Information and Communication Technology

Introduction

In information and communication technology, children learn about applying technology in order to gather, use and exchange information.

They should be taught about:

• Ways of gathering, investigating, analysing, communicating and presenting information

• Making the best use of available resources

• Making the best use of available information

• Ways in which ICT affects people’s lives

The knowledge, skills and understanding which children gain through their study of information and communication technology can be regarded in terms of:

• Enquiry

• Information

• Skills

• Communication

• Evaluation

The goals in information and communication technology will normally be achieved through children’s work in other subjects.

THE LEARNING GOALS

Milepost 1

By the end of the school year in which they are 7, the vast majority of children will:

1.1 Know about some of the applications of ICT in everyday life

1.2 Know about some of the ways in which the use of ICT affects people’s lives

1.3 Be able to use ICT to organise and classify information

1.4 Be able to use ICT to present information

1.5 Be able to enter, save, retrieve and revise information

1.6 Be able to work with text, tables, images and sound

1.7 Be able to plan and give instructions to make things happen

1.8 Be able to describe what they have done

1.9 Be able to use ICT to explore what happens in real and imaginary situations

Milepost 2

By the end of the school year in which they are 9, the vast majority of children will:

2.1 Know about some applications of ICT in work situations

2.2 Know about some applications of ICT in daily life

2.3 Know about some of the ways in which the use of ICT in work situations affects people’s lives

2.4 Be able to find and use stored information from a variety of sources

2.5 Be able to use ICT to support and present their work in other subjects

2.6 Be able to use sequences of instruction to control devices and achieve specific outcomes

2.7 Be able to make choices to gather information and solve problems

2.8 Understand that ICT can be used responsibly and creatively to people’s benefit

Milepost 3

By the end of the school year in which they are 12, the vast majority of children will:

3.1 Know that the study of ICT is concerned with applying technology to gather, use and exchange information

3.2 Know about an increasing number of applications of ICT for leisure, communication and work

3.3 Be able to frame questions appropriately when gathering and interrogating information

3.4 Be able to interpret their findings

3.5 Be able to identify whether their findings are valid

3.6 Be able to manipulate and combine different forms of information from different sources

3.7 Be able to use ICT to present information in a variety of forms

3.8 Be able to exchange information and ideas in a number of different ways

3.9 Be able to use ICT to control events

3.10 Be able to use ICT to sense physical data

3.11 Be able to use ICT-based models and simulations

3.12 Understand that the quality of information affects the results of any enquiry

3.13 Understand the importance of considering audience and purpose when presenting information

© COPYRIGHT IPC 2002

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