Computing
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Keeping up with Technology
Computing in SJA is exciting, engaging and relevant to the children of today. With the introduction of the new computing curriculum and due to the fast pace of change with technology in today’s world, we are constantly evaluating our curriculum. We aim to make the children as excited about this subject as we are! We have a 35 place computer suite, a set of tablets and laptops. Each class has a dedicated computing session, with Years 4 to 6 having specialist support during their sessions, from the IT technician or one of the computing leaders. Computing Clubs
Southwater currently runs two computing clubs (one for Years 3 & 4 and one for Years 5 & 6) giving the children the opportunity to explore their skills in programming Scratch, Kodu, HTML, app creation for the tablets and designing their own websites. Minecraft is a big favourite for the children in the clubs. |
The Curriculum
The new computing curriculum now includes how computer systems work, and how they are designed and programmed. At SJA, computing is a practical subject, in which invention and resourcefulness are encouraged. In addition to the element ‘computer science’, we have also revised our teaching of digital literacy. Each year group also learns how to stay safe online, as well as being responsible within the online environment. Computing Monitors
To cater for gifted and talented children in computing, we have dedicated computing monitors who have the exciting opportunity to test out new software and hardware, in addition to having additional responsibilities within the lessons. E-Safety
E-Safety is taught within computing lessons, as well as within the PSHCE curriculum. Currently our computing sessions include programming, using Scratch and Kodu, animation; 3D modelling; film and sound editing; image manipulation and working with spreadsheets and simple databases. We revise our curriculum on a termly basis, and we are currently looking into 3D printing the Roman villas that we have designed in Google Sketchup. Help for parents on E-Safety can be found here. Horsham Gaming Competition
SJA has won the Horsham Gaming Competition more than once. They were given the task of programming their own video game in Scratch, and then designing a controller using a Makey Makey kit to play the game with. Training for schools and staff
Staff at SJA are trained each term on new developments in the curriculum to ensure skills are kept up to date. Training sessions for local schools in programming are also run. |
A Selection of our work
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Useful Links
App Inventor - Make your own App for a tablet Bitstrips Comic Maker Google Sketchup 8 - Design Program Download Kodu to program your own game Download Scratch to program your own game Weebly - Create a free website |
