Subject Overview: ICT is concerned with the storage, retrieval, manipulation, transmission or receipt of digital data. Importantly, it is also concerned with the way these different uses can work with each other. ICT involves tasks that you can typically do on a personal computer or using computers at home or at work and it allows us or organisations to communicate and share information digitally. Each student is responsible for their own area on the network and thier own email account. They are encouraged to use ICT during lunch time and after-school study clubs and to support their learning in all areas of study. There is a home connection to the school intranet so that students can access their files from home. Each member of the school has links via ICT websites to homework an d support for subject areas and current topics. Every Wednesday after school we run a dedicated ICT Clinic. This is to provide support for students wishing for more help, a place to do coursework or homework and where they can try new things on the computer. |
Teaching Team: Mr M.Hoy - Faculty Leader of I.C.T. & Business | E-Mail |
 I.C.T. Course Web Site
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Learning Experience:
(2 Year Course) or (1 Year Course)
OCR National - Level 2 Pass, Merit or Distinction (GCSE A*-C) equivalent
What do students study and how do they study?
The OCR National in ICT is an exam-free alternative to GCSE, taking an engaging, practical approach to learning and assessment that will provide you with an industry-relevant qualification. It has been developed to recognise learners' skills, knowledge and understanding of Information and Communication Technology functions, environments and operations. You will carry out a range of tasks that have been designed to recognise your achievements in a modern, practical way that is relevant to the workplace.
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The key aims of the course are to:
Develop students' skills and knowledge of using and applying ICT in contexts that are directly relevant to employment situations.
Develop learner's ability to work autonomously and effectively using ICT.
Encourage progression by assisting in the development of skills, knowledge and understanding that learners will need as they progress into further education or employment.
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What coursework is required?
The OCR National comprises a number of 'Units of Work' and each unit is arranged into six assessment objectives. For each unit, you will build a portfolio of evidence designed to meet the unit assessment objectives.
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What examinations are there?
Many students struggle in exam situations, and they can miss out on opportunities when exam grades don't represent their true understanding or ability.
With OCR Nationals, there are no exams, so you are not under pressure to perform in a one-off test. Instead, learning and assessment happens throughout the course giving you a much better indication of your progress, and a greater chance of success. Each unit is graded as Pass, Merit or Distinction and the overall OCR National certificate is awarded at the lowest grade achieved in any units.
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What additional study is expected?
The emphasis that this course places on coursework means it is imperative that you stay up to date by completing each unit assessment on time. It will therefore be necessary to complete and improve assignments outside of class time, as and when indicated by your teacher.
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What can students do next?
The content of the OCR National is continually updated to keep up with technological advances and key changes in the industries they relate to:
• The course is highly relevant to today's employment market.
• Students practise and develop skills used in the workplace.
• Students gain a real insight into a range of sectors and industries.
One benefit of the OCR National is that, as a truly 14 - 19 course, it can be continued or extended within the further education setting up to a Level 3 course (equivalent to 3 A-Levels).
Key Stage 4 Core:
Each KS4 student receives their full entitlement to ICT through PSHE classes and discreet ICT lessons. Learners use a range of ICT tools in a purposeful way to tackle questions, solve problems and create ideas and solutions of value in a range of contexts, and in other areas of learning, work and life. They communicate and collaborate, sharing and exchanging information safely, effectively and responsibly. They explore ideas manipulating information becoming aware of the impact of technology, including issues of risk and safety surrounding the use of ICT. They evaluate critically information and the use of ICT. The curriculum opportunities section requires that students learn to make appropriate choices about when and where to use technology, including managing themselves, their work and their learning. Students should also have opportunities to exhibit their functional skills by applying their learning to real-world situations within a range of contexts and in other subjects and areas of learning.
Key Stage 3:
In Year 9 all students will complete Unit 1 of the OCR Nationals. This along with a further unit of work which will be completed in Year 10 and 11 will go towards an equivalent GCSE qualification. Linking to this they work through other National Curriculum requirements enabling them to complete their full core entitlement
In Year 8 students complete mini projects within the theme of either First Gear their Car Company or Le Fashion thier Fashion Company. Through guidance from their teacher they use different software packages to promote their company.
Assessment:
National Curriculum levels awarded at the end of each unit. This is supported by continual peer and self assessment throughout the course. Teachers will also give written and oral feedback on a weekly basis.
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Course Outline:
In ICT, students acquire and apply knowledge and understanding of: The quality and reliability of information and how to access and combine amounts of information through a variety of media. A range of increasingly complex tasks using a variety of ICT tools. How ICT can help their work in other subjects, developing their ability to judge when and how to use ICT and where it has limitations. The application and use of ICT in the outside world.
Year 7:
Year 7 students solidify knowledge they have gained of ICT in Primary School and apply it to the Managing the Band scenario. Students are responsible for a fictional band which they are required to setup, manage, promote and market. Everything from sourcing hotels and venues using effective internet searching skills to managing the bands finances using spreadsheet formulae.
Year 8 Units:
In Year 8 students complete mini projects within the theme of First Gear their Car Company. Through guidance from their teacher they use different software packages to promote their company.
Year 9 Units:
In Year 9 all students will learn a series of skills as park of a much larger project, iStory. This revolves around an interactive graphic novel, requiring students to source and create their own images, sounds and animations, create logical pathways to enable the user to interact with the story and embed literacy through extended and creative writing.
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Student Groupings:
Set according to Mathematics teaching groups.
Time Allocation:
2 lessons per two week cycle.
(2 Year Course)
OCR National - Level 2 Pass, Merit or Distinction (GCSE A*-C) equivalent
What do students study and how do they study?
The OCR National in ICT is an exam-free alternative to GCSE, taking an engaging, practical approach to learning and assessment that will provide you with an industry-relevant qualification. It has been developed to recognise learners' skills, knowledge and understanding of Information and Communication Technology functions, environments and operations. You will carry out a range of tasks that have been designed to recognise your achievements in a modern, practical way that is relevant to the workplace.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The key aims of the course are to:
Develop students' skills and knowledge of using and applying ICT in contexts that are directly relevant to employment situations.
Develop learner's ability to work autonomously and effectively using ICT.
Encourage progression by assisting in the development of skills, knowledge and understanding that learners will need as they progress into further education or employment.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What coursework is required?
The OCR National comprises a number of 'Units of Work' and each unit is arranged into six assessment objectives. For each unit, you will build a portfolio of evidence designed to meet the unit assessment objectives. For example, in Unit 1 'ICT skills for business' you have to demonstrate essential skills for the modern workplace, such as organisation and file management, downloading from the internet, sending and
receiving emails, using spreadsheets, and database management.
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What examinations are there?
Many students struggle in exam situations, and they can miss out on opportunities when exam grades don't represent their true understanding or ability.
With OCR Nationals, there are no exams, so you are not under pressure to perform in a one-off test. Instead, learning and assessment happens throughout the course giving you a much better indication of your progress, and a greater chance of success. Each unit is graded as Pass, Merit or Distinction and the overall OCR National certificate is awarded at the lowest grade achieved in any units.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What additional study is expected?
The emphasis that this course places on coursework means it is imperative that you stay up to date by completing each unit assessment on time. It will therefore be necessary to complete and improve assignments outside of class time, as and when indicated by your teacher.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What can students do next?
The content of the OCR National is continually updated to keep up with technological advances and key changes in the industries they relate to:
• The course is highly relevant to today's employment market.
• Students practise and develop skills used in the workplace.
• Students gain a real insight into a range of sectors and industries.
One benefit of the OCR National is that, as a truly 14 - 19 course, it can be continued or extended within the further education setting up to a Level 3 course (equivalent to 3 A-Levels).
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What information is on the VLE?
The VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) acts as the central information hub for the OCR National providing an 'anytime, anywhere' curriculum. You will be expected to access all course materials, join discussions and forums, submit work and track your own progress online. Staff will mark assessments, feedback to students and also track progress using the VLE.
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Functional Skills
All KS4 students will work on Functional Skills
The term 'functional' should be considered in the broad sense of providing learners with the skills and abilities they need to take an active and responsible role in their communities, in their everyday lives, workplaces and educational settings. Functional ICT requires learners to be able to use ICT in ways that make them effective and involved as citizens, able to operate confidently in life and to work in a wide range of contexts.
The ICT programme of study for key stage 4 embeds the level 2 functional skills standards.
The key concepts reflect the ICT functional skills standards:
ICT capability, where learners use a range of ICT tools in a purposeful way to tackle questions, solve problems and create ideas and solutions of value in a range of contexts, and in other areas of learning, work and life communication and collaboration, where learners share and exchange information safely, effectively and responsibly exploring ideas and manipulating information, and becoming aware of the impact of technology, including issues of risk and safety surrounding the use of ICT critical evaluation of information and of the use of ICT.
The curriculum opportunities section requires that students learn to make appropriate choices about when and where to use technology, including managing themselves, their work and their learning. Students should also have opportunities to exhibit their functional skills by applying their learning to real-world situations within a range of contexts and in other subjects and areas of learning.
This qualification is equivalent to half a GCSE
