exemplar activities

Unit B Activity 1 - Organize ICT in class

Within my classroom are two areas served by electric points, the left and the right wall of the classroom. The left hand socket is situated further into the classroom and was valuable as a quiet area where children could use the Coomber with the headphones or the radio and C.D. player for music or story. The right wall was employed as a computer station, using a trolley and a table at an angle to each other giving a degree of space to each user and ensuring the wires were safely behind the station. As the main classroom cupboard was next to the station, this created a traffic problem and caused the equipment to be bumped and pushed, sometimes deliberately. Christmas gave us the incentive to address the problem, as we needed the electric point for the Christmas Tree lights!

I decided to look again at the problem. The socket in the quiet corner of the room required an extension to accommodate both computers. I purchased a surge - proof 4 way set. I installed the P.C. onto a new computer trolley with a wide desktop giving room for two children to share and accommodating the printer, which the children enjoy more than the computer. The trolley was placed against the wall away from the window so there was no chance of any glare on the screen, although the windows are fitted with blinds. The second computer trolley was placed at right angles to the first again ensuring the wires were tucked away from the children and there was plenty of room to avoid a crush. The Coomber was placed next to the monitor with the headphones stored on the shelf underneath along with the C.D. player. This station is now close to the worktable and accessible to support the curriculum areas but also is still a quiet area to allow children to work more independently. The right hand socket is now free when necessary, for cooking appliances for technology, the music centre and a range of other devices we seem to need in the day to day business of the classroom.

The Computer Corner in Class 1

The Second computer at right angle to the first with space for the Coomber essential in the literacy hour

One recurring problem was the difficulty a young down's boy had with physically stretching his hand around a normal mouse. After looking through catalogues, visiting the inclusive technology website and talking to other people who were aware that other children had this difficulty, I ordered two small mice and these have been very successful. We will probably order another two with the next requisition.

Our Tiny Mouse!

I have recently ordered 4 new computers for school, in line with the development plan, one of which I have installed in the Library. This was because the computer room can become very crowded and the library seemed to be lacking in the technology for searching for resources and supporting written work. Children can now use the reading material of the traditional books and the new technology of the Internet. The machine is on a large trolley that can support a group of children and any resource material that they may need to help them in their search.

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