CURRICULUM CURRICULUM
DIGITAL LITERACY We know how vital digital literacy has become, especially over the past year. Sarah Wordlaw explains why she believes Computing should be given greater attention in the curriculum. By By Sarah Sarah Wordlaw Wordlaw
We We have have an an opportunity opportunity to to change change the the face face of of education education forever. forever. The The pandemic pandemic has has caused caused aa seismic seismic shift shift towards towards aa more more digital digital world. world. Teachers, Teachers, children children and and families families have have had had to to ramp ramp up up their their understanding understanding and and proficiency proficiency in in using using technology. technology. Not Not just just to to support support learning, learning, but but in in all all facets facets of of life: life: working working from from home, home, online online banking banking and and shopping. shopping. Those Those with with weak weak understanding understanding and and poor poor computing computing skills skills have have struggled struggled greatly greatly to to stay stay afloat afloat and and this this in in itself itself has has caused caused lots lots of of hair-pulling hair-pulling and and sleepless sleepless nights. nights. Like Like many many educators, educators, II have have now now also also become become tech tech support support for for families families (and (and other other staff staff members) members) and and have have had had to to brush brush up up on on aa few few skills skills myself! myself! But But II have have been been bowled bowled over over by by the the development development of of skills skills which which my my school school community community have have shown shown throughout throughout the the lockdowns lockdowns and and II fully fully intend intend to to continue continue to to provide provide opportunities opportunities for for further further development development of of Computing Computing skills skills post-COVID. post-COVID. In In my my experience, experience, Primary Primary Computing Computing isis often often under-valued under-valued as as aa subject. subject. Perhaps Perhaps there there are are not not adequate adequate devices devices in in order order to to teach teach itit effectively effectively or or enough enough time time during during the the school school week week to to do do itit justice. justice. As As we we have have found found out, out, regular regular practice practice
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…regular practice and an embedding of skills are both required in order to create digitally-literate children
and and an an embedding embedding of of skills skills are are both both required required in in order order to to create create digitally-literate digitally-literate children. children. Digital Digital literacy literacy has has become become arguably arguably as as important important as as traditional traditional literacy literacy during during this this strange strange time. time. When When schools schools return return to to whatever whatever “normal” “normal” may may look look like, like, II believe believe that that Computing Computing should should be be made made aa core core subject, subject, alongside alongside Literacy, Literacy, Maths Maths and and Science. Science. Teaching Teaching Computing Computing explicitly explicitly and and discreetly discreetly through through the the core core and and foundation foundation curriculum, curriculum, will will maintain maintain the the important important skills skills learned learned during during
school school “closure” “closure” and and help help prepare prepare children children for for the the ever-changing ever-changing world world ahead ahead of of them. them. Children Children grow grow up up in in an an ICT-rich ICT-rich environment: environment: itit isis everywhere. everywhere. ItIt still still amazes amazes me me how how friends’ friends’ toddlers toddlers can can use use an an iPad iPad proficiently. proficiently. In In order order to to become become fully-functioning fully-functioning adults, adults, we we must must provide provide opportunities opportunities for for them them to to learn learn and and develop, develop, and and that that also also means means that that we we as as educators educators need need to to be be at at the the top top of of our our game game with with regard regard to to digital digital literacy literacy and and
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