The aim of the ICT department is to provide our pupils with the opportunity to develop a broad range of ICT skills which are useful both now and throughout their futures. Our goal is for them to become ICT literate and competent in the variety of areas within the subject. They should be able to use those skills to solve problems, rather than just carry out tasks, and be able to transfer their skills to other areas of their education and life.

 

We hope to cultivate an enjoyment of using computers, a love of learning and a desire to improve their own abilities. Creativity is encouraged in every area of their ICT work and we promote both working independently and team work. We want them to have the confidence to face new challenges, such as trying new software without fear and with the ICT knowledge to be able to grasp it rapidly.

From computers to books!

 

Karen Anderson, Head of ICT (pictured left) is among the growing list of teachers at QM who have gone ‘Beyond the
Classroom’ and had books published. Karen’s latest work, one of the series started by Sue Cowley is a guide for teachers of ICT that offers practical strategies  and ideas for delivering ICT in a fun, innovative and varied way, ultimately getting students excited about ICT. The book is the latest in the popular series published by Continuum and is a valuable resource for NQTs and seasoned professional teachers alike. Continuum have also just commissioned Karen to write a stand-alone work about using computer games in education which is due for release in 2012.

Who says computers will make books obsolete?!


 

 


 

All girls in Year V and the Sixth Form are required to have a laptop purchased via the QM laptop Scheme. Girls in other year groups may also purchase a Scheme laptop if they wish. Further details and an application form can be found in the attached documents, in the ipoint box at the left of the screen. 

 

We have been with our current supplier Ergo, based in Nottingham for over 2 years. They supply durable and sturdy machines that are more than suitable for all your daughter’s ICT needs whilst at QM. The cost of £829 is an “all-in” price, covering for 3 years all licensing, software, anti-virus, warranty and accidental damage needs. 

 

An increasing number of examination classes in the Upper School require girls to have real time access to network and digital resources during lesson time. Also, the ability to have direct access to the school’s network via the wireless network means that prep and other work can be undertaken with much greater freedom around campus.

 

As the machines are assembled individually to order in Nottingham, there are a limited number of opportunities to place orders during the academic year. Please see the attached application form for details of the next closing date for orders.

 

Please note that laptops not purchased through the QM Scheme cannot be connected to the school network or email system. We recognise that this is not an ideal state of affairs and a wide ranging review of our ICT facilities and infrastructure is underway. Our systems will improve over time and it is difficult to pinpoint when significant changes to the policy regarding the connectivity of non-scheme laptops can be made, although the status quo with regards to laptops is expected to remain until September 2012. The primary aim of the current set-up is to ensure that girls can have a reliable machine with appropriate and immediate support as and when technical problems occur. To try to provide this level of support to non-scheme laptops would place a significant burden on already stretched ICT resources and is not something that we feel is a viable proposition at the current time. We are working towards a set-up that will be able to accommodate both scheme and non-scheme laptops although we anticipate that getting there will require significant investment in infrastructure development and personnel.