Network
We use an RM CC3 curriculum server, which is fully networked throughout the school, which enables us to make best use of resource, software, management and whole school access.
Giles Brook Primary School
Information, Communication Technology (ICT)
ICT will be taught as a discrete subject as well as being used to enhance other subject areas throughout the curriculum. All our classrooms have interactive whiteboards to aid teaching and learning, as well as computers in each classroom. We have a fully equipped ICT suite with 30 networked computers and Internet access.
Children will be taught to use graphical and word processing programs, use sequences of instructions to control movement, explore databases and use ICT to generate, develop, organise and present their work. Children will be encouraged to make appropriate choices when using ICT based models or simulations.
The younger children have access to a variety of computer programs and will be encouraged to become familiar with both the mouse and the keyboard. From Year 1 children will learn how to store, retrieve and print their work and will be encouraged to create, test, modify and re-draft. Key Stage 2 children will be taught to use e-mail and the Internet to retrieve information. All children will be encouraged to handle computers and software independently.
We recognise the impact that ICT will have on the society of tomorrow and seek to ensure that children and staff have access to the best available opportunities and resources. The potential of ICT for learning is unlimited and we will want to ensure that our children are fully aware of the learning, economic, social and cultural opportunities that instant global communication presents.
ICT Suite
Our ICT suit was purpose built and is equipped with 30 desktop workstations, we believe in the principle of one computer per child for the teaching of ICT and have really seen the benefits of this great resource. One ICT session per week, is allocated to every class throughout the school. There is then one other free session per class to use the ICT suite for whole class teaching cross curricular.
Classrooms
Every teacher has the use of a teacher Laptop for use in the classroom and at home. There are then two desktops and one pupil laptop per class from years 1 through to 6. This allows the children to use computers in the classrooms in small groups. Each classroom then has an Interactive whiteboard and printer.
Foundation have four networked desktops and a printer.
Group Rooms
We have put five desktop PC's into our teaching assistants Group Rooms.
Library
We have a computerised library system, Junior Librarian, this uses a barcode and thumb scanner to scan the books in and out of the library. The children use either their thumb or their own personal library cards to loan the books from the library. The system allows us to know which books are on load and by who, which books are most popular, what books each child has borrowed and lots of other useful information.
We have a fantastic parent helper in Helen Alkhalil who helps keep our Library tidy and looking fantastic, she comes in every week, sorts the books out, tidies and has sourced some wonderful book posters for display.
Software
Children learn to use new software at an amazingly fast pace, especially when there is one computer per child for the ICT lesson. We have a big range of software for use through all stages of a primary school and suitable from foundation to year 6. The goal is by year 6 that our children will have learnt many ICT skills but be proficient in using standard software packages, which we have chosen as Microsoft Office, i.e. Word, Power point and Excel. They also get to use many other types and kinds of software for understanding databases, sending/receiving email, spreadsheets, musical composition, computer aided design, graphical design, art, computer simulation and publishing.
This is some of the software we use:
Microsoft Office: Word, Power point, Excel and Publisher
2 simple software, several of their software titles.
Brain Mine
ESP Music - Compose World Junior, Compose World 2
Textease studio - Paint, Textease, Turtle, Studio, Presenter, Pictogram,
Database, Spreadsheet
Clicker 4.
Wordshark.
Kar2ouche, several of their software titles.
Sherstons, several software titles
RM easy mail
Espresso Education - web based software
Aspexdraw software
Lego Robolab
Logotron - Imagine Logo
RM Easiteach - whole suite
Abacus Evolve - individual and Pupils years 1 to 6
Collins - bag cat
Macromedia Dreamweaver
We also use many on-line internet sites to cover various curriculum topics, both teacher led in class and used by the children in the ICT suite.
Peripherals
We have one high quality laser network printer and a printer in every classroom, which is accessible on the network using the RM CC3 management consol. We also use digital camera's, digital video camera, web cameras, scanners, interactive whiteboards and will soon have a digital microscope which is currently on order.