The Future of ICT

I was observing an ICT lesson in Year Two just the other day. The children were creating amazing presentations, sharing facts, adding pictures and animations. It occurred to me that such projects were once typical in Years Five and Six. The 6-7 year olds were using skills that were once considered appropriate for 9-11 year olds. Of course, the expectation of communication skills would be different for older pupils, but the point is that the children are naturally more able with ICT now than they were just a few years ago. Technology is all around us. Toddlers are given iPads. Babies love to hold a phone and say, 'Hello'. Many children are coming to school with a firm grasp of technology because they pick up a piece of equipment and have a go. They work things out for themselves. We need to foster this approach to learning. Let children have a go!

Whilst the pedagogy and content of most subjects in school remains similar from year to year, the ICT curriculum continues to evolve at a frightening rate. As technology pervades more and more aspects of our lives schools have a responsibility to be at the cutting edge.

In order to deliver an outstanding curriculum, private enterprises must work with schools to tell us what skills and understanding employees need to have. There's a real opportunity here, with the scrapping of the programmes of study for the ICT curriculum, for industry to get really involved in education and what is taught in schools. How could they best support schools to ensure that their employees will work efficiently in a global economy?

ICT skills must become part of the core curriculum as the skills are equally as important as those in English, Maths and Science. The spectrum must widen to include computer science and programming as key skills. Exploration, innovation and creativity must be nurtured and encouraged.

Schools and head teachers should have a clear understanding of the need for up-to-date equipment. They must commit to invest appropriately each year, having a complete understanding of what will offer the best value when it comes to making purchasing equipment.

The changes to the subject that the government are proposing could present a real problem to schools. I also think that it opens a huge door of opportunity for developing the subject and producing some top class technological innovators.