Dedworth Middle School has two computer suites which have recently been refurbished. The Warner Room is equipped with computers for each pupil and is used for all ICT lessons. The curriculum room is a shared resource used to allow the utilization of ICT in other areas of the curriculum.
Both rooms feature teacher monitoring of children's work allowing broadcasting of demonstrations to the pupils' computers.
Year 5
In Year 5 the children are shown how to log on to the school's computer network and given a personal folder area on the computer to store their work over the four years that they are at this school.
All children will use the following software during their first year here.
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Microsoft Paint
- Microsoft Powerpoint
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Logo
- Microsoft Publisher
- Flowol - Flowchart designer
- First Class - Internal emailing program
The Topics are:-
The Tudors
Pupils will explore the internet finding information about the Tudors. They will use this information to inspire the design of a ghost train for a Tudor theme part. They will also design an advertising poster and look at a business model of the park using an Excel spreadsheet.
Touch Typing
Pupils are introduced to touch typing which will be used throughout year 5. We use the BBC's Dance Mat typing which can also be used at home by using the link www.bbc.co.uk/typing.
Matisse Snail
The pupils will attempt to recreate "The Snail" by Henri Matisse using Paint and Powerpoint comparing the difference between bitmap and vector graphics.
Christmas / Greeting Card Design
The pupils get an opportunity to use Publisher to create a personal greetings card.
Control Technology
Using Logo, the pupils will learn how to teach a turtle to draw simple shapes. They will then be using a flowcharting program to control the actions of traffic lights.
Classroom Design
Using skills in proportion, the children will plot out their classrooms using Powerpoint.
Letter Writing
Using Word, the pupils will write a persuasive letter to the Head Teacher appealing for equipment to use during break times.
Year 6
Pupils in Year 6 extend the knowledge from year 5 to tackle harder problems. This involves the use of Powerpoint to create interactive stories instead of sequential slides. They extend their knowledge in Excel to use formulae to automate calculations.
Year 6 also get the opportunity to use interactive learning resources in preparation for their SATs test.
Years 7 & 8
There are three themes to ICT teaching in Years 7 & 8.
- finding things out
- developing ideas and making things happen
- exchanging and sharing information.
All pupils use software to create leaflets, presentations, financial spreadsheets to model profit and loss, data bases and research information sources with a critical eye. They will use a game create package called "Scratch" which focus on ordering commands, design and problem solving.
In Year 8 pupils use this knowledge to complete a project on creating an educational game based on healthy eating. They save their project electronically and in paper form. This is a transition project and its results are passed on to the Upper Schools.