When I speak to teachers in school and ask them about computing, key words such as  ‘coding’, ‘programming’ ‘websites’,’ research’ may appear but are all these relevant to the computing curriculum? Is this everything or is there more?

The ‘new’ computing curriculum

I write ‘new’ in italics because this ‘new’ curriculum is now 9 years old! But for a lot of teachers, the training and CPD has not been provided to support staff in understanding what the computing curriculum is all about. The computing curriculum has just six objectives for KS1 and seven for KS2.

Although not defined specifically into these strands in the national curriculum, most practitioners discuss the curriculum in terms of the three strands of the computing curriculum; information technology, computer science and digital literacy.

Miles Berry created a useful analogy to describe the strands: –

Computer Science: the ‘foundations’ of the subject

Information Technology: the ‘applications’ of the subject

Digital Literacy: the ‘implications’ of the subject

A successful computing curriculum will ensure a broad and balanced coverage of the strands across each year group with a clear progression in skills and knowledge acquired.

What is information technology?

Information technology refers to the creation and application of computing. It is all the apps and software that you use to create, manipulate, edit and retrieve digital content. This could be through video creation, stop motion animation, desktop publishing. Information technology also includes data handling so units such as spreadsheets, databases or graphing software.  There is no set requirement to what you have to cover, but you should cover a wide variety of media. The hardware you have, will help you determine suitable software choices.

What is Computer Science?

Computer Science is the foundation of the subject, it delves into the mechanics of technology such as how computer networks work or how search engines results are ranked. Computer Science also includes algorithms and programming.

What is Digital Literacy?

More often than not, teachers think that digital literacy is all about online safety. Online safety is absolutely a big part of digital literacy, but this is not digital literacy in its entirety. Digital literacy also refers to the rationale and consequences behind your choice to utilise digital tools for a set purpose. The NCCE has a great report here on digital literacy in the computing curriculum.

So take some time to look through your current computing provision. Can you identify the three strands? Have you got a broad and balanced range? Can you identify the sequence and progression within each strand?