ICT

Head of Department: Mr Shaw

Content:

The aim of the GCSE ICT course is to enable the student to become creative, independent and discerning users of ICT, able to make informed decisions about its use and aware of its implications for individuals, organisations and society. The course is run fully on the VLE, allowing a greater integration between home and school, and benefits the students in collaborative practises.

Students develop ICT-based solutions to problems; they develop their understanding of emerging techniques and their impact in society. 

Activities:

The course is split into two broad units of work, "Living in a digital world" and "Using digital tools".

Unit 1 (40% of final assessment)

Students explore how digital technology impacts on the lives of individuals, organisations and society.

They learn about current and emerging digital technologies and the issues raised by their use in a range of contexts (learning and earning, leisure, shopping and money management, health and wellbeing and on the move).

They develop awareness of the risks that are inherent in using the ICT and the features of safe, secure and responsible practice.

Unit 2 (60% of final assessment, assessed in school "Controlled Assessment")

This is a practical unit. Students broaden and enhance their ICT skills and capability. They work with a range of digital tools and techniques to produce effective ICT solutions in a range of contexts.

They learn to reflect on their own and others' use of ICT and to adopt safe, secure and responsible practice.

Skills:

• think creatively, logically and critically
• select, use and integrate ICT tools and techniques to meet needs
• find, select and evaluate information for its relevance, value, accuracy and plausibility
• manipulate and process data and other information, sequence instructions, model situations and explore ideas
• communicate data and information in a form fit for purpose and audience
• adopt safe, secure and responsible practice when using ICT
• develop appropriate and effective ICT-based solutions in a range ofcontexts
• evaluate their own and others' use of ICT

Homework activities:

Homework/home study is set once every two weeks, and is generally issued, submitted and assessed via the VLE

Assessed coursework:

The coursework represents 60% of the final mark, and comprises of in-school "Controlled Assessment" activities. The four controlled assessment units are spread evenly over the 2 year course. The emphasis is on testing the student's practical application of their ICT skills.

Examination details:

The examination represents 40% of the final mark. There is an opportunity for early examination in January of Year 11, or in the summer of Year 11.

Parental contribution:

The staff running the course and pupils on the course always appreciate information about and examples of computer use in the 'real world'.

Useful resources and equipment:

A home computer would be useful, but it is not essential. If you have a home computer and internet/broadband, access to the school's VLE is very straightforward and will be particularly helpful for completing some home study tasks and revision. Access to the schools "virtual server network" allows students to access all software and files that they use in school.

No specialist computer equipment or software purchases are necessary for completion of the course.

Further details from Mr shaw