Subjects / ICT
Information Communication Technology – The glue that holds it all together!
We live in an information rich society where technology plays an important role in our lives. The Swadelands School ICT department aims to develop our students and equip them with the skills necessary for the wider world of work. A wide range of industry standard software is delivered from year 7 through to year 13, and due to the interesting curriculum and qualifications, ICT has become one of the most popular subjects.
The department is well resourced. All ICT rooms are equipped with enough computers for a 1:1 ratio.
Moodle
What is Moodle? Moodle is our VLE, or Virtual Learning Environment. It provides students with a portal via the web to facilitate a more independent learning approach to work. Lessons, or courses at KS4 and KS5, can be structured through a series of WebPages. Tasks can be set and students can respond electronically. Accessible anywhere there is an internet connection; students can now upload work and download at home to extend their learning experience. Why not have a look at how it works here https://portal.swadelands.kent.sch.uk
Curriculum
Key Stage 3
In year 7 students work on the basic Office skills and get to use presentation software, graphic applications, web authoring, animation and control applications. The foundations are laid and the skill of careful planning, the system life-cycle and an awareness of purpose and audience are explored. In years 8 and 9 students start developing problem solving skills and work on extended projects that incorporate a variety of skills and ICT solutions.
Key Stage 4
The OCR National Level 2 follows a more traditional pathway providing opportunities for students to understand the impact of ICT on business. There are optional units that explore various aspects of multimedia. Find out more on the OCR website: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/ocrnationals/ict_level_2/documents.html
Upon successful completion students can achieve a Pass, Merit or Distinction, equivalent to a C, B or A at GCSE.
Key Stage 5
The OCR National Level 3 follows a similar structure to the level 2 in KS4. Students will study 6 units over two years and can achieve a Pass, Merit or Distinction.
Find out more at http://www.ocrnationals.com/level3_ict.php
In addition our A-Level Computing course offers pupils an opportunity to study how computers work. How they are assembled and programmed.
As a traditional A-level it is assessed with 3 exams and an element of coursework. The course is based on a combination of theory and practical lessons. Find out more at http://www.ocr.org.uk
Extra Curricular
ICT club is run at lunchtimes and is available to students who wish to do homework or research via the internet. The ICT rooms are also available to use at the end of the school day by those students who wish to work in a quiet atmosphere.
