Computing and iMedia

Curriculum Rationale: Computing and iMedia

A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world.  Computing is an umbrella term to encompass three different strands that we offer students: computer science, digital media and digital literacy.

• Computer science is the scientific and practical study of computation: what can be computed, how to compute it, and how computation may be applied to the solution of problems.

• Digital Media is the creative and hands-on approach to researching, planning and developing media products to communicate in the digital world.

• Digital Literacy is the discrete ability to effectively, responsibly, safely and critically navigate, evaluate and create digital artefacts using a range of digital technologies.

Pupils will develop their evaluation skills in looking at whether solutions are good and fit for purpose and have an appreciation of how their skills can apply to other areas of school life and also outside school.

Curriculum Aim: Computing

By the end of key stage 3, a Kings Liverpool computer scientist / iMedia student will have developed the skills to:

• Be aware of the opportunities and limitations of living in a digital world

• the core principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming or product creation.

• Be equipped to use technology to create programs, systems and a range of content.

• digitally literate – able to use computers to express themselves and develop their ideas at a level suitable to become active participants in a digital world.

By the end of KS4, a King's Liverpool computer scientist / creative iMedia student will have explored, in greater depth, the core skills of their desired discipline, with the ‘big idea’ in mind i.e., how the knowledge they have acquired relates to their next steps and how to bridge that gap successfully.

Assessment

To check how well our pupils are learning the curriculum, teachers use a full range of assessment techniques. These include diagnostic questions to reveal your child’s computing preconceptions and common misunderstandings, questioning and summative assessments twice per year.