ICT

We live in a fast changing world where many of the most popular jobs and technologies of today did not exist 20 years ago. It is therefore vital that we equip our students with the experiences and skills in ICT they will use in this rapidly changing technological world.

The Information and Communications Technology Department at Berlin British School offers purpose designed ICT facilities with modern Apple Macintosh computers and professional software applications that are found in leading businesses and industry. The curriculum is designed to develop students’ abilities to think analytically and creatively; to learn and research; to be active citizens and agents of change; to work with others and in teams; and to manage themselves.

All students have their own network and email accounts through the school´s mixed PC and Apple Macintosh network. The school uses specialist hardware and software to ensure that students are protected when using the World Wide Web and that unsuitable content is filtered out before being displayed.

Key Stage 3 (Year 7 to 9)

ICT is taught throughout Key Stage 3, every class having three periods per week. Students are taught in form groups, with 10-15 students in a class. Boys and girls are taught together. At Key Stage 3 students follow the Hodder ICT InteraCT courses; these are closely linked to the English National Curriculum and UK Government teaching guidelines. There are opportunities for students to work individually and collaboratively throughout. The Microsoft Office suite is used extensively at Key Stage 3. All lessons are in a computer room and involve solving real problems using ICT.

Topic Summary:

Year 7: In this first year of Key Stage 3, topics include: Presenting information with presentation applications, desktop publishing, creating data models with spreadsheets, simple database applications, and using computers to control other devices.

Year 8: This year’s topics include: Website design and creation, more advanced work with spreadsheets and databases as well as multimedia authoring.

Year 9: The final year of Key Stage 3 involves drawing together the skills and knowledge acquired in Years 7 and 8 and applying this to develop solutions to real world problems. Topics covered include: podcasting, designing and producing computer games and document development.

Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)

At Key Stage 4 the Information Communication Technology syllabus combines theoretical and practical studies focusing on the ability to use common software applications, including word processors, spreadsheets, databases, interactive presentation software, e-mail, web browsers and website design. Students develop a greater awareness of how applications are used in the workplace, and consider the impact of new technologies on ways of working and on social, economic, ethical and moral issues. The skills learnt are useful in work across the curriculum, and are good preparation for future study and employment. Assessment at the end of Year 11 includes two practical and one theory examination.

Learning is enhanced by visits to organisations that use these technologies so that students can gain an understanding of why and how they are used as well as their costs and benefits.