Year 9

The purpose of this page is to detail some of the work that is produced. I will try and remove names wherever possible, but some will inevitably creep through - if this causes an issue please let me know as soon as possible on the email listed in the footer. 

Autumn 2023 - Advice for parents evening

This year is a balance between offering your child a flavour of ICT and a flavour of Computer Science, so that they can make an informed decision. They have begun with a website design project and this will be followed up with a mini Computer Science coursework project. 

Trying to 'sell' the subject never works. So I will say

• if you (your child) does not like problem solving, gets frustrated by making mistakes and does not like going over their work to find the mistake. If your child does not like the Python unit that comes next, then perhaps Computer Science is not for them.
  However, if they do like programming and using their creativity to come up with solutions, then perhaps CS is for them.

If you want more information, the specification is here: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-igcse-computer-science-0478/ 

Or please email me on the details below.

• If you (your child) does not like using Spreadsheets, Databases and Presentation software to deliver real-world solutions then perhaps ICT is not for them. If the website project was not something that they enjoyed, then perhaps ICT is not for them.
  However, if the reverse is true. If they do like using ICT to work on real-world solutions, then perhaps they should consider ICT as the skills that they learn will be transferrable to any and every subject in their future lives. 

If you want more information, the specification is here:

https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-igcse-information-and-communication-technology-0417/ 

Or please email me on the details below.

What can I (the parent) do to help?

That depends. Please have a conversation with your child. Do they actually want to do the subject? Apart from the core subjects of Maths and English and Science, now should be a time where their own interests take over. 

If they do, then perhaps the ideas below may help.

Computer Science. 

This can be split into 2 sections, Technical Knowledge and Programming Knowledge. 

Technical Knowledge

https://isaaccomputerscience.org/topics/gcse?examBoard=all&stage=all#all

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z34k7ty 

and of course notes from the Kognity textbook which your child can access from their Google sign-on.

Programming knowledge

Python is used in the IGCSE so any practice on this would be beneficial. There are dozens of resources listed elsewhere in this site on the page https://sites.google.com/bisvietnam.com/bis-secondary-steam/learning-to-code 

ICT

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zprwdmn 

https://www.teach-ict.com/gcse_new/gcse_ict_home.html 

and of course notes from the Kognity textbook which your child can access from their Google sign-on.

There is no expectation of any work being completed in advance, these are just ideas where you and your child can look for more ideas about what the course will bring. 

Summer 2023 - Cospaces

Students have been learning about Macbeth in English, studying key scenes. Coming into my class, students have taken that learning and the learning from Drama about scene building and camera positions to try and recreate the scenes using https://cospaces.io/edu/.

Whilst the outcomes are not perfect, some interesting screencastify films can be produced. All of these scenes can be viewed in Virtual Reality (VR) through the author's co-spaces app. See below for a select few showing a range of outcomes.