, we aim to teach them how and where to access information and then present it in a creative way using various Google and Microsoft applications.

Mrs P Tooley