What Is an ICT Scheme of Work

What is an ICT scheme of work?

http://www.ictadvice.org.uk/index.php?section=tl&cat=004000&rid=443

An ICT scheme of work should indicate how a school plans to deliver the programme of study for ICT.

In 1998 the DfEE and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) issued a scheme of work for information technology (IT) at Key Stages 1 and 2to help schools to deliver the IT programme of study. In 2000, QCA issued a scheme of work for ICT at Key Stage 3 .

These schemes of work are non-statutory and are designed to help with planning. They are intended to help teachers to turn the programme of study into what the National Curriculum handbook calls 'practical and manageable teaching programmes'.

A teacher's guide accompanies each scheme of work. These guides highlight:

·  links within key stages across subjects and between different key stages within the same subject, showing ways in which units can build on preceding work and how they link to other units

·  ways in which out-of-school activities can enhance learning in school and develop breadth of study across the whole of the school curriculum

·  how units can link with and support literacy, numeracy , thinking skills and key skills.

Schools developing their own schemes of work should endeavour to identify similar links across the curriculum. The purpose of a scheme of work is to provide challenging materials that will raise expectations and standards at all levels.

A scheme of work should show:

·  the balance between knowledge, skills and understanding

·  how content may best be sequenced to ensure continuity and progression

·  what you would expect most pupils to know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit of work

·  links to the wider curriculum

·  what resources are required.

An ICT scheme of work should:

·  provide long- and medium-term plans that show how and when pupils will acquire the knowledge, skills and understanding detailed in the programme of study and how the breadth of study will be covered

·  provide a secure basis from which teachers can plan lessons to meet the needs of all pupils in a class

·  detail the teaching and learning objectives of each unit of work

·  identify key ideas so that concepts are built up in an organised, systematic and rigorous way

·  identify what pupils are expected to learn, both within a unit and by the end of it, and how their learning may be assessed

·  provide opportunities to develop literacy, numeracy, thinking skills and key skills, where appropriate

·  have links with other subjects and curriculum areas

·  indicate the amount of time needed to teach each unit

·  encourage good practice in teaching

·  allow for some flexibility when used

·  identify key resources and how they might be used with pupils.

The knowledge, skills and understanding for ICT are detailed under four headings:

·  Finding things out

·  Developing ideas and making things happen

·  Exchanging and sharing information

·  Reviewing, modifying and evaluating work as it progresses.

Each section details what pupils are to be taught. The contexts through which they will be taught are detailed in the section on ‘breadth of study’. The scheme of work for each key stage must ensure that the specified content is taught through the types of opportunities referred to in the ‘breadth of study’ section.

There are a number of schemes of work and some useful materials on the Internet. LEAs have posted many of these, with individual schools and subject associations also contributing. Here are some examples:

ICT for Science Schemes of Work (primary)

Shevington High School, Wigan (secondary)

Northern Grid (primary)

Lewisham LEA (primary and secondary)

Tower Hamlets LEA (primary)

In all schools, teachers are best placed to judge whether the learning objectives meet the learning needs of individual children, and whether staff need to adapt these to provide appropriate opportunities for all children to succeed. Some of the teaching activities will need to be adapted to ensure that children with special educational needs of all kinds may participate fully and demonstrate their achievements.

Links:

·  Key Stages 1 and 2 http://www.standards.dfee.gov.uk/schemes/it

·  Key Stage 3 http://www.standards.dfee.gov.uk/schemes2/secondary_ICT

·  ICT for Science Schemes of Work http://curriculum.becta.org.uk/docserver.php?docid=1424

·  Shevington High School, Wigan http://www.shevington.org.uk/schemes_of_work.htm

·  Northern Grid http://www.northerngrid.org/ngfl/index.cfm?m=edu_centre&p=resources,teacher_guide&rid=196

·  Lewisham LEA http://ecs.lewisham.gov.uk/intict

·  Tower Hamlets LEA http://www.towerhamlets-pdc.org.uk/policies.php?id=1&type=61

© Becta 2003 / http://www.ictadvice.org.uk/index.php?section=tl&cat=004000&rid=443&pagenum=1&NextStart=1&print=1 / published
20 February 2002