exemplar activities

Unit B Activity 3 - Organize the computer desktop - Exemplar 2

Introduction

I chose this activity because I was fighting a losing battle with the pupils over their independent computer access without them accidentally changing a setting or entering a programme which they did not need to. Work and folders would be interfered with and sometimes the computer would jam up. Icons and shortcuts would be dragged onto the desktop at random and without understanding, leading to clutter and confusion when wanting to access a programme or piece of work.

Clearing the desktop of unnecessary clutter and reorganising it in a very clear way is a vital task if the pupils are to improve their IT skills.

Clearing the desktop

First of all I deleted any old or spurious pieces of work simply by placing them in the recycle bin.

Then I went to the Add/Remove facility in the Control Panel and removed old and unused programmes.

I then ran Disk Clean Up from System Tools and further removed any unwanted files.

Creating an ordered desktop

I chose a simple blank background for the desktop so that folders and icons placed on it would be seen more easily.

Then I manually moved the Start up folders such as My Computer, Internet access and Recycle Bin up to the top left corner of the screen. This left the rest of the screen empty.

I then created a new desktop folder for each pupil and named it. These folders were arranged in a spaced out manner on the right side of the screen.

Contents of the new folders

Into each folder I placed a new work folder where pupils could store word processed work or art work.

I also placed shortcuts to educational materials that were pertinent only to them. I did this by right clicking on the programme title and dragging it onto the folder it was to be placed in. For example, the pupils are working at different levels and so Pupil A would need the shortcut for Oxford Reading Tree Level 2 in her file, while Pupil B would need the shortcut for Oxford Reading Tree Level 3 in hers.

Into some pupils folders I placed a shortcut for an interactive encyclopaedia whilst in others I placed a puzzle and games shortcut.

Conclusion

Using the computer in this way in class is still very much in its infancy and pupils are still needing to be shown and reminded how to access their work and their work only and how to come out when they have finished.

I am convinced that greater control and independence will accrue to the pupils once they are used to this structure.

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