“The more I study, the more insatiable do I feel my genius for it to be.” Ada Lovelace
Technology is now in its maturity and almost every household has access to a device that can help with communication, finance, or general social necessities. The pandemic has brought forward the advancement of how we interact with people across the globe. Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have evolved into an era where societies can benefit from fast, secure and trusting applications. At King’s we want students to carve their digital world and to develop their world into a space where imagination can bring better opportunities for the community they serve. The course is not about building new devices but understanding the infrastructure that these devices work on.
We want students to:
Often, you will hear pupils ask, ‘how is computing going to help me if I become an Artist?’. At King's, we are teaching a general computing qualification, not just one for those who wish to pursue a career in Computer Science. Computing is not a subject taught solely for programming; computing can support all factors of our lives. ‘Computing is not about computers anymore. It's about living.’ Nicholas Negroponte
The digital world comes with its own set of digital vocabulary and therefore requires students to become familiar with terms they can relate to whilst developing new technology. To support students in speaking the targeted computing language, each lesson will begin with a ‘Key Word’ which will be embedded within the lesson. Students will learn, then practise through end-of-lesson quizzes, show their understanding and then formally use them when answering questions.
Solving problems is at the core of this subject. The foundations of the course rely on students to understand how problems are solved by humans and then to translate them into an ‘algorithm’ which is something a computer can do, and then finally how to write the specific code independently. Prior learning of a computer system is pivotal to this and that’s where practical elements of the course will support this. Students will experience how to build a computer, design a mobile app and build their digital art graphics.
As a department, we recognise that students often have barriers that make problem-solving skills or independent learning more difficult, therefore adjustments are made in line with the school inclusion registers and advice from the school SENCo.
The digital world is evolving with new technologies used to serve better purposes for living. From voting on governing elections to tracking and tracing vaccines for the entire population, the need for fast, secure and trustable applications is becoming more and more important for widespread use. Despite this, our lives around digital devices remain oblivious to what happens when our data is tampered with by third part proprietors, what can it lead to? Are we safe whilst we are exposed to the world of the internet? These are the mission-critical intellectual habits that we want to embed in students at King’s so that they can remain confident, become strategic thinkers and most importantly, remain safe.
There was once a cultural assumption that computers were known to be devices for boys. Mainly for reasons that it was perceived as a gift for boys and you would have to spend 24/7 in front of a computer. To break this phenomenon we start our course with a realisation of how the computer algorithm was invented by Ada Lovelace, who was a mathematician involved in building the first ever computer algorithm.
At King’s all our students are given a digital device and all are given the opportunity to a wide spectrum of topics that will help them in reaching their career aspirations.
At King's, pupils with SEND have the same entitlement to be taught the curriculum content as any other pupil, but at times our curriculum may need adaptations to suit learners at all ability levels. We achieve this by implementing the inclusion register into lessons.
We have an inclusive approach to computing where there is a balance between foundation level i.e. Computer Science, application (Information Technology) and digital literacy. So the curriculum breadth is spread by the use of aspects of coding, software application, digital graphics, digital literacy, digital business and project development.
In line with transition planning often vulnerable children need support to allow safe transitions into adulthood. We want students to have a secure understanding of how to keep safe online, supporting their transition into adulthood.
To ensure the above is taught effectively, the Computing curriculum at King's: