Design and Technologies Teaching Ideas by Joanne Villis is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://intertecheducation.edublogs.org/.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at [email protected].
Digital Technologies knowledge and understanding
|
Investigate the main components of common digital systems, their basic functions and interactions, and how such digital systems may connect together to form networks to transmit data (ACTDIK014)
|
Digital Technologies processes and production skills
|
Acquire, store and validate different types of data and use a range of commonly available software to interpret and visualise data in context to create information (ACTDIP016)
|
Year 5
Teaching idea 1: Parts of a computer
Lesson 1 & 2: Parts of a computer
Many students think that the monitor is actually the computer. Name and discuss different parts of a computer. Follow this LINK for a free BLM of parts of a computer. Student might be asked to draw and label a computer. They may even be asked to write an information report about computers, including parts and functions. |
|
CPU
(central processing unit) is the brain of the computer. Just as our brain
controls all the different parts of the body and makes them work together, the
CPU controls all other parts of the computer and makes them work together. All
other parts of the computer are connected to CPU. Just as our brain stores a
lot of information, the CPU is also the store - house of all the information in the computer.
|
A monitor is like a television; it shows us what work the computer carries out. This has a power (on/off) switch. Turning the monitor off does not turn off the computer. There may also be other buttons to be used for adjusting the image.
The glass surface of the monitor is called the screen, whereas the monitor
is the entire box with the screen, case, stand and buttons.
|
The keyboard is made of several small buttons called 'keys'. Each key corresponds to a number or a letter or some special function. Just as you use a pencil to write on a paper, the computer needs a keyboard to tell it what to do.
Sounds produced by the computer or songs played on it are heard through the speakers. A printer is a device that helps you to print what you see on monitor on a paper. |
A mouse is a pointing device that controls the movement of a pointer on the screen. A mouse can have one to three buttons that can be clicked to perform actions on the computer. Clicking the mouse once is called a single click while clicking it twice in quick succession is called a double click. Depending on which side the clicked button of a mouse is, it may be called a right click or a left click.
New Technology: Take a look at this mouse: |
Teaching idea 2: Inside a computer
Lesson 1 & 2: Inside a computer
This teaching idea has been designed for students to investigating how the internal components of computers (digital systems) are coordinated to handle data. For this activity, it is ideal to have a computer with the case open so that students can view the inside of the computer. Teachers can use the video to the right, pause it when each part is named and then see if you can find and label each part of the computer. |
|
Image source: Computer Hope, permission to use sent 20/4/2014
|
The computer parts which students should learn include:
Power cable: Connects your computer to the power supply Motherboard (main board): This is a circuit board which allows computer components to function and communicate with each other. PSU (power supply unit): Internal hardware controlling the power to the computer. CPU (central processing unit): The CPU is responsible for handling all instructions it receives (both software and hardware). Fan: Keeps the computer cool by circulating air to and from the computer. Memory (RAM): RAM stands for Random Access Memory. This is the main memory system of the computer. Expansion cards: An expansion card is an electronic board or card which is added in to give the computer a new ability. For example, a video card allows the computer to display improved graphics (images). |
Resource for teachers: PDF document (free download)
Teaching idea 3: How is data transmitted, stored, accessed etc?
To understand this, students need to know about input and output. When you provide input, you are telling the computer what to do. For example, when you turn on the computer you are providing input which tells the CPU to start up certain programs (ie boot up). When you use your mouse to click on various icons you are providing input to tell your computer what you want it to do. The output is the result of your command (input). The video to the right helps to explain this.
|
|
|
Year 6
Teaching idea 1: Microsoft Xcel (spreadsheets)
In its simplest terms, a spreadsheet is a digital worksheet that works with data that contains multiple sections (also known as cells). The cells are part of an entire grid in order to be able to categorize them in rows and columns. Every cell can work with a given formula in order to help calculate data.
Before students begin to collect their own data they need to know the basics of Excel. You can download a wide range of free lesson plans from: PrimaryResources.co.uk
Teachexcel.com |
|
Lesson idea: Google Advance Search
Show students the video to the right which explains how Google searches work. It does promote Google but it explains how a Google Search works clearly. |
|
Teach students how to acquire data online by narrowing the focus through Google Advance Search. Below are some key features of the advanced search engine:
1. The box labelled "all of these words" is your standard search box (like the one you normally see on Google).
2. The box labelled "this exact wording or phrase" will search your exact words. It will not search for similar key words (ie synonyms).
3. The box labelled "one or more of these words" lets you look up something or something else instead but won't find the two search terms together. For instance, you could search with the box "Chicken OR Gravy" the search would include pages about chicken and others about gravy" (source).
4. The box labelled "unwanted words" lets you not include certain words in your search.
5. Below the boxes you can refine your search in terms of results per page, language, file type, rights etc.
1. The box labelled "all of these words" is your standard search box (like the one you normally see on Google).
2. The box labelled "this exact wording or phrase" will search your exact words. It will not search for similar key words (ie synonyms).
3. The box labelled "one or more of these words" lets you look up something or something else instead but won't find the two search terms together. For instance, you could search with the box "Chicken OR Gravy" the search would include pages about chicken and others about gravy" (source).
4. The box labelled "unwanted words" lets you not include certain words in your search.
5. Below the boxes you can refine your search in terms of results per page, language, file type, rights etc.
Teach students tips for better search results. For example,
1. "Keep it simple. Describe what you want in as few terms as possible. 2. Think of how the page you want will be written. Use words that are likely to appear on the page. 3. Use descriptive, specific words. Avoid general or common words" (source). Diagram to the right was created by Trent Maverick and is licenced under the creative commons share-alike. |
Lesson idea: What type of data should students search for?
This is a perfect opportunity to link curriculum areas. Below are a few suggestions:
This is a perfect opportunity to link curriculum areas. Below are a few suggestions:
Subject
|
Content Descriptor
|
Teaching idea
|
Science
|
The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment
Sudden geological changes or extreme weather conditions can affect Earth’s surface |
Collect and record data using Xcel in relation to the growth of plants in various conditions ( ie plants growing in different soil types or plants growing with different salinity levels).
Choose a major geological event (ie earthquake, volcanic eruption, tsunami) and collect data online in relation to the frequency throughout the Asia region over a period of time. Record data using Xcel.
|
Geography
|
Differences in the economic, demographic and social characteristics between countries across the world
The world’s cultural diversity, including that of its indigenous peoples |
Research the population size and density of a selection of countries around the world and enter the data into Xcel before generating a graphical representation.
Research online the proportions of the Australian population and of the population from their local area who were born in each world cultural region using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Record your data using Excel and represent you data in graph form. |
Teaching idea 2: Augmented Reality (AR)?
Lesson 1: What is Augmented Reality (AR)?
Augmented Reality is the ability to insert and overlay digital and virtual information into the real world. Watch the videos below how images of real-world objects can be blended with computer-generated information to produce a virtual reality.
Augmented Reality is the ability to insert and overlay digital and virtual information into the real world. Watch the videos below how images of real-world objects can be blended with computer-generated information to produce a virtual reality.
|
|
|
Lesson 2: How is Augmented Reality (AR) currently being used in society?
Advertising IKEA catalog app
|
Placing furniture in your home (IKEA)
|
Save The Children AR App (article link)
|
Advertising Lego Digital Box
|
Project Glass by Google
|
World Lens AR App
|
Lesson 3: Explore AR using apps
Apps provide a cheap way for students to experience AR fist hand. Below I have provided a few suggestions that you may like to use in your classroom. They are amazing!
ColAR Mix (free iPad)
|
AR Flashcards (free iPad)
|
Spacecraft 3D (free iPad)
|
ColAR Mix (free Android)
|
Spacecraft3D free Android
|
Lesson 4 to 10? : SR SPORT Augmented Reality Programming
"AR SPOT is an augmented-reality authoring environment for children. An extension of MIT’s Scratch project, this environment allows children to create experiences that mix real and virtual elements. Children can display virtual objects on a real-world scene observed through a video camera, and they can control the virtual world through interactions between physical objects" (source). The Windows program is free to download.
|
|
Lesson 11: Evaluating AR using Blooms Taxonomy
REMEMBERING:
List some of the devices which enable Augmented Reality.
What data is needed for Augmented Reality?
UNDERSTANDING:
Write a short explanation about Augmented Reality.
APPLICATION OR SKILLS CONCEPTS:
Identify and describe ways in which Augmented Reality is being being used in society.
ANALYZING AND STRATEGIC THINKING:
Use a PMI (plus, minus & interesting fact chart) to support compare and contrast different uses of Augmented Reality in society.
EVALUATING OR EXTENDED THINKING (CREATING):
Create a new application for Augmented Reality and justify the benefits of your use for society.
REMEMBERING:
List some of the devices which enable Augmented Reality.
What data is needed for Augmented Reality?
UNDERSTANDING:
Write a short explanation about Augmented Reality.
APPLICATION OR SKILLS CONCEPTS:
Identify and describe ways in which Augmented Reality is being being used in society.
ANALYZING AND STRATEGIC THINKING:
Use a PMI (plus, minus & interesting fact chart) to support compare and contrast different uses of Augmented Reality in society.
EVALUATING OR EXTENDED THINKING (CREATING):
Create a new application for Augmented Reality and justify the benefits of your use for society.