ICT Resources   About our School Admissions Guidance  ICT Resources Photo Gallery Reports and Rewards Find out More  Nursery     Homepage >> ICT Resources   Why teach ICT? Information and communication technology (ICT) prepares pupils to participate in a rapidly changing world in which work and other activities are increasingly transformed by access to varied and developing technology. Pupils use ICT tools to find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information responsibly, creatively and with discrimination. They learn how to employ ICT to enable rapid access to ideas and experiences from a wide range of people, communities and cultures. Increased capability in the use of ICT promotes initiative and independent learning, with pupils being able to make informed judgements about when and where to use ICT to best effect, and to consider its implications for home and work both now and and in the future. (Source: www.nc.uk.net) ICT helps to pupils to understand other subjects Besides learning about ICT, pupils achieve specific outcomes in other subjects e.g. Literacy, Numeracy, Science, Geography, History or Art through learning with ICT.   Useful Websites   www.foodisfun.co.uk www.mathszone.co.uk www.learningalive.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ www.maryrose.org/ www.britannica.co.uk/ www.teachingtime.co.uk www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/ www.mapzone.co.uk/ The ICT Suite As computer technology is constantly changing, we have invested wisely in new hardware and software to meet the needs of our pupils. All teaching staff are now using additional technology such as laptops, computer microscope, a data projector and an interactive whiteboard to enhance pupils' quality of learning in ICT lessons. In November 2003 we increased the total of PCs to 25 and upgraded existing hardware to run on a Windows XP network ICT Work on Display Safe Use of the Internet Policy Internet Safety At St Augustine's we realise the increasing range of learning opportunities the Internet gives our children, and in contrast the possible risk of encountering inappropriate material, as in any media such as TV or film. Any number of pupils accessing the internet must therefore be given permission to do so and be supervised by an adult. While we follow Norfolk LEA's advice on installing the best software ( 'firewall' ) to prevent inappropriate material or viruses reaching our screens, this does not wholly guarantee that every aspect of unwanted material will not reach us. Key Stage 2 pupils must be given consent by their parents to use the internet as part of their learning. This signed consent is kept on file. The school has drafted An Internet Safe & Acceptable Use Policy which offers guidelines, endorsed by Norfolk LEA, on the most appropriate use of the internet in school. Pupils in Key Stage 1 are given opportunities to look at appropriate websites, which the class teacher has evaluated and judged to be effective as means of learning. All children will be shown sites by the class teacher as part of a whole class lesson or in small groups round a PC or Laptop with a Learning Support Assistant or Parent Helper. Pupils in Key Stage 2 with their parent's signed consent, develop their skills in using the internet by looking at sites given by the class teacher, on a given topic with a more critical eye, or with the task of finding answers to given questions. Appropriate Search Engines such as Google will be accessed by pupils who have a specific research task to do. Pupils will be reminded of the risks involved in using the internet and must adhere to the Internet Safety Rules on display in the ICT Suite. Pupils who encounter unwanted material are asked to alert a member of staff immediately.