Year 7 – Digital Technology

Term 1 – Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Skills Taught

  • Enquiry
  • Identifying problems
  • Offering solutions
  • Identifying arguments

Areas Covered

  1. Internet Safety & Cyber Security – Consideration of the digital footprint, passwords, encryption and malware in setting up secure IT-based systems.
  2. Introduction to Spreadsheets – a look at setting up effective data modelling systems, performing complex calculations and displaying information visually.

Term 2 – Personal Effectiveness

Skills Taught & Used

  • Communicating clearly
  • Identifying  our strengths and areas for development

Areas Covered

  1. Programming in Scratch – using Scratch to explore three key constructs: sequence, selection and iteration.
  2. Algorithms – explores how an algorithm created by Dr Snow in the 1854 Soho cholera outbreak, is used in an Eastern Africa medical emergency today.

Term 3 – Creativity & Innovation

Skills Explicitly Taught & Used

  • Collaborating
  • Generating, combining and developing ideas
  • Suggesting improvements

Areas Covered

  1. Computing Components – this module explores what is inside a computer as well as how a computer’s performance can be measured, computer peripherals and types of storage. The unit culminates in an examination of some of the latest technologies, such as Internet of Things.

Assessment

The department utilises two key assessment methods:

  1. ‘Live marking’ in class – teacher monitors demonstrated skills and tracks in real time in Go4Schools mark book
  2. ‘Boost Learning’ interactive quizzes to carry out regular knowledge checks.