Smart Skillz I
This unit tries to develop all the skills Year 7s need without being too boring. It also tries to make people think – what, back in the day, I'd have called meta-cognition, although that term appears to have been hijacked these days
1 – Logging on
The basics. This generally takes two lessons, which is just fine. The webquest keeps people busy while you're sorting out the problems, but is quite interesting in its own right.
Webquest questions (for web)
There's also a survey I send out. I need to wrangle that in Google form at some point.
2 – Most Likely To...
A classic thinking task about passwords.
3 – True or False – the Acceptable Use Policy
Another classic thinking exercise.
Then there's a task to get started with - this might come in anywhere in 2 or 3 really. Or even in 1. Depends on how much people have done before. It leads on to 4 and communicating work to others.
4 – Communicating safely
E-mail and so on.
5 – What's Up Sabrina?
A mystery. If time is short I'll leave this out if I have to, although I do like the task. This is high level thinking and filtering of information and warrants unpacking properly.
Agony aunt task – as an extension
6 – Cyber bullying 5W
Another thinking task, predicated on children often sitting in school answering questions all day long. Why shouldn't they ask some? Works best in pairs.
7 – Cyber bullying letter
Writing a letter with cyber bullying packed up in it. Literacy and layout in one hit. May take more than one lesson with the opportunity to print and give feedback between the lessons.
This is another task I might leave out if I can't find time for it.
8 – E-safety quiz
Make a quiz in Scratch - which leads on to more Scratch work. I find a lot of children have never programmed in Scratch (yes, I know they should have). This is a bit different from making the cat do a dance and has some proper programming packed in with it.
Multiple lessons – one to plan, one or two to make. Because it's worth doing properly.
A couple of more advanced ideas"
Giving feedback at the end of the quiz
Using broadcasts to check answers – which makes your program a lot shorter