Introducing Computing to the Curriculum
Andrew Severy, Computer Science Co-ordinator at St Mary’s Junior School, Cambridge, helps to decipher the new computing element of the national curriculum
The Primary National Curriculum was launched in 2014, and ICT was replaced by a new subject: Computing, which aims to provide pupils with a clearer understanding of how computers, software, the Internet and search engines work. It also enables youngsters to design systems, understand the impact of technology on our lives, and develop computational thinking as a way to solve problems.
The three strands
Computing is split into three strands: Computer Science (programming or coding, and problem solving); Information Technology (using spreadsheets, creating presentations and manipulating graphics); and Digital Literacy (encompassing e-safety and teaching pupils how to select the most appropriate digital content). Learning sequences
Pupils in Reception are taught the concepts of computational thinking by learning about sequences of instructions. This moves on to the use of Bee-Bots (bee-like robots), which have a limited range of commands (such as left turn 90º and go). The girls build up sequences of instructions that provide a physical link between a list of abstract instructions, and tasks carried out in the real world.
Find out more about St Mary’s Junior School, Cambridge on our Schools Directory
In Years One and Two, more complex physical and virtual scenarios are introduced, i.e., greater angles of turn ...
Source:
independentschoolparent
URL:
http://www.independentschoolparent.com/
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