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The Coalition Government took office on 11 May 2010. This publication was published prior to that date and may not reflect current government policy. You may choose to use these materials, however you should also consult the Department for Education website www.education.gov.uk for updated policy and resources. ICT across the curriculum ICT in science

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The Coalition Government took office on 11 May 2010. This publication was published prior to that date and may not reflect current government policy. You may choose to use these materials, however you should also consult the Department for Education website www.education.gov.uk for updated policy and resources.

ICT across the curriculum

ICT in science

Guidance

Curriculum andStandards

ICT consultantsand tutorsStatus: Recommended

Date of issue: 09-2004

Ref: DfES 0178-2004 G

Key Stage 3National Strategy

ICT across thecurriculumICT in science

OU

P 0

9-20

04

Copies of this document may be available from:

DfES PublicationsTel: 0845 60 222 60Fax: 0845 60 333 60Textphone: 0845 60 555 60e-mail: [email protected]

Ref: DfES 0178-2004 G

© Crown copyright 2004

Produced by theDepartment for Education and Skills

www.dfes.gov.uk

If this is not available in hard copy it can bedownloaded from:

www.standards.dfes.gov.uk

The content of this publication may be reproducedfree of charge by schools, ITT providers and local education authorities provided that the material isacknowledged as Crown copyright, the publicationtitle is specified, it is reproduced accurately and notused in a misleading context. Anyone else wishingto reuse part or all of the content of this publicationshould apply to HMSO for a core licence.

The permission to reproduce Crown copyrightprotected material does not extend to anymaterial in this publication which is identifiedas being the copyright of a third party.

Applications to reproduce the material from this publication should be addressed to:

HMSO, The Licensing Division, St Clements House2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQFax: 01603 723000e-mail: [email protected]

[29201] SCI 16/4/04 6:31 pm Page 2

Key Stage 3National Strategy

ICT across the curriculumICT in science

DisclaimerThe Department for Education and Skills wishes to make it clear that the Department, andits agents, accept no responsibility for the actual content of any of the materials suggestedas information sources within this document, whether these are in the form of printedpublications or on a website.

Inclusion of, or references to icons, logos or products including software in thesematerials, as exemplars or for contextual or practical reasons, should not be interpreted asan endorsement of such companies or their products.

© Crown copyright 2004DfES 0178-2004

3 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Contents

Introduction 5

About the ICT across the curriculum (ICTAC) pack 5

About this ICT in science guide 5

1 Introduction to ICT across the curriculum 7

ICT capability 7

What do we mean by ‘ICT capability’? 7

Requirements for ICT in the National Curriculum 7

ICT – the subject 7

ICT – in subjects 8

The relationship between ‘ICT – the subject’ and ‘ICT – in subjects’ 8

An integrated approach to ICT across the curriculum 10

A whole-school policy for ICT across the curriculum 10

Key concepts in the Framework for teaching ICT capability: Years 7, 8 and 9 11

Planning and sequencing ICT across the curriculum 12

ICT as a teaching tool 12

2 Commentary: ICT and science 15

An overview 15

How can the use of ICT raise standards in science? 15

Planning and progression 15

Planning to use ICT in science lessons 16

3 ICT themes and key concepts in science 17

Searching and selecting 17

Organising and investigating 17

Models and modelling 18

Control and monitoring 19

4 ICT capability: Moving forward in science 20

Examples of lessons supplied on the CD-ROM 20

Lesson 1 Renewable energy resources 21

Lesson 2 Change of state 22

Lesson 3 How can electricity make a magnet? 23

Lesson 4 Photosynthesis investigation 24

Lesson 5 Modelling current and potential difference in simple electrical circuits 25

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4 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Acknowledgements 26

Further resources 26

5 Next steps 27

Key questions 27

Reviewing your current position 28

ICT in the science National Curriculum 28

Identifying how the ICT National Curriculum is taught in your school 29

Applying and developing ICT capability taught in ICT lessons 30

Using the resources in the ICTAC pack to move forward 30

Moving forward 31

Working with the ICTAC pack 32

Action-planning – making it happen in your department 32

Appendices 33

Appendix 1: Key concepts 33

Appendix 2: Yearly teaching objectives for ICT 35

Appendix 3: End of Key Stage 2 expectations 39

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5 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Introduction

About the ICT across the curriculum (ICTAC) packThe training pack for ICT across the curriculum (ICTAC) forms part of the Key Stage 3National Strategy’s support for whole-school improvement. It should be used flexibly tosuit local circumstances and, if you have chosen ICT across the curriculum as your whole-school priority, will be supported by your local Key Stage 3 lead consultant for ICTAC.

The ICT across the curriculum (ICTAC) pack is a set of materials designed to promote theuse of ICT across all subjects in schools. It builds on the work of the Key Stage 3 NationalStrategy ICT strand and the ICT capability that pupils are bringing to their subject lessonsfrom their ICT lessons. It also considers the value that ICT can add to teaching andlearning in subjects and the need for a whole-school approach to develop coherent andeffective practice across the curriculum.

The training pack comprises:

■ a management guide;

■ a series of ICT in … printed guides (one per subject);

■ exemplification materials on the subject-specific CD-ROMs;

■ case study video on the subject-specific CD-ROMs;

■ subject-specific A2 colour posters describing use of ICT capability (two persubject).

About this ICT in science guideThis ICT in science guide is intended for subject leaders and teachers.

The main objectives of this publication are to:

■ raise awareness of how the ICT capability, as set out in the National Curriculum forICT and taught in ICT lessons, can be applied and developed in science;

■ analyse the opportunities that exist in science for developing and applying pupils’ICT capability;

■ consider how ICT can add value to the teaching and learning of science.

The past five years have seen a slow but steady improvement in pupils’achievements in ICT capability, the quality of teaching, and the leadership andmanagement of ICT … The complementary use of ICT across subjects, however,has been slow to develop and is uneven across schools and subjects …

The effective balance between the teaching of ICT skills, knowledge andunderstanding on the one hand and the application of these as part of learningacross subjects on the other hand remains a difficult and elusive goal for themajority of schools.

(Information and communication technology in secondary schools: Ofsted subject reports 2002/03)

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6 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

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7 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

1 Introduction to ICT across the curriculum

ICT capability

What do we mean by ‘ICT capability’?ICT capability involves technical and cognitive proficiency to access, use, develop, createand communicate information appropriately, using ICT tools. Learners demonstrate thiscapability by applying technology purposefully to solve problems, analyse and exchangeinformation, develop ideas, create models and control devices. They are discriminating intheir use of information and ICT tools, and systematic in reviewing and evaluating thecontribution that ICT can make to their work as it progresses.

ICT capability is much broader than acquiring a set of technical competencies in softwareapplications, although clearly these are important. ICT capability involves the appropriateselection, use and evaluation of ICT. In essence, pupils need to know what ICT isavailable, when to use it and why it is appropriate for the task.

For example, when pupils are creating a presentation, they use their ICT capability toselect appropriate software, consider fitness for purpose and match content and style to agiven audience. It is important that lessons are not driven by software or technology butare focused on clear objectives in science, where ICT is used as a vehicle to supportachievement of those objectives and to enhance teaching and learning in science.

Requirements for ICT in the National CurriculumThere are two statutory responsibilities within the National Curriculum for teaching ICT inschools at Key Stage 3. Schools need to ensure that all pupils are:

■ taught the programme of study, at each key stage, as set out in the NationalCurriculum for Information and communication technology – the attainment target,ICT capability, sets out the expected standard of pupils’ performance required ateach level;

■ given opportunities to apply and develop their ICT capability through the use ofICT tools to support their learning in all subjects.

The first bullet point focuses upon teaching ICT as a subject, whereas the second pointrefers to applying the subsequent ICT capability across other subjects.

ICT – the subjectIn this publication, ‘ICT – the subject’ refers to the teaching of the National Curriculum forICT. Advice on how ICT can be taught as a subject is detailed in the Key Stage 3 NationalStrategy publication, the Framework for teaching ICT capability: Years 7, 8 and 9 (DfES0321/2002). The Framework breaks down the Key Stage 3 ICT programme of study intoyearly teaching objectives. It also recommends that schools should allocate a minimum ofone hour per week for discrete ICT teaching in each year of Key Stage 3, to ensuresufficient time for the programme of study to be taught effectively.

The Strategy’s guidance about how to teach ICT capability as a subject is extensive. Aseries of sample teaching units, developed from the QCA/DfEE publication, A scheme ofwork for Key Stage 3 information and communication technology, includes detailed lessonplans and resources showing how the ICT yearly teaching objectives can be taught inlessons. The units are intended to provide a stimulus for planning, for individual schools toadapt and integrate within their own schemes of work.

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8 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

All of the materials and guidance for teaching ICT as a subject are available on the websitefor the Key Stage 3 National Strategy (www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/keystage3).Teaching ICT as a subject is therefore not the focus of this publication, but there are clearlyoverlaps with the use of ICT in other subjects that should be considered. Consequently,this and related publications include guidance about how pupils can be given opportunitiesto apply and develop their ICT capability in other subjects, and how these relate to theteaching of ICT as a subject.

ICT – in subjectsSuccessful implementation of the ICT strand of the Key Stage 3 National Strategy will givepupils a sound level of ICT capability and the transferable skills to build upon in their learningof other subjects. This has implications for teachers across all subjects in the curriculum.

Pupils will come to science lessons with expectations about how they might apply ICT tomove their own learning forward. Science teachers will not need to teach ICT capability butcan exploit new opportunities for pupils to apply and develop the capability that theyalready have, to enhance their learning in science. Consequently, the focus of the lessonremains firmly rooted in science and teachers are not burdened with the need to teach ICT.

There are implications for subject teachers, in that they will need a good understanding ofthe breadth of ICT capability that pupils have been taught and will be bringing to theirlesson. This is explored later in this section. Teachers will also need to know which parts ofICT capability offer significant opportunities for teaching and learning in science and howthey can be incorporated into existing schemes of work. This is explored in detail insections 2 and 3. The use of ICT needs to be purposeful and to add value to the teachingand learning of science and should not be seen simply as a bolt-on. It needs to be carefullyintegrated into science lessons, with a clear rationale for its use. Some examples of lessonsare outlined in section 4 and included, in full, on the accompanying CD-ROM.

The relationship between ‘ICT – the subject’ and ‘ICT – in subjects’ Pupils’ ability to apply their ICT capability across the curriculum is largely dependent onthe effective teaching and learning of ICT in the first place. Pupils’ use of ICT in othersubjects may be ineffective if they do not already have an appropriate level andunderstanding of ICT capability. This may result in a lack of progress in both ICT and thesubject area. For example, asking pupils to produce a presentation in science will beunproductive if they have little experience of using the software or understanding of how tocreate meaning and impact for a given audience. Pupils who try to learn new areas of ICTat the same time as new science content will often fail in both endeavours.

It is crucial that pupils are taught the appropriate ICT capability before applying it in othersubjects. The relationship between ‘ICT – the subject’ and ‘ICT – in subjects’ can thereforebe viewed as interactive and mutually supportive as shown in the diagram on the next page.

Purposeful and appropriate application of ICT in subjects offers pupils opportunities to:

■ use their ICT capability to assist and progress their learning in science;

■ engage in higher-order thinking skills, for example, by using ICT to undertakedetailed analysis when modelling data;

■ demonstrate, apply and reinforce their understanding of ICT capability within arange of subject contexts. The transferability of ICT capability is an importantaspect of progression in pupils’ knowledge, skills and understanding.

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ICT capability Apply and develop ICT capability

ICT– the subject

ICT– in subjects

It is important to recognise that pupils using ICT effectively in subjects may not always beapplying high levels of ICT capability. For example, using a wordprocessor to draft andredraft text is a valid and powerful activity in a range of subjects; using software to supportlearning in MFL or using a learning support program in mathematics or a bespokeprogram designed to aid learning in science can be significant in helping pupils to makeprogress. In all such cases, ICT fulfils a legitimate function if using it moves learning in thesubject forward, but it may make little contribution to developing the ICT capability taughtin ICT lessons.

As pupils become more confident and proficient in using ICT there will be opportunities toapply and develop higher levels of ICT capability in subjects, for example, producing webpages for a given purpose and audience, manipulating data to test a hypothesis, orincorporating sound and video into a presentation to add meaning and impact. It isimportant to reiterate that, whatever the level of ICT capability applied, it must add value toteaching and learning in the subject.

Although the Framework for teaching ICT capability; Years 7, 8 and 9 (DfES 0321/2002)recommends that schools allocate discrete ICT teaching time in all years at Key Stage 3, itwill be for schools to decide which is the most effective model. There may be someopportunities for aspects of ICT capability to be taught in a different subject area and thenalso applied in an appropriate context. For example, the control elements of the NationalCurriculum for ICT could be taught within design and technology. However, teachingsubject objectives and ICT objectives at the same time can be problematic and teachersshould be aware of the potential for the lesson to lose sight of the ICT objectives. Progressin the teaching and learning of a particular subject can also be disrupted by the time takento teach the required ICT component from scratch.

Many schools continue to cling to a belief that cross-curricular provision can delivergood progression in ICT capability, in spite of inspection evidence to the contraryover recent years. The weight of evidence suggests that what works best is abalance between discrete provision and the application of ICT capability acrossother subjects. However, many schools continue to struggle to achieve this.

(Information and communication technology in secondary schools: Ofsted subject reports 2001/02)

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10 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

An integrated approach to ICT across the curriculum

A whole-school policy for ICT across the curriculumSchools put considerable investment into ICT resources. However, this investment alonewill not necessarily give pupils appropriate opportunities to apply and develop ICTcapability – nor automatically add value to teaching and learning. Effective implementationof ICT across the curriculum is much more complex and involves strategic managementand coordination within whole-school policies. An effective model of applying anddeveloping ICT across the curriculum depends on a number of factors, including:

■ effective teaching of the National Curriculum programme of study for ICT (thesubject);

■ appropriate opportunities for pupils to apply and develop ICT capability in a rangeof subjects and contexts (transferable knowledge, skills and understanding);

■ deployment of resources so that subject areas can access ICT when it is needed,including provision of ICT within subject classrooms or areas;

■ a policy for purchasing of resources that maximises their use and allows forflexibility of use, for example, whole-class teaching, small-group work, individualteacher use – this could include consideration of whole-school networkingprovision, laptops and wireless networking capability;

■ planned use of ICT in schemes of work for all subjects, so that resources can bedeployed and organised appropriately;

■ whole-school policies which clearly map and sequence opportunities forapplication and development of ICT, so that pupils bring the appropriate ICTcapability to subject lessons;

■ whole-staff awareness of ICT capability and what can reasonably be expected ofpupils in each year.

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11 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Key concepts in the Framework for teaching ICT capability: Years 7, 8 and 9The National Curriculum programme of study for ICT groups the knowledge, skills andunderstanding that pupils need to acquire into four themes:

■ finding things out;

■ developing ideas and making things happen;

■ exchanging and sharing information;

■ reviewing, modifying and evaluating work as it progresses.

The Framework for teaching ICT capability: Years 7, 8 and 9 (DfES 0321/2002) subdivideseach of the first three themes into three key concepts. The resulting nine key conceptsdescribe the breadth of ICT capability and progression in learning through Key Stage 3.This provides a useful vehicle when discussing how ICT can most enhance teaching andlearning in subjects. The fourth theme (reviewing, modifying and evaluating work as itprogresses) is a critical feature of ICT capability, which needs to be integrated throughoutall areas.

The diagram above shows the nine key concepts of ICT capability. Further guidance abouteach of these concepts can be found in Appendix 1.

In the ICT Framework, each key concept is broken down into suggested yearly teachingobjectives in Years 7, 8 and 9, to identify progression through the key stage. The yearlyteaching objectives are displayed in full in Appendix 2.

The breakdown of ICT capability into the nine key concepts shown in the diagram helpsidentify the most appropriate areas of ICT to enhance teaching and learning in subjects. Itis important that pupils are given sufficient opportunities to develop and apply the fullrange of their ICT capability in the curriculum.

Key to ICT NationalCurriculum themes:

Finding things out

Developing ideas andmaking things happen

Exchanging andsharing information

Reviewing, modifyingand evaluating workas it progresses

ICT capability Key Stage 3Key concepts

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12 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Planning and sequencing ICT across the curriculumSubject teachers need to know what they can reasonably expect a pupil to know,understand and be able to do at each point in Key Stage 3.

Schools will need to map and sequence the teaching of ICT capability. This will identifywhen subject teachers can reasonably expect to develop and apply pupils’ ICT capabilityand move teaching and learning forward in their own subject teaching and learning. Forexample, once pupils have been taught appropriate search techniques on the Internet,including consideration of validity and bias, they can be expected to undertake purposefulresearch in other subjects and present their findings.

It is also important to consider the experiences of pupils at Key Stage 2. Again, individualschools will differ but Appendix 3 (extracted from the Framework for teaching ICTcapability: Years 7, 8 and 9 (DfES 0321/2002)) describes what most pupils should havelearned in ICT by the end of Key Stage 2. This summary is based largely on pupilsfollowing the Key Stage 2 QCA scheme of work, or equivalent, during Years 5 and 6.

ICT as a teaching toolSo far we have reviewed the use of ICT as a learning tool for pupils and haveacknowledged how pupils who are confident and proficient in ICT can bring with themopportunities for extending their learning as they use their ICT in other subjects in theschool curriculum.

However, existing and emerging ICT teaching tools provide further opportunities toenhance subjects and add value to teaching and learning. For example, the use ofinteractive whiteboards, video projection units, microscopes connected to computers,prepared spreadsheets to capture and model data, CD-ROMs, presentations with videoand carefully selected resources from the Internet all provide examples of how ICT can beembedded into subject teaching.

The diagram on page 9, showing ICT across the curriculum, can therefore be extended toinclude ICT as a tool or medium for teaching.

ICT capability Apply and develop ICT capability

ICT– the subject

ICT– in subjects

ICT a tool for teaching(the medium)

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13 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Clearly elements of the model will overlap and impinge on each other. For whole-schoolpolicies for ICT across the curriculum the challenge is to make the most purposeful use ofthe available resources across all teaching and learning. Opportunities to embed ICTsuitably in subject-teaching need to be exploited, as appropriate.

Use of ICT by a teacher may involve little or no use of ICT by pupils and, consequently,may do little to apply and develop their ICT capability. However, use of ICT by the teachercan enhance and stimulate the learning experiences of pupils and contribute to theachievement of subject objectives. It is important to recognise the different contributionsthat ICT can make to teaching and learning and acknowledge the importance of each. A policy for ICT across the curriculum should consider all these elements and therelationships between them.

Some examples of how this could be done in science are outlined in section 4 andincluded in detail on the accompanying CD-ROM.

The DfES CD-ROM, Embedding ICT @ Secondary, also provides a series of subject-specific case studies focusing on teacher-use of ICT.

ICT capability Key Stage 3 ScienceKey concepts

The diagram introduced on page 11 has been expanded to highlight some of the ICT keyconcepts that are particularly significant for science. These are expanded further on theICT in science poster (DfES 0201–2004G) that accompanies this pack.

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14 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Using dataandinformationsources

Searchingandselecting

Organising andinvestigating

Models andmodelling

Control andmonitoring

Fitness forpurpose

Refiningand presentinginformation

Communicating

Analysing andautomatingprocesses

2

6

3

5

<<

Rev

iew

ing

,mo

dif

yin

gan

devalu

ating

work as it progresses >>

Key to ICT National Curriculum themes:

Finding things outDeveloping ideas and making things happenExchanging and sharing informationReviewing, modifying and evaluating work as it progresses

Commentary: ICT and science

An overviewThe expectation is that pupils will have been taught all nine key concepts of ICT capabilityin their ICT lessons. This provides the foundation for the application and furtherdevelopment of these ICT key concepts across the curriculum. The nine key concepts areshown in the diagram on the opposite page.

Although many of the ICT key concepts could be applied and developed in science, someare more significant than others. The four key concepts, highlighted in the diagram, thatare particularly significant for science are:

■ searching and selecting;

■ organising and investigating;

■ models and modelling;

■ control and monitoring.

Other key concepts could also be applied and developed in science. For example, the keyconcept of using data and information sources could be developed within science withthe Internet providing a very rich source of information for pupils to interrogate.

How can the use of ICT raise standards in science?ICT can be used as a tool to:

■ support teachers:– to improve lesson design;– to transform teaching and learning;– to engage and motivate pupils to learn more effectively;

■ provide opportunities for pupils to learn in alternative and challenging ways, usinga wide range of sources of information and techniques to support critical thinking;

■ support both individual and collaborative work;

■ enable pupils to:– see patterns or behaviours more clearly;– add reliability or accuracy to measurements;– engage in whole-class discussion regarding first-hand observations;– consider issues raised by their observations within a wide range of industrial

and social contexts;

■ help pupils refine and present their ideas more effectively and in different ways.

Further guidance on Using ICT in Key Stage 3 science can be found on pages 46 and 47of the Framework for teaching science: Years 7, 8 and 9 (DfES 0136/2002).

Planning and progressionTeachers should expect pupils in any given year to have covered all or most of theobjectives in the Framework for teaching ICT capability: Years 7, 8 and 9 (DfES0321/2002) from the previous year. Science teachers may also wish pupils to apply ICTcapability learned during the year in which they are being taught. It is important to liaisewith the ICT department to ensure that the levels of expectation and challenge areappropriate to pupils’ experiences and levels of ICT capability.

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15 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

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16 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

To ensure the effective use of ICT in science, teachers should:

■ plan the use of ICT by pupils in collaboration with the ICT department, to ensurethat pupils have appropriate ICT skills;

■ analyse how to build on prior learning in science and ICT, to inform planning ofschemes of work and design of lessons;

■ be sure that ICT resources are available for the lesson.

It is important to plan for a range of ICT uses, to ensure that pupils’ capability is developedand consolidated as they progress, both in science and in the use of ICT. In particular,teachers should plan to use ICT in science lessons at a level that pupils have alreadycovered in ICT lessons.

Teachers will need to ensure that:

■ pupils’ use of ICT is varied but appropriate to their learning in science;

■ as pupils’ ICT capability increases, they are given further opportunities to applyand develop aspects of that capability in science lessons.

It may be appropriate to use low-level ICT skills to enhance learning in science, but pupilsshould also be given opportunities to apply higher-order skills. This should enable pupils tofurther enhance their learning in science as well as develop their ICT capability. Usinghigher-order ICT skills will also increase pupils’ motivation by providing new opportunitiesfor learning that could not be achieved easily in other ways.

Awareness of pupils’ capability in ICT will enable teachers to plan lessons that use andapply ICT in ways that help challenge and motivate pupils of all attainment levels. It isexpected that:

■ Year 6 ICT capability will support Year 7 work in science;

■ Year 7 ICT capability will support later Year 7 and Year 8 work in science;

■ Year 8 ICT capability will support later Year 8 and Year 9 work in science;

■ Year 9 ICT capability will support both later Year 9 work in science and GCSE work.

Appendix 2, Yearly teaching objectives for ICT, and Appendix 3, End of Key Stage 2expectations, provide a useful starting point for this, but practice in individual schools willvary, depending on how and when the National Curriculum for ICT is taught.

Planning to use ICT in science lessonsEffective communication between the science and ICT departments will foster a clearunderstanding of the timescale during which pupils should have developed the differentICT capability in each year. Science teachers need to identify opportunities to exploitpupils’ capability in ICT to move learning in science forward. They also need to considerwhether the use of ICT is appropriate to the aspect of science being taught.

When planning to use ICT in lessons, teachers should consider whether:

■ the ICT is adding value to the lesson:– Would the science learning outcomes be achieved as or more efficiently without

the use of ICT?– Is the identified form of ICT (both hardware and software) the most appropriate

one to use?

■ there are opportunities in the plenary for pupils to communicate theirunderstanding of how ICT has contributed to their learning in science;

■ schemes of work reflect a range of uses of ICT:– by pupils, to consolidate and develop their ICT capability;– by teachers, to support teaching of the National Curriculum for science.

ICT themes and key concepts in science

This section identifies some of the opportunities for applying and developing pupils’ ICTcapability that can be built into medium- and short-term planning in science. It considersICT key concepts that offer significant opportunities to enhance pupils’ learning in scienceand gives some brief examples of how this could happen in classrooms.

This symbol indicates that the lesson is based on one that is described in detail on theaccompanying CD-ROM.

Searching and selecting The use of ICT allows pupils to search and select from a variety of information sources.They can interrogate the data to identify correlations, recognise patterns, test hypothesesand make predictions.

The ICT objectives for Year 7 and Year 8 concentrate on finding secondary data, while inYear 9 they are about setting up investigations to obtain primary data. Both theseapproaches fit science well, particularly in the area of scientific enquiry. In science, pupilsanalyse high volumes of data, usually in the form of databases. They will need thenecessary skills to interrogate the data in order to identify patterns. All the ICT objectivesfor Year 9 relate to scientific enquiry skills that are developed throughout Key Stage 3 andwhich continue to be developed during Key Stage 4.

Organising and investigatingWithin a scientific enquiry, pupils can use ICT to collect and present data. They cananalyse findings and compare them with other information sources to check their validityand plausibility.

Wherever scientific enquiries are being carried out with the aid of ICT, it is likely that someof the objectives for this ICT concept will be met. Survey work could involve the design ofquestionnaires and in any scientific enquiry there is the key question of how to collect andpresent the data. A science enquiry in which the data were recorded in a spreadsheet,such as Microsoft ExcelTM, from which a graph could be generated, provides a significantmatch with the Year 8 yearly teaching objective (YTO) for scientific enquiry: Use a rangeof first-hand experience, secondary sources of information and ICT to collect, store andpresent information in a variety of ways, including the generation of graphs.

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17 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

In Year 7, pupils researched the life of a famous scientist. Another Year 7 classresearched renewable energy resources. During these lessons, pupils in bothclasses understood that not all sources of information are equally valuable.

In Year 8, following a lesson on diet analysis, using proprietary software, pupilscontributed records to a database about food products and their nutrientcomponents. Using refined search methods, pupils located records and usedthem to construct specialist diets for patients suffering a range of dietary disordersor with special requirements.

Year 9 pupils surveyed their families to collect data about smoking, drugs andexercise. The data were added to a larger dataset which pupils interrogated toidentify correlations and patterns, test hypotheses, draw conclusions and makepredictions. Pupils reviewed their findings by comparing their conclusions withother (national) surveys, to check the validity and plausibility of their work.

Data-logging involves the use of software to collect and present information in a variety ofways. Pupils can use data recorded in a spreadsheet to create graphs, allowing more timefor them to discuss their findings. Data stored on a CD-ROM can provide opportunities forpupils to develop their interpretation and analysis skills. Multimedia software can also beused to provide the context for enquiry work.

Models and modelling Pupils can use ICT to create models to develop scientific concepts and exploreunderstanding by asking ‘What if …?’ questions. They can modify rules and variables toexplore the science of the model, predict outcomes and test hypotheses.

The use of models, modelling and analogies is central to the teaching of science and isbroader than that indicated by the ICT yearly teaching objectives. The emphasis in mostscience lessons will be on questioning or making predictions, based on the scientificmodel, rather than any underlying ICT. This could involve the use of programs to model aprocess and observe outcomes when the process or inputs are changed. For example,pupils could use ICT techniques to predict and observe the consequences of changing thetemperature or pressure in the Haber process.

It is important to be clear about the nature of the model being used and to share this withpupils. Teachers need to clarify whether the model is a scientific one, as in particle theory,or a teaching one, for example, arranging pupils to represent the particles in a solid, liquidor gas. Commonly-used teaching models include software products designed to illustratea specific scientific concept, which use modelling techniques to develop pupils’ thinking.Increasingly as they move through their science curriculum, pupils are asked to consider awider range of scientific and teaching models (not ICT-based), to consider the strengthsand weaknesses of models and to develop their own models to explore a range ofphenomena. Pupils are asked to use packages such as Microsoft ExcelTM to developsimple models but are rarely asked to test or modify them. By using ICT, pupils could gainmore experience of using models to test their own hypotheses and predictions, and hencewould be applying some of the Year 9 yearly teaching objectives for ICT.

Multimedia software, designed to illustrate scientific models, can be used to help pupilsdevelop their understanding of topics such as particle theory, energy transfers through afood chain, or flow of electric current in a circuit. Such software often allows pupils tomodify a restricted range of parameters to explore the science of the model. Throughthese activities, the limitations of the models will become clear to pupils, even if they arenot able to modify them.

Spreadsheets can be used in science to model processes and pupils may modify parametersand discuss the outcomes of those changes. These activities also provide opportunities forpupils to discuss whether the model chosen is the most appropriate for the task.

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18 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Year 7 pupils investigating the speed of a moving object used ICT to collect data.Two light gates were set up alongside a ramp, down which a toy car wasreleased. They used a data-logger to record the time taken by the car to travelbetween the two light gates. Pupils altered one variable (height or angle of ramp,or distance down ramp) and timed the car again. They recorded the collectedresults in a spreadsheet, using a suitable format selected by the pupils.

Other examples of suitable investigations include:

■ the factors affecting the strength of an electromagnet (Year 8 pupils);

■ the effect of light levels on the rate of photosynthesis as indicated by evolution ofoxygen (Year 9 pupils).

Control and monitoring Using ICT allows pupils to monitor physical conditions and reflect upon the quality andquantity of the data collected. They can then use the data to explore and investigatehypotheses and draw conclusions.

Monitoring is an important part of data-logging lessons in science. Pupils use sensors,attached to data-loggers, to monitor a wide range of physical parameters such astemperature, light, oxygen content and sound.

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19 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Pupils in Year 8 used a computer simulation (a teaching model) to investigate thefactors affecting the strength of an electromagnet.

Pupils in Year 9 used simulation software to obtain numerical data for the currentand potential difference in a range of simple circuits. They identified amathematical relationship between the sets of data and used it to construct ascientific model which they developed and tested. In this case, the scientificmodel helped to explain what was happening in the circuits and, at the sametime, modelled the process undertaken by research scientists. The type ofmodelling involved in this lesson required higher-order thinking skills than thoserequired to build a model to visualise a concept. This was an example of thedevelopment of a formulaic, mathematical model which was used to identify theproportionality relationship, and which is appropriate for most Year 9 pupils.

Pupils in Year 8 used data-loggers to monitor the changes of state that occurredduring the cooling of stearic acid. Cooling curves were plotted as the physicalchange occurred, enabling pupils to focus on the pattern being shown by thedata. Pupils used their knowledge and understanding of particle theory to discussand explain the patterns they obtained.

Other scientific activities which are enhanced by digital monitoring (data-logging)include:

■ the measurement of temperature changes during composting;

■ the effect of light levels on the rate of photosynthesis as indicated by evolution ofoxygen;

■ the use of light intensity to track the progress of a chemical reaction.

ICT capability: Moving forward in science

Examples of lessons supplied on the CD-ROMThe CD-ROM includes examples of science lessons in which ICT is used to enhanceteaching and learning. These have been chosen to give a flavour of the type of activities inwhich pupils’ ICT capability can be applied and developed within the context of science.They also broadly reflect the ICT key concepts identified on page 15 as being the mostappropriate to apply and develop in the science curriculum. The examples offer supportfor the teaching and learning of science. They also provide opportunities for pupils to applytheir own ICT capability to new contexts as well as suggesting ways in which teachers canuse ICT as a tool in teaching.

In each example, reference is made to the ICT key concept being applied or developed. In each case, the relevant ICT objectives have been taught before they are applied in thescience lesson.

Each example includes a description of the lesson to place it within the context of thecurriculum. These identify the science objectives and the expected outcomes, as well asindicating the ICT capability that pupils will be using in the lesson. The lesson outlines thatfollow are provided as full lesson plans on the accompanying CD-ROM.

Most lessons are supported by resource files and, where appropriate, links are provided torelevant websites for further resources and software downloads.

4

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21 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Lesson 1 Renewable energy resources

Year group: 7

Science objectives covered

Pupils will be taught:

■ to identify a range of fuels andexplain:

– their use as valuable resources;

– why conservation of fuels isimportant in light of the Earth’sdiminishing resources;

■ that renewable energy resourcesinclude wind, waves, running water,sunlight, biomass and somegeothermal sources;

■ that renewable energy resources canbe used to generate electricity;

■ about some advantages anddisadvantages of renewable energyresources.

Science lesson summary

This lesson is based upon part of theQCA exemplar scheme of work, unit 7I:Energy resources. It supports part of thedelivery of the section ‘What arerenewable energy resources?’ In theprevious lesson, pupils considered theuse of fossil fuels, how their suppliesmight be conserved and why this mightbe important.

Pupils will be expected to:

■ locate suitable information bysearching a selected website so thatthey can:

– identify the main renewableenergy resources;

– explain the term ‘renewableenergy resource’;

– describe some of the pros andcons of using different energyresources.

This lesson contributes to the application and development of pupils’ capability in theICT concept of searching and selecting by providing a selection of information fromwhich pupils must select the most appropriate, in order to complete the activities.

Year group: 7Science objectives covered

Pupils will be taught:

■ that when a liquid changes to asolid, the temperature remains thesame;

■ that a change of state involvesenergy transfer;

■ to use the particle model of solids,liquids and gases, and energytransfer, to explain what happenswhen substances change state;

■ to use a range of first-handexperience, secondary sources ofinformation and ICT to collect, storeand present information in a varietyof ways, including the generation ofgraphs;

■ to draw conclusions from their owndata and describe how theirconclusions are consistent with theevidence obtained, using scientificknowledge and understanding toexplain them.

Science lesson summary

This lesson is based upon part of theQCA exemplar scheme of work, unit 8I:Heating and cooling. It supports thedelivery of the section ‘How can weexplain change of state?’ Earlier in thetopic, pupils considered how materialschange when they are heated andcooled and how insulation can reduceheat transfer. In the previous lesson,pupils may have considered practicalactivities and have offered particle modelexplanations to explain how the materialsbehaved.

Pupils will be expected to:

■ describe the pattern shown by atemperature–time graph for a liquidforming into a solid;

■ use a graph of experimental data tomeasure the melting point;

■ explain change of state in terms ofthe particle model.

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22 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Lesson 2 Change of state

The lesson contributes to the application and development of pupils’ capability in theICT concept of control and monitoring by providing an opportunity for pupils tomonitor a physical change more effectively through the use of ICT equipment than bytraditional methods.

Year group: 8

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23 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Lesson 3 How can electricity make a magnet?

Science objectives covered

Pupils will be taught:

■ to use a range of first-handexperience, secondary sources ofinformation and ICT to collect, storeand present information in a varietyof ways, including the generation ofgraphs;

■ to use appropriate range, precisionand sampling when collecting dataduring a scientific enquiry, andexplain why these and controlledexperiments are important;

■ to draw conclusions from their owndata and describe how theirconclusions are consistent with theevidence obtained, using scientificknowledge and understanding toexplain them;

■ how to make and change thestrength of an electromagnet.

Science lesson summary

This lesson is part of the QCA exemplarscheme of work, unit 8J: Magnets andelectromagnets. It forms part of thedelivery of the section ‘How canelectricity make a magnet?’ In theprevious lesson, pupils made a simpleelectromagnet and planned aninvestigation of the factors which affectthe strength of an electromagnet, eitherduring class time or for homework.

Pupils will be expected to:

■ investigate the factors that affect thestrength of an electromagnet, testingtheir predictions as they do so;

■ use appropriate software to obtaindata about the strength of anelectromagnet;

■ use a spreadsheet to record andanalyse their data, presenting theirfindings in tables and graphs withtrend lines or lines of best fit;

■ draw conclusions that are supportedby their data and consider thereliability of the readings theyobtained.

This lesson contributes to the application and development of pupils’ ICT capability inthe concept of models and modelling by providing a specific, relevant context inwhich a computer model (a teaching model) can be used, during an investigation, togather large amounts of data quickly, and which allows factors to be varied overappropriate ranges. Using a spreadsheet to store and analyse data, from which theydraw conclusions for their investigation, enables pupils to apply and develop theircapability in the ICT concept organising and investigating.

Year group: 8

Year group: 9

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24 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Lesson 4 Photosynthesis investigation

Science objectives covered

Pupils will be taught to:

■ select and use appropriate methodsfor communicating data;

■ describe patterns in data, usescientific knowledge andunderstanding to interpret thepatterns, make predictions andcheck reliability;

■ describe how evidence or the qualityof the product supports, or does notsupport, a conclusion in their ownand others’ enquiries; identify thelimitations of data in conclusions.

Science lesson summary

This lesson is part of the QCA exemplarscheme of work, unit 9C: Plants andphotosynthesis. It forms part of thedelivery of the section ‘What is the role ofthe leaf in photosynthesis?’ In theprevious lesson, pupils learned thatplants need both chlorophyll and light tophotosynthesise. The traditionalinvestigation with Elodea canadensis ismost successful in the late spring andearly summer and it can be difficult toobtain reliable results for pupils toanalyse. The use of a simulation allowspupils to investigate the effect of a rangeof variables on oxygen evolution and tocollect reasonably reliable data.

Pupils will be expected to:

■ plan an investigation, based onpreliminary trials;

■ obtain evidence and modify theirapproach in the light of thisevidence;

■ carry out a graphical analysis of theresults obtained, identify errors andcomment on the reliability of theresults;

■ establish patterns in terms of howthe rate of production of oxygenvaries with light intensity;

■ use scientific knowledge to explainwhether or not the results supportthe original prediction;

■ evaluate the procedure followed inthe simulation.

This lesson contributes to the application and development of pupils’ ICT capability inthe concept of organising and investigating by providing a specific, relevantcontext in which relationships between variables can be explored, and conclusionsdrawn and evaluated.

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25 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Lesson 5 Modelling current and potential difference in simple electrical circuits

The use of the simulation enables pupils to apply and develop their ICT capability inthe concept of models and modelling by creating a simple formula which they canuse as the basis for a model to predict other outcomes. These predictions can thenbe tested and the model modified accordingly.

Science objectives covered

Pupils will be taught to:

■ develop, from a simple model ofenergy transfer in electrical circuits,the idea of potential difference inelectrical circuits;

■ use the model of energyconservation to explain how:

– the potential difference measuredacross a cell measures howmuch energy is transferred fromthe cell to the components in thecircuit by the electric current;

– the potential difference acrosseach component measures howmuch energy is transferred fromthe component to thesurroundings;

■ describe patterns in data; usescientific knowledge andunderstanding to interpret thepatterns, make predictions andcheck reliability.

Science lesson summary

This lesson is linked to the exemplarQCA scheme of work, unit 9i: Energyand electricity. It could form part of thedelivery of the section ‘How doeselectricity transfer energy?’ and helppupils to review and extend theirknowledge of the relationship betweenelectrical current, potential difference andenergy in simple electrical circuits.

Pupils will be expected to:

■ use a simulation to obtain data fromsimple electrical circuits and testpredictions based on the data;

■ identify patterns in the data and usethem to develop simplemathematical models that can beused to make predictions;

■ modify the model, based on theresults of the tests, to develop a newmodel to make predictions about adifferent electrical circuit;

■ use scientific knowledge to explainconditions under which the model isaccurate and those under which it isnot accurate;

■ understand the relationship betweencurrent, potential difference andenergy in simple electrical circuits.

Year group: 9

AcknowledgementsThanks are due to INDIGO Visions for kind permission to reproduce lesson 1 from theirEnhancing Subject Teaching Using ICT (CPD) materials. The lesson has been extractedfrom a much broader CPD package offered by INDIGO Visions for teaching and learning,which contains online digital materials, face-to-face support, online mentoring and anonline community to share good practice.

Further details can be obtained from the INDIGO Visions website at www.indigo-visions.co.uk.

Thanks are due to New Media for kind permission to reproduce lesson 2 from theirEnhancing Subject Teaching Using ICT (CPD) materials. The lesson has been extractedfrom a much broader CPD package offered by New Media for teaching and learning,which contains online digital materials, face-to-face support, online mentoring and anonline community to share good practice.

Further details can be obtained from the New Media website at www.new-media.co.uk/cpd/.

Further resourcesFurther resources to support the use of ICT in science can be obtained from these sources.

Key Stage 3 Strategy www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/keystage3

ICT in Schools www.dfes.gov.uk/ictinschools/

QCA www.qca.org.uk

Becta www.becta.org.uk See also Becta’s ICT advice website:ww.ictadvice.org.uk

Ofsted www.ofsted.gov.uk

National Curriculum in Action www.ncaction.org.uk/subjects/ict/inother.htm

Teachernet www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/resourcematerials/

Virtual Teacher Centre http://vtc.ngfl.gov.uk/docserver.php

National Grid for Learning www.ngfl.gov.uk

Curriculum Online www.curriculumonline.gov.uk

National College for School http://www.ncsl.org.uk/index.cfmLeadership

National Association for Special www.nasen.org.ukEducational Needs

ScienceAssociation for Science Education www.ase.org.uk

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26 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

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27 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

5

■ How is use of ICT currently enhancing teaching and learning in science?

■ What further opportunities can be exploited?

■ What is inhibiting further use of ICT?

■ What are the next steps in moving the department forward?

Next steps

Key questionsThis section is intended to support subject leaders when working with their respectivedepartmental teams to move ICT across the curriculum forward. Subject leaders play acrucial role in raising standards by securing and sustaining improvement in the applicationof ICT capability in all subjects.

Fundamentally, there are four key questions for subject leaders to consider with theirsubject teams.

This section offers suggestions for some next steps for you and your department, broadlybased around:

■ reviewing your current position;

■ meeting the requirements for ICT in the science National Curriculum (whereappropriate);

■ identifying how the ICT National Curriculum is taught in your school;

■ applying and developing ICT capability from the ICT National Curriculum;

■ using the materials in this ICTAC pack to move forward;

■ action planning – making it happen in your department.

Below are some prompts and suggestions for analysing your existing provision,understanding how ICT is taught in your school and identifying potential new opportunitiesfor teaching and learning in your subject.

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28 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

How is ICT being used in your department?

Identify ways in which ICT is currently used in lessons in your department to addvalue to teaching and learning.

■ What good practice in using ICT currently exists in your department and howdoes it enhance teaching and learning?

■ For each of these areas, is ICT being used by pupils, by teachers or by both?

■ Are all teachers in your department using ICT in lessons in the same way orare individual teachers just using their own ideas?

■ How can these ideas be shared with other teachers in the department?

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Does the use of ICT in your department reflect the National Curriculumrequirements for your subject?

Identify any explicit references to the use of ICT in your subject NationalCurriculum orders and ensure that these areas are already being covered in yourdepartment’s scheme of work.

■ How do you ensure that all teachers in your department are dealing with theexplicit references to ICT in your subject?

■ How do you monitor, review and evaluate the ICT experiences of all pupilsacross all classes that are taught by your department?

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Reviewing your current position

You could consider:

■ asking teachers in your department to identify where they use ICT in their lessonsand how it impacts on teaching and learning in your subject: use the diagram onpage 14 to identify where the use of ICT fits;

■ allocating time at departmental meetings to share existing good practice and tolook at ways that this could be incorporated or adapted into schemes of work forall teachers in the department;

■ setting up peer observation or paired teaching for colleagues to observe eachother and assess the value ICT is adding to the lesson – you may find the KeyStage 3 guidance on coaching (included in Sustaining Improvement: a suite ofmodules on Coaching, Running networks and Building capacity (DfES 0565–2003 G))a useful tool to help you with this;

■ using the audit document on the CD-ROM to help analyse your current position –this is adapted from the Key Stage 3 Strategy publication, Securing improvement –the role of subject leaders (DfES 0102/2002), which provides further guidance onsubject leadership.

ICT in the science National Curriculum

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29 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

How is the teaching of the ICT National Curriculum organised in yourschool?

Identify the aspects of ICT that pupils have been taught in ICT lessons duringYears 7, 8 and 9.

■ How is the teaching of the ICT National Curriculum organised in your school?

■ What ICT capability, through taught ICT lessons, can you reasonably expectpupils to be bringing to your subject lessons in each term?

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You could consider:

■ using the National Curriculum orders for science to identify where the programmeof study refers to ICT, either specifically or as an example of how a particularaspect of the subject might be taught. The National Curriculum in Action websiteprovides a useful starting point for this and outlines statutory requirements andnon-statutory opportunities for your subject, see http://www.ncaction.org.uk/subjects/ict/inother.htm;

■ identifying, within your departmental schemes of work, how and when each ofthese references will be covered;

■ ensuring that you have planned access to the resources you will need by liaisingwith your ICT coordinator and/or the SMT member with responsibility for ICTacross the curriculum;

■ sampling pupils’ work to ensure consistency across classes; with a focus on theexplicit requirements of using ICT in your subject. The Key Stage 3 Strategypublication, Organising a work sample (DfES 0390/2003), offers guidance on howyou might organise a work-sampling exercise.

Identifying how the ICT National Curriculum is taught in yourschool

You could consider:

■ discussing with the school’s ICT subject leader how ICT is taught across the keystage in your school, in particular, to find out:

– the timetable allocation for ICT as a subject in Years 7, 8 and 9 – the KeyStage 3 National Strategy recommends one hour per week in each year forICT lessons;

– how the scheme of work for ICT is organised in each term, in each year andwhat ICT capability you would expect pupils to be bringing to your lessons;

– the use that is made of the Key Stage 3 Strategy’s ICT sample teaching units– the Strategy has produced detailed lesson plans with accompanyingresources for Years 7 and 8, and case studies for Year 9, based on the QCAKey Stage 3 scheme of work.

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30 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Does the use of ICT in your department reflect the National Curriculumrequirement to give pupils opportunities to apply and develop their ICTcapability?

Identify where your current scheme of work gives pupils opportunities to applyand develop their ICT capability at a level appropriate to their experience.

■ Are all teachers in your department fully aware of the breadth of ICT capabilitythat pupils are taught in ICT?

■ Which parts of the ICT National Curriculum are particularly significant for yoursubject and give pupils potential opportunities to apply and develop their ICTcapability?

■ Are there implications for training for teachers in your department?

■ Does the scheduling of your subject scheme of work and the ICT scheme ofwork provide a coherent way forward for pupils’ use of ICT?

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Applying and developing ICT capability taught in ICT lessons

You could consider:

■ inviting the ICT subject leader to a departmental meeting to explain the breadth ofICT capability that pupils are taught in the ICT National Curriculum. You may findAppendix 2 helpful for the discussion, in that it provides an overview of how theKey Stage 3 programme of study could be broken down into yearly teachingobjectives. This appendix is extracted from the Key Stage 3 National Strategypublication, Framework for teaching ICT capability: Years 7, 8 and 9 (DfES0321/2002), which also provides further guidance on teaching ICT as a subject;

■ identifying areas for staff development, either for individual teachers or the wholedepartment and working with the ICT subject leader and the LEA to establishsources of support;

■ discussing with the ICT subject leader possible changes to the schedule of theschemes of work to ensure that, in subject lessons, pupils are building on ICT thathas already been taught;

■ working with the school’s ICT coordinator to identify how your departmentcontributes to the whole-school policy of ICT across the curriculum;

■ discussing with other subject leaders in the school how they give pupilsopportunities to apply and develop ICT capability in their respective subjects.

Using the resources in the ICTAC pack to move forwardThe pack comprises five components:

1 ICT in … series guides (this publication)The guides consider how subjects can build on the ICT capability taught in ICTlessons, in this case, to add value to teaching and learning in science.

2 Video on CD-ROMThe video on the CD-ROM gives an example of how one subject leader has tackledthe use of ICT in science.

3 Examples of lessons on CD-ROMThe examples on the CD-ROM provide lesson plans and resources to demonstratesome ways that ICT could be applied and developed in science.

4 PostersThe poster gives a pictorial representation of the ICT key concepts and examples ofhow some of these could be relevant to teaching and learning in science.

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31 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

How can you move forward, using ICT to add value to teaching andlearning in science?

Use the materials provided in the ICTAC pack to identify new opportunities forpupils to apply and develop their ICT capability.

■ Which of the ICT key concepts are particularly relevant to your subject? Which aspects of ICT capability can be applied and developed in your subject?

■ What new opportunities are there for adding real value to teaching andlearning in your subject by exploiting the ICT capability that pupils are bringingto your lessons?

■ In the light of pupils’ increasing ICT capability, how do you ensure that themost effective use is made of ICT?

■ How does the work on ICT across the curriculum in your department fit withthe whole-school policy of ICT across the curriculum?

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5 Management guideA guide for school leaders, in particular, the senior member of staff with overallresponsibility for ICT across the curriculum. It outlines the need for a whole-schoolapproach to ICT across the curriculum and offers guidance on how this may beachieved.

Moving forward

You could consider:

■ using the overview of the nine ICT concepts in Appendix 1 of this ICT in scienceguide to raise your awareness of the ICT that is taught to pupils, and the level of ICTcapability that pupils will be bringing to your lessons that you can apply and develop. The nine ICT key concepts provide a way of considering the breadth of ICTcapability that pupils will bring to your lessons. Some key concepts will be morerelevant than others to your subject and some may well overlap. The importantpoint is that the overview provides a basis for analysing current provision andpotential new opportunities;

■ using the ICT key concepts described in section 3 of this booklet, and on theaccompanying posters, to identify new opportunities for your subject. Examples ofhow some of these key concepts are significant for science are given to provide stimulifor analysing your current schemes of work for additional opportunities;

■ using the examples of lessons, provided on the CD-ROMs, to provoke thoughtand compare with your current practice. Overviews of each of these lessons areprovided in section 4 of this booklet;

■ viewing the video clip on the CD-ROM to consider how one science department isgoing about embedding ICT in their subject;

■ using the additional resources provided in section 4 of this guide and on the CD-ROM to identify further sources of support and guidance;

■ if this is part of a wider-school day on ICT across the curriculum, viewing the videoclip on the Management Guide CD-ROM, which considers the critical roles ofheadteacher, SMT with responsibility for ICT, ICT subject leader, ICT coordinator andother subject leaders in moving ICT across the curriculum forward in the school.

If your school has selected ICT across the curriculum as its whole-school priority, the LEA’sICTAC lead consultant will be able to offer further support and guidance on using thematerials in this ICTAC pack.

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32 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Working with the ICTAC packAction-planning – making it happen in your departmentClearly schools will be at different stages of development with ICT across the curriculum.Departments within individual schools will also be at different stages. This ICTAC pack isdesigned to be used flexibly, for example:

■ as part of a whole-school focus on ICT across the curriculum, supported by theLEA’s lead ICTAC consultant;

■ as an individual department working within a school;

■ as a group of departments within a school;

■ as a group of subject departments across schools.

Whatever the scenario, subject leaders should define clear priorities, using the materials inthis pack. Consider:

■ reviewing the current position;

■ using the materials in this ICTAC pack to provoke thought and help identifypossible routes forward;

■ looking at schemes of work and identifying changes that would have minimalresourcing implications for staff and equipment;

■ identifying changes that would have more substantial implications;

■ how the work on ICT across the curriculum in your department is located withinthe whole-school policy for ICT across the curriculum;

■ liaising with other key players in the school, in particular, the ICT subject leaderand ICT coordinator and/or senior teacher with responsibility for ICT across thecurriculum;

■ liaising with the LEA for sources of support, in particular, the LEA’s lead ICTACconsultant.

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33 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Appendices

Appendix 1

Key conceptsFinding things outThe theme Finding things out is concerned not only with finding information from a widerange of sources but also with recognising that the user must judge the quality of contentfound.

Pupils are taught to make judgements about the validity, reliability and bias of various dataand information sources, and to select information relevant to a task, using, forexample, CD-ROMs or the Internet. They are taught that the way in which different typesof information are combined conveys meaning. For example, pupils recognise that thearrangement of text, graphics, and numeric data in an advertisement is intended topersuade us to buy a product.

When searching and selecting, pupils are taught to use search engines to findappropriate information, to refine their searches, to make them more effective and toselect relevant information by reference to its origin and quality. For example, a pupilsearching the Internet for information about global warming might select the data found ona website with a .org or .gov suffix because it should be more reliable.

When organising and investigating, pupils are taught to retrieve and collect informationfor a specific purpose or task. They process the data in various ways to find somethingout, draw conclusions or answer hypotheses. They are able to present their findingseffectively. For example, pupils may develop a hypothesis about the effects of a localbuilding project. To test this hypothesis they would create a questionnaire to collect andrecord people’s attitudes, process the data in a spreadsheet or database and use theiranalysis to support or refute their hypothesis, finally using graphs to present their findings.

Developing ideas and making things happenDeveloping ideas and making things happen is concerned with using ICT to process,develop or display information efficiently.

Pupils are taught to analyse problems, breaking them down into component parts, and toautomate processes to increase their speed and accuracy. For example, pupils maydevelop their understanding of efficiency by using master pages in publications to explorea range of possibilities before making a decision.

Pupils are taught that they can use models and modelling to represent a situation orprocess on screen. They explore patterns and relationships by changing variables andrules and can use this technique to answer ‘What if … ?‘ questions. For example, pupilsmay explore a spreadsheet model of the relative costs of running a mobile phone bychanging the number of minutes used per month (changing variables) to see what thephone would cost if … . They may then develop the model by including the number of freetext messages (changing rules).

Pupils are taught to develop computer-based systems to control and monitor situations.They analyse the problem and design, create, test and refine a solution. For example, in ascience experiment pupils may develop a system to measure temperature, light andhumidity, using a range of sensors incorporating a subroutine for each sensor, withappropriate sampling rates, and triggering an alarm when a condition is met.

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34 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Exchanging and sharing informationThis theme relates to the process of communication. Pupils are taught to recognisecommon forms and conventions used in communications and to use this knowledge topresent information appropriately to a specified audience.

When exchanging and sharing information, pupils are taught to consider fitness forpurpose. They review and evaluate the effectiveness of their work and are able to justifythe choices they have made. They are able to use this critical evaluation to develop andimprove their presentation of information, refining it for the purpose and audience. Forexample, pupils may use digital video to create an advertisement for overseas visitors totheir locality. They may refine their work further by devising criteria drawn from an analysisof existing TV adverts, during which they identify the common forms and conventions.

They are taught to use ICT to communicate effectively with wider and remote audiences.For example, pupils may use e-mail or online questionnaires to gather information frompupils in other countries, recognising and understanding the technical issues involved andthe rules governing such communications.

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35 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

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ng a

nd s

elec

ting

•S

earc

h a

varie

ty o

f sou

rces

for

info

rmat

ion

rele

vant

to

a ta

sk(e

.g. u

sing

inde

xes,

sea

rch

tech

niqu

es, n

avig

atio

nal

stru

ctur

es a

nd e

ngin

es).

•N

arro

w d

own

a se

arch

to

achi

eve

mor

e re

leva

nt r

esul

ts.

•A

sses

s th

e va

lue

of in

form

atio

n fro

m v

ario

us s

ourc

es t

o a

part

icul

ar t

ask.

•A

ckno

wle

dge

sour

ces

of in

form

atio

n us

ed.

Org

anis

ing

and

inve

stig

atin

g•

In a

n in

vest

igat

ion:

–de

sign

and

use

an

appr

opria

te d

ata

hand

ling

stru

ctur

e to

answ

er q

uest

ions

and

dra

w c

oncl

usio

ns;

–de

sign

a q

uest

ionn

aire

or

data

col

lect

ion

shee

t to

pro

vide

rele

vant

dat

a;

–ch

eck

data

effi

cien

tly fo

r er

rors

;

–in

vest

igat

e re

latio

nshi

ps b

etw

een

varia

bles

;

–us

e so

ftwar

e to

rep

rese

nt d

ata

in s

impl

e gr

aphs

, cha

rts

orta

bles

, jus

tifyi

ng t

he c

hoic

e of

rep

rese

ntat

ion;

–de

rive

new

info

rmat

ion

from

dat

a, e

.g. a

vera

ges,

prob

abilit

ies;

–ch

eck

whe

ther

con

clus

ions

are

pla

usib

le;

–re

view

and

am

end

the

stru

ctur

e an

d its

dat

a to

ans

wer

furt

her

ques

tions

.

Dev

elo

pin

g id

eas

and

mak

ing

thi

ngs

hap

pen

Ana

lysi

ng a

nd a

uto

mat

ing

pro

cess

es•

Use

aut

omat

ed p

roce

sses

to

incr

ease

effi

cien

cy (e

.g.

tem

plat

es, m

aste

r pa

ges)

.

•R

epre

sent

sim

ple

proc

esse

s as

dia

gram

s, s

how

ing:

–ho

w a

tas

k ca

n be

bro

ken

dow

n in

to s

mal

ler

ones

;

–th

e se

quen

ce o

f ope

ratio

ns, a

nd a

ny c

ondi

tions

or

deci

sion

s th

at a

ffect

it;

–th

e in

itial

info

rmat

ion

need

ed (e

.g. r

oom

tem

pera

ture

,pr

ices

of i

tem

s).

Mo

del

s an

d m

od

ellin

g•

Use

sof

twar

e to

inve

stig

ate

and

amen

d a

sim

ple

mod

el b

y:

–fo

rmat

ting

and

labe

lling

data

app

ropr

iate

ly (e

.g. f

orm

attin

gce

lls t

o di

spla

y cu

rren

cy);

–en

terin

g ru

les

or fo

rmul

ae a

nd c

heck

ing

thei

rap

prop

riate

ness

and

acc

urat

e w

orki

ng;

–ex

plai

ning

the

rul

es g

over

ning

a m

odel

;

–pr

edic

ting

the

effe

cts

of c

hang

ing

varia

bles

or

rule

s.

•Te

st w

heth

er a

sim

ple

mod

el o

pera

tes

satis

fact

orily

.

Co

ntro

l and

mo

nito

ring

•Im

plem

ent

a sy

stem

to

carr

y ou

t a

sim

ple

cont

rol t

ask,

incl

udin

g so

me

that

invo

lve

sens

ed p

hysi

cal d

ata,

by:

–co

mpi

ling

sets

of i

nstr

uctio

ns, i

dent

ifyin

g th

ose

whi

ch c

anbe

gro

uped

to

form

pro

cedu

res

or lo

ops;

–te

stin

g an

d re

finin

g th

e in

stru

ctio

ns.

Exc

hang

ing

and

sha

ring

info

rmat

ion

Fitn

ess

for

pur

po

se

•R

ecog

nise

com

mon

form

s an

d co

nven

tions

use

d in

com

mun

icat

ions

and

how

the

se a

ddre

ss a

udie

nce

need

s(e

.g. c

olum

ns o

f tex

t in

new

spap

ers,

gra

phic

s an

d en

larg

edpr

int

in p

oste

rs, h

yper

links

on

web

site

s).

•A

pply

und

erst

andi

ng o

f com

mon

form

s an

d co

nven

tions

to

own

ICT

wor

k.

•U

se g

iven

crit

eria

to

eval

uate

the

effe

ctiv

enes

s of

ow

n an

dot

hers

’ pub

licat

ions

and

pre

sent

atio

ns.

Ref

inin

g a

nd p

rese

ntin

g in

form

atio

n•

Pla

n an

d de

sign

the

pre

sent

atio

n of

info

rmat

ion

in d

igita

lm

edia

, tak

ing

acco

unt

of t

he p

urpo

se o

f the

pre

sent

atio

n an

din

tend

ed a

udie

nce.

•U

se IC

T to

dra

ft an

d re

fine

a pr

esen

tatio

n, in

clud

ing:

–ca

ptur

ing

still

and

mov

ing

imag

es a

nd s

ound

(e.g

. usi

ng a

scan

ner,

digi

tal c

amer

a, m

icro

phon

e);

–re

orga

nisi

ng, d

evel

opin

g an

d co

mbi

ning

info

rmat

ion,

incl

udin

g te

xt, i

mag

es a

nd s

ound

, usi

ng t

he s

impl

e ed

iting

func

tions

of c

omm

on a

pplic

atio

ns;

–im

port

ing

and

expo

rtin

g da

ta a

nd in

form

atio

n in

appr

opria

te fo

rmat

s.

Co

mm

unic

atin

g•

Use

e-m

ail s

ecur

ely

and

effic

ient

ly fo

r sh

ort

mes

sage

s an

dsu

ppor

ting

mat

eria

l.

•K

now

how

to

prot

ect

pers

onal

det

ails

and

why

thi

s is

impo

rtan

t.

Appendix

2Ye

arl

y te

ach

ing o

bje

ctiv

es

for

ICT

© Crown copyright 2004DfES 0178-2004

36 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Year

8 t

eachin

g o

bje

cti

ves

NO

TE: O

bjec

tives

hig

hlig

hted

in c

olou

r ar

e re

late

d to

rev

iew

ing,

mod

ifyin

g an

d ev

alua

ting

wor

k as

it p

rogr

esse

s.

Find

ing

thi

ngs

out

Usi

ng d

ata

and

info

rmat

ion

sour

ces

•U

nder

stan

d ho

w t

he c

onte

nt a

nd s

tyle

of a

n in

form

atio

nso

urce

affe

ct it

s su

itabi

lity

for

part

icul

ar p

urpo

ses,

by

cons

ider

ing:

–its

mix

of f

act,

opin

ion

and

mat

eria

l des

igne

d to

adv

ertis

e,pu

blic

ise

or e

nter

tain

;

–th

e vi

ewpo

ints

it o

ffers

;

–th

e cl

arity

, acc

essi

bilit

y an

d pl

ausi

bilit

y of

the

mat

eria

l.

•D

evis

e an

d ap

ply

crite

ria t

o ev

alua

te h

ow w

ell v

ario

usin

form

atio

n so

urce

s w

ill su

ppor

t a

task

.

•Ju

stify

the

use

of p

artic

ular

info

rmat

ion

sour

ces

to s

uppo

rt a

nin

vest

igat

ion

or p

rese

ntat

ion.

Sea

rchi

ng a

nd s

elec

ting

•E

xten

d an

d re

fine

sear

ch m

etho

ds t

o be

mor

e ef

ficie

nt (e

.g.

usin

g sy

nony

ms

and

AN

D, O

R, N

OT)

.

•E

xpla

in t

he a

dvan

tage

s of

the

met

hods

use

d by

diff

eren

tse

arch

eng

ines

and

pro

gram

s to

sea

rch

for

data

in v

ario

usfo

rmat

s.

Org

anis

ing

and

inve

stig

atin

g•

In a

n in

vest

igat

ion:

–us

e so

ftwar

e op

tions

and

form

ats

to s

tore

, ret

rieve

and

pres

ent

elec

tron

ic m

ater

ial e

ffici

ently

;

–ex

plor

e an

d in

terp

ret

colle

cted

dat

a in

ord

er t

o dr

awco

nclu

sion

s;

–as

sess

the

con

sist

ency

of c

oncl

usio

ns w

ith o

ther

evi

denc

e.

•U

nder

stan

d:

–ho

w d

ata

colle

ctio

n an

d st

orag

e ar

e au

tom

ated

inco

mm

erce

and

som

e pu

blic

ser

vice

s;

–th

e im

pact

of e

lect

roni

c da

taba

ses

on c

omm

erci

al p

ract

ice

and

soci

ety;

–po

tent

ial m

isus

e of

per

sona

l dat

a.

Dev

elo

pin

g id

eas

and

mak

ing

thi

ngs

hap

pen

Ana

lysi

ng a

nd a

uto

mat

ing

pro

cess

es•

Aut

omat

e si

mpl

e pr

oces

ses

by:

–cr

eatin

g te

mpl

ates

;

–cr

eatin

g si

mpl

e so

ftwar

e ro

utin

es (e

.g. s

tyle

she

ets,

web

quer

ies,

con

trol

tec

hniq

ues

on w

eb p

ages

).

•C

onsi

der

the

bene

fits

and

draw

back

s of

usi

ng IC

T to

auto

mat

e pr

oces

ses

(e.g

. usi

ng w

izar

ds, t

empl

ates

).

•R

epre

sent

sim

ple

desi

gn s

peci

ficat

ions

as

diag

ram

s.

Mo

del

s an

d m

od

ellin

g•

Dev

elop

ICT-

base

d m

odel

s an

d te

st p

redi

ctio

ns b

y ch

angi

ngva

riabl

es a

nd r

ules

.

•D

raw

and

exp

lain

con

clus

ions

(e.g

. ‘th

e be

st v

alue

for

mon

eyis

obt

aine

d w

hen

…’).

•R

evie

w a

nd m

odify

ICT

mod

els

to im

prov

e th

eir

accu

racy

and

exte

nd t

heir

scop

e (e

.g. b

y in

trod

ucin

g di

ffere

nt o

r ne

wva

riabl

es a

nd p

rodu

cing

furt

her

outc

omes

).

Co

ntro

l and

mo

nito

ring

•D

evel

op a

nd t

est

a sy

stem

to

mon

itor

and

cont

rol e

vent

s by

:

–us

ing

sens

ors

effic

ient

ly;

–de

velo

ping

, tes

ting

and

refin

ing

effic

ient

seq

uenc

es o

fin

stru

ctio

ns a

nd p

roce

dure

s;

–as

sess

ing

the

effe

cts

of s

ampl

ing

and

tran

smis

sion

rat

eson

the

acc

urac

y of

dat

a fro

m s

enso

rs.

•U

nder

stan

d ho

w c

ontr

ol a

nd m

onito

ring

has

affe

cted

com

mer

cial

and

indu

stria

l pro

cess

es (e

.g. t

elec

omm

unic

atio

n,he

alth

and

tra

nspo

rt s

ervi

ces)

.

Exc

hang

ing

and

sha

ring

info

rmat

ion

Fitn

ess

for

pur

po

se•

Rec

ogni

se h

ow d

iffer

ent

med

ia a

nd p

rese

ntat

ion

tech

niqu

esco

nvey

sim

ilar

cont

ent

in w

ays

that

hav

e di

ffere

nt im

pact

s.

•U

nder

stan

d th

at a

n ef

fect

ive

pres

enta

tion

or p

ublic

atio

n w

illad

dres

s au

dien

ce e

xpec

tatio

ns a

nd n

eeds

(e.g

. the

audi

ence

’s le

vels

of l

itera

cy, f

amilia

rity

with

a t

opic

).

•D

evis

e cr

iteria

to

eval

uate

the

effe

ctiv

enes

s of

ow

n an

dot

hers

’ pub

licat

ions

and

pre

sent

atio

ns, a

nd u

se t

he c

riter

ia t

om

ake

refin

emen

ts.

Ref

inin

g a

nd p

rese

ntin

g in

form

atio

n•

Pla

n an

d de

sign

pre

sent

atio

ns a

nd p

ublic

atio

ns, s

how

ing

how

acc

ount

has

bee

n ta

ken

of:

–au

dien

ce e

xpec

tatio

ns a

nd n

eeds

;

–th

e IC

T an

d m

edia

faci

litie

s av

aila

ble.

•U

se a

ran

ge o

f IC

T to

ols

effic

ient

ly t

o co

mbi

ne, r

efin

e an

dpr

esen

t in

form

atio

n by

:

–ex

trac

ting,

com

bini

ng a

nd m

odify

ing

rele

vant

info

rmat

ion

for

spec

ific

purp

oses

;

–st

ruct

urin

g a

publ

icat

ion

or p

rese

ntat

ion

(e.g

. usi

ngdo

cum

ent

styl

es, t

empl

ates

, tim

e lin

es in

sou

nd a

nd v

ideo

editi

ng, n

avig

atio

nal s

truc

ture

s in

web

med

ia).

Co

mm

unic

atin

g•

Und

erst

and

som

e of

the

tec

hnic

al is

sues

invo

lved

in e

ffici

ent

elec

tron

ic c

omm

unic

atio

ns (e

.g. s

peed

and

ban

dwid

th, s

ize

and

type

of f

ile, f

eatu

res

of d

iffer

ent

brow

sers

and

mai

lso

ftwar

e).

•U

se IC

T ef

fect

ivel

y to

ada

pt m

ater

ial f

or p

ublic

atio

n to

wid

eror

rem

ote

audi

ence

s (e

.g. a

s w

eb a

rtic

les

or s

ites)

.

© Crown copyright 2004DfES 0178-2004

37 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Year

9 t

eachin

g o

bje

cti

ves

NO

TE: O

bjec

tives

hig

hlig

hted

in c

olou

r ar

e re

late

d to

rev

iew

ing,

mod

ifyin

g an

d ev

alua

ting

wor

k as

it p

rogr

esse

s.

Find

ing

thi

ngs

out

Usi

ng d

ata

and

info

rmat

ion

sour

ces

•S

elec

t in

form

atio

n so

urce

s an

d da

ta s

yste

mat

ical

ly fo

r an

iden

tifie

d pu

rpos

e by

:

–ju

dgin

g th

e re

liabi

lity

of t

he in

form

atio

n so

urce

s;

–id

entif

ying

pos

sibl

e bi

as d

ue t

o sa

mpl

ing

met

hods

;

–co

llect

ing

valid

, acc

urat

e da

ta e

ffici

ently

;

–re

cogn

isin

g po

tent

ial m

isus

e of

col

lect

ed d

ata.

Sea

rchi

ng a

nd s

elec

ting

•A

s pa

rt o

f a s

tudy

, ana

lyse

hig

h-vo

lum

e qu

antit

ativ

e an

dqu

alita

tive

data

sys

tem

atic

ally

by:

–ex

plor

ing

the

data

to

form

and

tes

t hy

poth

eses

;

–id

entif

ying

cor

rela

tions

bet

wee

n va

riabl

es;

–dr

awin

g va

lid c

oncl

usio

ns a

nd m

akin

g pr

edic

tions

;

–re

view

ing

the

proc

ess

of a

naly

sis

and

the

plau

sibi

lity

of t

hepr

edic

tions

or

conc

lusi

ons.

Org

anis

ing

and

inve

stig

atin

g•

Con

stru

ct, t

est

and

docu

men

t th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

ada

taba

se s

yste

m w

hich

sho

ws:

–a

desi

gn s

peci

ficat

ion;

–ap

prop

riate

mea

ns o

f dat

a in

put

and

valid

atio

n;

–sy

stem

atic

tes

ting

of p

roce

sses

and

rep

orts

;

–ev

alua

tion

of t

he s

yste

m’s

per

form

ance

and

sug

gest

edm

odifi

catio

ns.

Dev

elo

pin

g id

eas

and

mak

ing

thi

ngs

hap

pen

Ana

lysi

ng a

nd a

uto

mat

ing

pro

cess

es•

Aut

omat

e IC

T pr

oces

ses

(e.g

. use

sof

twar

e to

mer

ge m

ail,

crea

te m

acro

s in

an

appl

icat

ion

prog

ram

).

•R

epre

sent

a s

yste

m in

a d

iagr

am, i

dent

ifyin

g al

l its

par

ts,

incl

udin

g in

puts

, out

puts

and

the

pro

cess

es u

sed

(e.g

. to

valid

ate

data

).

Mo

del

s an

d m

od

ellin

g•

Des

ign

and

crea

te IC

T-ba

sed

mod

els,

tes

ting

and

refin

ing

rule

s or

pro

cedu

res.

•Te

st h

ypot

hese

s an

d pr

edic

tions

usi

ng m

odel

s, c

ompa

ring

thei

r be

havi

our

with

info

rmat

ion

from

oth

er s

ourc

es.

Co

ntro

l and

mo

nito

ring

•U

se IC

T to

bui

ld a

nd t

est

an e

ffici

ent

syst

em t

o m

onito

r an

dco

ntro

l eve

nts,

incl

udin

g:

–te

stin

g al

l ele

men

ts o

f the

sys

tem

usi

ng a

ppro

pria

te t

est

data

;

–ev

alua

ting

the

syst

em’s

per

form

ance

;

–an

nota

ting

wor

k to

hig

hlig

ht p

roce

sses

and

just

ifyde

cisi

ons.

•R

evie

w a

nd m

odify

ow

n or

oth

ers’

mon

itorin

g an

d co

ntro

lsy

stem

s to

impr

ove

effic

ienc

y (e

.g. u

se m

ore

effic

ient

proc

edur

es, r

educ

e th

e nu

mbe

r of

inst

ruct

ions

or

proc

edur

es, a

dd a

n el

emen

t of

feed

back

).

Exc

hang

ing

and

sha

ring

info

rmat

ion

Fitn

ess

for

pur

po

se•

Pro

duce

hig

h qu

ality

ICT-

base

d pr

esen

tatio

ns b

y:

–cr

eatin

g cl

ear

pres

enta

tions

, sen

sitiv

e to

aud

ienc

e ne

eds;

–ju

stify

ing

the

choi

ce o

f for

m, s

tyle

and

con

tent

.

•U

se k

now

ledg

e of

pub

licat

ions

and

med

ia fo

rms

to d

evis

ecr

iteria

to

asse

ss t

he q

ualit

y an

d im

pact

of m

ultim

edia

com

mun

icat

ions

and

pre

sent

atio

ns, a

nd a

pply

the

crit

eria

to

deve

lop

and

refin

e ow

n w

ork.

Ref

inin

g a

nd p

rese

ntin

g in

form

atio

n•

Use

a w

ide

rang

e of

ICT

inde

pend

ently

and

effi

cien

tly t

oco

mbi

ne, r

efin

e, in

terp

ret

and

pres

ent

info

rmat

ion

by:

–st

ruct

urin

g, r

efin

ing

and

synt

hesi

sing

info

rmat

ion

from

ara

nge

of s

ourc

es;

–se

lect

ing

and

usin

g so

ftwar

e ef

fect

ivel

y, ju

stify

ing

the

choi

ces

mad

e.

Co

mm

unic

atin

g•

App

ly k

now

ledg

e of

the

tec

hnic

al is

sues

invo

lved

to

com

mun

icat

e in

form

atio

n ef

ficie

ntly

(e.g

. cho

ose

suita

ble

file

type

s to

spe

ed u

p tr

ansf

er, u

se m

ail l

ists

to

spee

d up

com

mun

icat

ion,

use

web

site

tag

ging

and

hyp

erlin

ks t

o sp

eed

up s

earc

hing

).

•U

nder

stan

d th

e ad

vant

ages

, dan

gers

and

mor

al is

sues

inus

ing

ICT

to m

anip

ulat

e an

d pr

esen

t in

form

atio

n to

larg

eun

know

n au

dien

ces

(e.g

. iss

ues

of o

wne

rshi

p, q

ualit

y co

ntro

l,ex

clus

ion,

impa

ct o

n pa

rtic

ular

com

mun

ities

).

© Crown copyright 2004DfES 0178-2004

38 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

© Crown copyright 2004DfES 0178-2004

39 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Appendix 1From Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3This appendix describes what most pupils should have learned in ICT by the end ofKey Stage 2, particularly those aspects that relate to the yearly objectives in KeyStage 3.

Finding things out

By the end of Year 6, most pupils should be able to:

• identify the information they need to complete a simple task or solve a simpleproblem;

• use simple search techniques, including indexes and lists of contents, to findinformation;

• prepare information for use in a task by downloading relevant pieces orcollecting them from various sources;

• classify information for use in a database and understand how a suitablestructure is created;

• recognise different types of information such as text, numbers, graphics;

• enter data into a database, search it and present data in simple tables andgraphs;

• check that information is accurate and reasonable;

• discuss what might happen if information is entered into the computerincorrectly or not downloaded completely.

Developing ideas and making things happen

By the end of Year 6, most pupils should be able to:

• combine text, graphics and sound to develop and present their ideas;

• reorganise information for a particular task or problem;

• create, test and refine a simple sequence of instructions to control events ormake things happen;

• use datalogging equipment to monitor changes, for example, in light,temperature or sound;

• use simple spreadsheet models to explore the effect of changing variables and answer straightforward questions;

• identify patterns revealed by simple models or simulations.

Appendix 3End of Key Stage 2 expectations

© Crown copyright 2004DfES 0178-2004

40 ICT in scienceKey Stage 3 National Strategy

Exchanging and sharing information

By the end of Year 6, most pupils should be able to:

• use e-mail;

• use software to create stories, animations, presentations, displays and posters;

• consider the needs of different audiences, such as parents, peer groups,younger or older pupils;

• recognise the need for quality and accuracy in their presentations of work and ideas;

• work in groups to solve problems and complete tasks.

Reviewing, modifying and evaluating work as itprogresses

By the end of Year 6, most pupils should be able to:

• review what they have done and consider how they might improve their work;

• evaluate other people’s work and get ideas for their own;

• describe their use of ICT and how they might have completed a task usingother methods;

• compare their use of ICT with other people’s;

• recognise the benefits of using ICT for particular tasks;

• describe some uses of ICT outside school and the impact it might have onpeople at work and at home.

Guidance

Curriculum andStandards

ICT consultantsand tutorsStatus: Recommended

Date of issue: 09-2004

Ref: DfES 0178-2004 G

Key Stage 3National Strategy

ICT across thecurriculumICT in science

OU

P 0

9-20

04

Copies of this document may be available from:

DfES PublicationsTel: 0845 60 222 60Fax: 0845 60 333 60Textphone: 0845 60 555 60e-mail: [email protected]

Ref: DfES 0178-2004 G

© Crown copyright 2004

Produced by theDepartment for Education and Skills

www.dfes.gov.uk

If this is not available in hard copy it can bedownloaded from:

www.standards.dfes.gov.uk

The content of this publication may be reproducedfree of charge by schools, ITT providers and local education authorities provided that the material isacknowledged as Crown copyright, the publicationtitle is specified, it is reproduced accurately and notused in a misleading context. Anyone else wishingto reuse part or all of the content of this publicationshould apply to HMSO for a core licence.

The permission to reproduce Crown copyrightprotected material does not extend to anymaterial in this publication which is identifiedas being the copyright of a third party.

Applications to reproduce the material from this publication should be addressed to:

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