The secondary curriculum review
The revision of the key stage 3 programme of study provides an opportunity to review and refresh your sequences of work.
When reviewing planning across the key stage, developing new sequences of work or revising existing ones, you should consider the following.
Planning needs to highlight how the key concepts are integrated into teaching and learning across the key stage. When you review your planning you may find that the opportunities to develop ICT capability are achieved mainly through the production of ICT solutions to meet the explicit needs of an audience or user. The key concepts are applicable to all the key processes. For example, you could encourage pupils to identify information from the internet, make an informed decision regarding the appropriate manner in which to present the information and then critically evaluate to their own experience.
When pupils revisit the key processes at different points in the key stage, there needs to be a clear increase in demand to ensure that they continue to be challenged and progress. This could be achieved through pupils using the processes in an expanding range of contexts, including those that are unfamiliar, and applying them to more complex problems and using them with increasing independence. Teaching of the key processes should take account of pupils' experiences at key stage 2 to link with and build on their previous learning.
As pupils develop their understanding of the key concepts and key processes they will become more competent and capable users of ICT tools, able to apply their knowledge, skills and understanding to new and unfamiliar contexts. Within schools, ICT teachers should consider all available opportunities for working alongside other areas of learning to provide flexible approaches to teaching ICT. Pupils should also be encouraged to develop solutions to real world situations, which could include case studies, based on or drawn from examples outside the school environment, for example information systems used in the local community.
Pupils need to develop an increasing level of capability in using ICT and be encouraged to develop the ability to make choices when deciding on the ICT solution to a specific problem. They should develop the ability to make informed decision about the appropriateness of their solution and to constantly evaluate their work and respond, where appropriate, to constructive criticism.
