Computing
Computing is not about computers anymore. It is about living –Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the One Laptop per Child Association
With technology becoming an ever-increasing part of everybody’s lives, we recognise the need to equip children with the skills necessary to use technology to become independent learners and critical thinkers whilst learning how to keep themselves safe online.
The teaching style that we adopt is as active and practical as possible. While at times we do give children direct instruction on how to use hardware or software, the main emphasis of our teaching in Computing is for individuals, or groups of children, to use technology to help them in their learning across the curriculum. For example, children might research a history topic or investigate a particular issue on the internet, they might use the computer to model a problem or to analyse data in science or maths. We encourage children to explore ways in which the use of technology can improve their results, for example, how a piece of writing can be edited or how the presentation can be improved by moving text around or altering its appearance.
We recognise that all classes have children with widely differing Computing abilities. This is especially true when some children have access to technology at home, while others do not. As well as providing access to technology through extra-curricular clubs and activities, we provide suitable learning opportunities for all children by matching the challenge of the task to the ability and experience of the child.
Alongside the teaching of the Computing curriculum, we also focus on how pupils can keep themselves, and others, safe when using technology. Across the school, we look at the impact of technology on their own lives as well as on the wider community.