ICT Training for Teachers

Talent Guide

Conference Area

Glossary of terms

Resources to Download

ICT resources

Module 2	Contents
	Hardware - Choosing the right system Software Task 2 Forward to Module 3 Back to Secondary ICT Map Back to T@LENT Web Site Map

Hardware - Choosing the right system

Decisions about purchasing ICT resources may be made in your school individually or collaboratively by the Headteacher, Senior Manager responsible for ICT, ICT Co-ordinator and Heads of Department. Most headteachers will also consult with staff before significant purchases are made, or if significant changes in ICT resourcing policies are being considered. As an ICT teacher in your school, you may also be asked by other staff for advice on ICT resourcing in their departments.

A number of issues arise when schools are considering purchasing ICT resources. Some of these issues include:

• ICT suite/s versus clusters of computers in subject departments
• new computers versus refurbished computers
• 'hard wire' cabling in the school local area network (LAN) versus wireless LANs
• desktop versus laptop computers
• peripherals: printers, scanners, digital cameras
• data projectors versus whiteboards
• local caching facilities versus caching in the wide area network (WAN)
• full facility video conferencing versus small scale conferencing suitable for all classrooms.

All the above issues are addressed in a free BECTa publication "Connecting Schools, Networking People 2000", which is also available in pdf format on the web on:

http://curriculum.becta.org.uk/docserver.php?docid=1992

 

Information sheets, to help teachers find out more about the range of ICT resources available, have been produced by BECTa. These are available on:

http://www.becta.org.uk/technology/infosheets/index.html

There is further subject-specific support and information available on the ICT Curriculum Support pages of the VTC, and many further ideas and useful links on the main ICT pages of the VTC.

 

As an ICT teacher it is likely that you are responsible for teaching whole classes of pupils in an ICT suite. The ICT suite should ideally contain:

 

• 15 or more multimedia computers connected to the Internet;
• computer server to aid the storing and printing of pupils' work;
• laser printer, scanner, digital camera, colour printer;
• data projector or whiteboard for whole class teaching;
• storage facilities for pupils' ICT portfolios and teachers' ICT reference books and manuals;
• generic software suitable for both KS3 and KS4.

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Software

Software for ICT teaching falls into two main categories:

1. integrated software packages
2. individual software packages

 

Integrated software can contain all, or a mixture of some, of the packages below:

• word processing and desk top publishing
• database and spreadsheet
• Hypermedia & web authoring
• Internet browsing and e-mail
• Logo

 

As software packages are developed and new features are added, the lines between different types become more blurred. For example, in Microsoft Word a column of figures can be added together in a similar way to adding figures in a spreadsheet. Excel can be used as a database as well as a spreadsheet. Integrated software packages, such as AppleWorks, Microsoft Works and Microsoft Office, contain multiple software packages which enable data to be transferred between packages more easily (for example, transferring data from a database to a spreadsheet in AppleWorks is a simple copy and paste exercise).

The software list below has been organised so that you can identify the most appropriate package to suit your teaching and learning objectives. Click on each of the links to find out more:

Integrated software

• AppleWorks* (previously ClarisWorks) contains: word processor, drawing, painting, spreadsheet, database and presentation software. You can find out more about AppleWorks for Mac or PC on: http://www.apple.com/appleworks/
• Microsoft Office contains: word processor (Word), spreadsheet (Excel) and presentation software (PowerPoint). Microsoft Office Pro also contains a database called Access. You can find out more on: http://www.microsoft.com/office/ http://www.microsoft.com/office/
  

Web Authoring
Two web authoring software packages to try are:

• Home Page*.This product is still supported by Lewisham ICT Centre, but is no longer available from FileMaker.
• Front Page. Find out more (including a free trial copy) on: http://www.microsoft.com/office/trial/default.htm
  

Hypermedia
A multimedia authoring package to try is:

• HyperStudio* . Find out more (including a free trial copy and free Player) on: http://www.hyperstudio.com
  

Desk Top Publishing
Two desk top publishers to try are:

• Publisher. Find out more (plus a free trial copy) on: http://www.microsoft.com/office/trial/default.htm
• PageMaker: find out more on: http://www.adobe.com
• N.B. AppleWorks 'drawing software' can also be used for desk top publishing

Logo
A version of Logo to try is:

• Microworlds Logo*: Find out more on: http://www.microworlds.com/solutions/mw.html
  

Datalogging
Science Departments will probably have datalogging kits such as Philip Harris, and D&T Departments will probably have kits such as LegoDacta. ICT teachers may want to negotiate with these departments to borrow the kit for use in ICT lessons.

• Philip Harris: http://www.philipharris.co.uk
• LegoDacta: http://www.lego.com/dacta/home.asp
  

Internet browsing and e-mail
Two Internet browsers with e-mail software to try are:

• Netscape browser with Netscape Communicator e-mail: Find out more on: http://home.netscape.com
• Microsoft Explorer with Outlook Express e-mail: Find out more on: http://www.microsoft.com
• N.B. Both of these packages are installed as a standard on Mac computers. Microsoft Explorer is a standard on PC computers.

N.B. All this software is available, for Lewisham schools, at reduced prices from the ICT Centre, Lewisham PDC. Schools wishing to find out more can e-mail Hugh Edwards on:

hughedwards1@btinternet.com

 

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Activity

 

Task 2   Select two similar pieces of software from the above list and compare their suitability for teaching KS3 pupils.   Compare data projectors versus whiteboard technology for use in your classroom. We did have a helpful page on the RM site for you to look at, but as this site is under re-development the link has been lost. Instead, you could go to the RM Products page and select the links to 'Software, Peripherals and Accessories' where you should click on 'Peripherals' and then on 'Presentation Tools' and finally on 'Interactive Whiteboards' to get a description of two kinds of Interactive Whiteboard. Further searching will get you information about data projectors. There is further information about the SmartBoard Interactive Whiteboard on the Matrix education site.

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