Information, Communication and Technology - Parents Page
Why Include Information Communication & Technology In Home Schooling
Some of our learners have experienced bullying online, where the bully uses technology or social media to cause harm. Because of this, some families choose to go “dark” — meaning they switch off or stop using social media completely to protect their child.
This can be a good way to stay safe, but it can also cause a problem later on. Technology changes very quickly, so when you go back online, you might find that everything looks different and is hard to use at first.
When I first trained as a teacher, I learned how to use the latest ICT equipment and programs so I could teach them to my students. But when I started teaching younger children, we mostly just used a camera to record their work! Later, as technology in schools fell behind what people used in jobs, I also became out of practice.
When I moved back into the adult world of work, I realised how much had changed. I’d tell my students, “I know how to do this — but where’s the button now?” New updates from Microsoft and Apple had completely changed how programs worked, and I had to relearn everything.
So, if your family decides to go “dark” for a while to stay safe, we’ll support you fully. But it’s still important to keep practising with programs like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher, so you don’t fall behind in the digital world.
How to Record the Learning
One of the great things about ICT is that you can create a finished product — like a Word document, a spreadsheet, or a PowerPoint presentation. You can then save it electronically in a folder so it’s easy for your Educational Welfare Officer to find. Just remember to label your work clearly with a title and date.
Another advantage of technology is that you can use it across all your subjects and projects. If you want, you can present all your home-school work in Word, which is especially helpful if you are dyslexic.
However, remember that for some official exam courses, you may still be asked to handwrite your assignments, so it’s good to keep practising both skills.
Including Information, Communication and Technology in to the Learning Routine
At Orchard Training, we include ICT in our projects wherever it fits naturally and can be fun to use. For example, in many of our projects, learners are asked to create a PowerPoint presentation.
Each project includes a list of websites you’ll need to visit — all of which we’ve checked beforehand to make sure they’re safe and useful. We also use our projects to teach lawful behaviour online, including how to follow copyright rules when using information or images from the internet.
You don’t need any fancy or expensive equipment to learn ICT, but you will need up-to-date software. A laptop or desktop computer is needed to run programs like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher.
Because some of our learners are too young to have Facebook accounts, we ask parents to follow our page instead so they can keep up with what’s happening.
Following A Set Information, Communication & Technology Programme of Learning
As an NVQ assessor, I visited many different workplaces and industries. The skills I see people using most often are in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher — and the most important thing is not being afraid of ICT.
Being able to use these programs to create documents, presentations, and messages is essential in almost every job.
A good place to start is by learning to type properly. Using all your fingers helps you work faster and avoid strain. If you are dyslexic, knowing how to use the spell check and grammar check tools is especially helpful.
There isn’t one set ICT course you have to follow — you just need to use technology regularly and build your skills as you go.
If you’re interested in music, there are lots of programs and tools you can try. You can even recycle old computer partsand build your own equipment if you enjoy that kind of challenge.
I’ve even asked my own learners for ideas about what to include on this website — and now that I’ve learned how to make one myself, web design will be added to our list of skills to learn at Orchard Training!
Would you like this version to sound a little more student-focused (as if speaking directly to learners) or more formal(for a teacher or parent handbook)?
Staying Safe Online
Here are the 10 rules we follow to help everyone stay safe and respectful online:
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Don’t share personal information — never post your address, email, or phone number online.
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Think before you post pictures or videos. Once something is online, anyone can see or save it — it’s no longer just yours.
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Keep your privacy settings high on all apps and websites.
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Never share your passwords with anyone, not even friends.
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Only connect with people you know in real life.
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Never meet up with someone you’ve only met online. If someone suggests it or makes you uncomfortable, tell your parent or carer straight away.
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Remember: not everyone online is who they say they are.
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Think before you post. Don’t say or share things that could hurt others — don’t be a troll.
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Respect other people’s opinions. You can disagree without being rude. If you don’t have anything kind to say, it’s best to say nothing at all.
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If something online makes you feel upset, unsafe, or worried, leave the site, switch off your device if you need to, and tell a trusted adult immediately.