Mission Statement
Our Lady and St. Patrick’s College strives to enable all students to develop fully their potential and to prepare them for life and work in this new technological age.
AIMS
* To develop a whole school approach to I.C.T. ensuring continuity and progression.
* To encourage students to gain confidence and enjoyment from their I.C.T. activities and to develop skills which extend and enhance their learning throughout the curriculum.
* To facilitate staff development in I.C.T.
TEACHERS PLANNING
All schemes of work (first 3 years of subject) include opportunities for the use of ICT. This is being phased into schemes for all years. HOD’s have been given an overview of the whole college plans for extending the use of ICT and can see where their subject contributes to the overall picture.
Many teachers use ICT in lesson preparation and in the development of learning resources.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Teachers ensure that ICT supports achievement of the lesson objectives. Strategies used including whole class, group, paired and individual work. A range of ICT resources is used to enhance the quality of students’ work.
Appropriate software tools are used and teachers set motivating, challenging and interesting tasks within the context of the subject; which consolidates students’ ICT competence in that subject.
Students are encouraged to produce homework and coursework using ICT.
STUDENTS’ LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students should be able to perform tasks in the following key areas:
* General Skills – Logging on to networks, Saving, Printing, Windows manipulation, multitasking.
* Word Processing, DTP– Format, copy, paste, insert graphics, use tables, mail merge, produce brochure.
* Internet and E-Mails - Search using keywords, complex searches, e-mails with attachments.
* Handling Data – Create database, queries, reports, use spreadsheets, enter data and formulae, graphs, sorts.
* Graphics and Drawing - move, rotate, resize, use of visual effects, use of scanner, digital camera.
* Control and Modelling – Work with sequence of instructions, write procedures, control devices.
* Using a CD Rom – Search, navigate using keywords, indexes, menus
* Multimedia – Create presentations using text, graphics, sound, animation.
* A Variety Of Subject Specific Skills –Careers, History, Modern Languages, Music, Technology.
* Critical appraisal - Present information, interpret and analyse information, verify accuracy of information.
IMPLEMENTATION
ICT is delivered as a subject across the whole curriculum. In order to develop the use of ICT across the curriculum students must be equipped with a minimum skill level in as short a time as possible. For this reason ICT is also taught as a discrete subject to all Year 8 students.
At KS3 all students do the Certificate of Competence, which is delivered through a range of subjects and all students do ICT as a Key Skill in Year 13. At KS4 students may specialise in ICT as a GCSE subject or may do the ECDL. A Level courses are offered in ICT and Computing.
ASSESSMENT AND RECORDING
Al year 8 students’ ICT skills are assessed on entry to the college and again at the end of Key Stage 3. Results recorded and distributed to HOD’s. All students ICT achievements are recorded in their record of achievement. These include CCIT (Key Stage 3), ECDL (Key Stage 4), Key Skills Level 2 or 3 and examination subjects ICT (GCSE) and ICT and Computing (AS/A Level).
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
All staff have successfully completed the ICT training funded by NOF and will receive training in the C2k network. Staff are given the opportunity to identify training needs and in response to their needs training courses are organised. Training is provided in-house by college staff, SEELB ICT officers and C2k staff.
RESOURCES
A total of 215 PC’s available for class use - 3 computer suites and 10 clusters located throughout the college.
Booking systems are in operation for the computer suites and the clusters.
Peripherals include - a range of printers and scanners, a number of data projectors and an interactive white board for trial by staff.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
This is carried out by all members of staff and overseen by HOD’s, HOF ’s, VP and Principal.