Within the primary school at Britannica Shanghai, the emphasis in Computer Science, ICT and EdTech is on the need for students to become critical and autonomous users of ICT. The curriculum is designed to respond to market demands for the development of essential skills from future graduates. It is the overall goal that the graduating student should be in a position to problem solve, innovate and produce new knowledge, based on their overall awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the technology available, to be able to address the issues facing them at any given time. This multi-literate approach increases the technological uptake of the student by incorporating technology skills into the school curriculum. It allows for the development of ICT competences across an existing curriculum or as a separate course of study, (embedded or discreet). It enhances learning by encouraging collaboration across all the subject areas.
For example; in Year 6 students are introduced to web design and interact with a variety of 2.0 Tools. They need to demonstrate the ability to select, interact with and display content within a content management system. They will learn to use web applications as a form of electronic interactive communication system embedded within a pedagogical project. Students learn to develop knowledge of ICT as well as communicate and handle information. Students are taught to use a range of ICT equipment and software efficiently to create good quality presentations for particular audiences, integrating information from several sources. Students are taught to be systematic in their use of appropriate search methods to obtain accurate and relevant information from a range of sources. They can collect and amend quantitative as well as qualitative data for a particular purpose, and model within data-handling packages for processing and analysis. Students will be able to interpret, analyse and display information creatively, checking its accuracy and questioning its plausibility.
At Britannica we strive to embedded technology into projects across all departmental areas using the pedagogical concept of the social activity. Students have roles and goals that mirror as closely as possible situations they could find themselves in when working in the real world. This brings a sense of realism that enlivens the project and enhances the learning.
Kind regards,
Laurence Bell
Director Of Technology Learning
