c. Helping Learners Develop their own IT Capabilities

Whilst the focus of learning was in mathematics, it was clearly necessary to develop pupils' IT capability in order that they could apply their mathematical skills using ICT resources.

Question for Consideration

• Identify where in the lesson structure the focus for pupils' learning was on IT rather than on Maths. Were the mathematical demands kept to the minimum at these points?

There were a number of aspects which required revision, extension and practice:

• Loading software.
• Spreadsheet layout and terminology
• Systematic changing of values in a model to explore its effects
• Identification of relationships in a model
• Entry and replication of formulas to construct a model.
• Editing a formula to correct an error or try a different operation.

Points for Consideration

IT capability can be considered to comprise:

• Routines - procedures we carry out without conscious thought.
• Techniques - procedures where we follow instructions or consciously recall steps in order to achieve an effect.
• Processes - such as modelling - which are made up of sequences of techniques selected in order to achieve a goal.
• Strategies - planning, monitoring, evaluating, reflecting on learning Identify examples in this sequence of lessons where pupils developed each of these components of IT capability.

d. Assessing Learning