Using ICT
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Using ICT is one of the three Cross-Curricular Skills at the heart of the curriculum. Developing our children’s digital skills encourages them to handle and communicate information, solve problems, pose questions and be creative in using digital technology, creating AI images such as this for instance, using Adobe.
It is important that our children develop their technical skills in a range of different types of ICT, such as:
- publishing;
- presenting;
- coding;
- managing data;
- art and design;
- music and sound; and
- film and animation.
Our children are taught how to use digital skills appropriately while engaging in meaningful and purposeful activities.
Every child has access to technology and the networked computer system which links every classroom. Interactive whiteboards, iPads, Surface Pros, floor robots, bee bots and pro bots, digital cameras and digital microphones are all used to enhance learning and develop high level skills. Each class is encouraged to contribute to the school website.
In 2023-2024, our P7 children are thoroughly enjoying their Digital Thursdays with our IT specialist teacher. Their Digital Thursday tasks to date have included:
- completing a Back-to-School challenge using Adobe Express Graphic Design;
- practising their photography skills and using Mark Up to personify objects inside and outside of the classroom;
- using Adobe Express to create our own book covers inspired by ‘James and the Giant Peach’ on Roald Dahl Day;
- using Adobe Express to create stunning posters for some autumn haikus to celebrate National Poetry Day and
- a coding task, linked to their topic of flight as they coded their own Flappy Bird game.
The Education Training Inspectorate during our November 2024 Inspection commented upon Oakwood IPS & Nursery Unit being the first school they had visited with an AI Policy already in place (June 2024). In the ETI Inspection Report, November 2024, they commended:
The bespoke, detailed whole-school planning for digital skills, includes: clear skills development and progression; a balanced allocation of resources across the school; and a comprehensive system for monitoring and recording the children’s progression. As a result, the children make good progress through the school and are developing well their Information and Communications Technology skills and competencies using a variety of platforms, which promotes effectively their readiness for the next stage of their learning, including transfer to post-primary level.