Using ICT to Support Gifted and Talented Pupils

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Using ICT to Support Gifted and Talented Pupils
June Isik SIO Primary ICT 020 8489 5058
june.isik_at_haringey.gov.uk
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Todays session

• Aims of session
• To understand what is meant by someone who is
  able in ICT
• To understand how ICT can support such pupils
• To know the types of activities that can support
  able pupils learning
• Outline
• Welcome and introductions
• Introductory activity
• What are the characteristics of a pupil able in
  ICT
• How ICT can help support pupils who are gifted
  and talented
• Coffee
• Ideas for activities linking these to
  strategies for developing thinking skills
• Questions and comments to end

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Introductory activity

• Use ICT to find out the following
• 1. A definition for what constitutes a gifted and
  talented pupil
• 2. What does being able or gifted/talented in ICT
  mean?
• 3. What sort of ICT activities are particularly
  supportive for gifted and talented pupils?
• - general
• - specific
• 4. What kinds of activity support the development
  of thinking skills?
• 20 mins

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Introductory activity

• Lets look at what you did, how you did it and
  the ways you had to think about completing the
  task
• What ICT did you use? Why did you choose that in
  particular?
• What keywords did you type into Google? How did
  the keywords affect your search?
• How did you sift the results to find the most
  relevant?
• Which aspect of the task was the most difficult
  to find out about? Why?
• Could you do a similar activity in class? Topic
  based?

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What is a Gifted and Talented Child?

• Someone who demonstrates, or has the potential
  to demonstrate, an outstanding level of ability
  in one or more fields of activity
• These abilities can be general, such as the
  ability for extraordinary creative thinking, or
  specific, such as a particular ability in a
  subject
• Becta Information Sheet on G and T
  Children and ICT January 2001

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Two aspects

• Developing specific ICT skills
• Using ICT creatively
• - across curriculum areas
• - supporting higher order thinking skills
• - developing skills of evaluation, criticism and
  reflection

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Characteristics of pupils able in ICT

• Demonstrate ICT Capability significantly above
  that expected for their age
• Learn and apply new ICT techniques quickly
• Use initiative to exploit the potential of more
  advanced features of ICT tools

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Characteristics of pupils able in ICT

• Transfer and apply ICT skills and techniques
  confidently in new contexts
• Explore independently beyond the given breadth of
  an ICT topic
• Initiate ideas and solve problems, use ICT
  effectively and creatively, develop systems that
  meet personal needs and interests.

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How can ICT support G and T pupils?

• Development of higher order thinking skills
• Develop ability to evaluate, criticise and
  reflect
• Provide greater depth and breadth of information
  than is available from other sources
• Enable pupils with a particular talent to display
  and develop that talent
• Support a specific cultural background or
  language
• Enable the effective recording of pupils ideas
• Provide extra education and support at home

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In-school

• Identify pupils able in ICT
• Audit ICT resources. How could these be used?
  Trial an activity or a resource with a group of
  pupils / staff.
• Audit the location of resources. What can be used
  in the classroom as part of other curriculum
  work rather than isolated activities in the ICT
  suite? (ICT most effective when it is
  contextualised and related to real problems)
• Include storage and access arrangements in the
  audit.
• With other staff, begin to build a bank of
  activities where ICT can be used to support

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Audit

• Before we go to coffee
• Carry out a quick mental audit of what equipment
  you have in your school. Note down on the sheet.
• Think of equipment other than computers
• Location of equipment
• Access of equipment
• Human resources (use of teaching assistants,
  learning mentors?)
• Questions to ask back at school relating to these

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• Coffee!!

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Activities

• Concept mapping (Haringeylearning site science
  pages)
• Concept cartoons (Easiteach Science Content Pack)
• Use of video conferencing projects
• Projects with older pupils use of email, video
  conferencing, community web pages
• Problem solving (not just maths)
• Using resources other than computers cameras,
  video, digital microscopes etc. (Think about your
  audit)

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Remember these from the original activity.?

• 3. What sort of ICT activities are particularly
  supportive for gifted and talented pupils?
• - general
• - specific
• 4. What kinds of activity support the development
  of thinking skills?
• Explore the resources on the internet and around
  the room. Can you match the activities to the
  thinking skills strategies on the sheet? (Dont
  worry, they wont match all the strategies!)