Curriculum – FAQ

 

How do you integrate your ICT curriculum?

 

Our ICT Curriculum is made up of approximately 200 modules that are integrated with your national curriculum covering content that the classroom teachers would be teaching. The modules contain all the required Assessments, Lesson Plans, Overviews and follow a step-by-step plan of how to achieve the desired outcome of the lesson. For example, if the 10 year olds are learning about planets with their class teacher, when they attended IT lessons they would complete the “Planets” module where they would draw the planets using the Autoshape tool in Word and then shade the planets in their relevant colours using the shading tool. This is integration at its best!

 

Do we need to have a pc for each child in the class?

 

We do not believe in the sharing of computers but do agree with co-operative learning. Ideally each child should work on their own pc, but we can adapt our teaching methods and curriculum should we need to share computers.

 

Is it not cheaper for us to do it ourselves?

 

In the short term it may appear slightly cheaper, but in the long term outsourcing to make us of an international ICT curriculum is the only option for your school if you want to stay ahead in the ICT field. You cannot put a price tag on your ICT`s or class teacher`s precious time that they would spend doing planning and prep for ICT lessons of such a calibre. Cheap can be expensive! Computers 4 Kids also updates modules and releases new modules and keeps up with technological chages each year so your ICT teacher always has relevant and new topics available – something you cannot put a price tag on!

 

What back up and support do we get?

 

Our Head Office is in Cape Town, South Africa and we operate nationally and internationally on a branch and License basis. Our Licensees are qualified professional individuals with a passion for ICT and education. Support and backup is done telephonically and online as well as making use of online support services. Weekly communications are made via e-mail each week through our MMM – Monday Morning Memo.

 

What software do you make use of?

 

Our MicroSkool product makes use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) as well as Tux Paint and FreeMind. We also make use of unique Flash activities and worksheets that we have created. At primary school level we make use of a wide variety of fun educational software that we use for integration purposes.

 

What makes you different from the other companies offering the same service?

 

First of all we are not the same as the other companies!

 

We are a South African born company created and managed by a team of Educators. Our core focus is education and ICT

Our curriculum is customised for each country that we operate in and is adaptable and flexible.

Our curriculum, although flexible, allows for progression of ICT skills through integration

We offer continuous support and backup at all times – should we make use of your current ICT teacher we offer full on-going support and training whilst he/she makes use of our integrated curriculum

We offer free staff training to your school staff

All our assessment tools and templates are available in a multitude of languages

We are affordable!

We have a great teacher but I think he needs support and help with integrating. Can you help?

 

Yes we can. We offer a `consultancy` package where we offer our integrated curriculum together with the necessary planning, support, backup and reporting to ensure that your centre works for you. This takes all the pressure and stresses away from school management as far as the ICT centre is concerned.

 

Do you sell software? Do you sell just your curriculum?

 

We do sell educational software in the form of an online subscription (see www.classesonline.mobi.) We do not `sell` our curriculum as such as it requires the support services supplied by Computers 4 Kids to make it work effectively so in essence, the school `rents` the content on a monthly/annual basis, thus making use of totally up to date resources.

 

The teachers at our school are not computer literate. Will your programme help them?

 

Yes it will. As part of our mandate, we offer free staff ICT training to all your school staff (teaching and admin staff). They will be encouraged to complete the ICDL qualification as well!

 

Do you offer the curriculum on a trial basis?

 

Yes we do for a 7 day full trial (no obligation!). Please visit www.classesonline.mobi and select your country and relevant curriculum you require.

 

We follow the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) at our school. What can you offer us?

 

We have aligned all 200 modules to the PYP programme which cover the six transdisciplinary themes. Please visit www.classesonline.mobi and select the PYP option to complete the free 7 day trial.

 

We are an ACE school. What can you offer us?

 

We have aligned all 200 modules to the ACE PACE`s. Please visit www.classesonline.mobi and select the ACE option to complete the free 7 day trial. Please click here to view the alignment document.

 

Is the curriculum aligned to my country? It looks like you are a South African company.

 

This has been one of our successes over the last 17 years! We customise your curriculum to your local needs and requriements by taking the national curriculum for your country and aligning it with ICT skills that have been benchmarked. So your students will be covering local history, social studies and content and NOT overseas content!

 

Do the students receive some form of certification?

 

Absolutely! All students work towards their e-Learner certificate whilst covering valuable classroom content. This qualification is endorsed by the ICDL Foundation (www.icdl.org ) and is the benchmark for ICT usage for primary school students.

 

 

 

1. Should young children be taught IT skills?

Our ICT Curriculum is made up of approximately 175+ modules that are integrated with the classroom curriculum in South African pre primary and primary schools. The modules contain all the required Learning Outcomes, Assessment Standards and follow a step-by-step plan of how to achieve the desired outcome. For example, if the 10 year olds are learning about planets with their class teacher, when they attended IT lessons they would complete the “Planets” module where they would draw the planets using the Autoshape tool in Word and then shade the planets in their relevant colours using the shading tool. This is integration at its best so IT is not being taught as such -the IT Skills are therefore incidental in the learning process and the focus is on content.

 

2. What software do you make use of?

We make use of commercially available software (MS Office or Open Office) as well as unique Southern African software and worksheets/activities that we have created. At primary school level we make use of a wide variety of fun educational software that we can use for integration purposes.

 

3. What is the e-Learner certification?

The e-Learner certification course is offered to school aged learners as well as adults. e-Learner is an ECDL endorsed product which equips candidates with a solid foundation for progressing on to the ECDL / ICDL qualification. It is a certified, modular course of progressive ICT skills utilising courseware from e-Learner. Using a unique and integrated approach, e-Learner provides the means to acquire essential ICT skills across a spectrum of 7 units. Once the required skills have been completed for all the units, the learner completes online assessments in each of the units. After successful completetion of each of the unit exams, an accredited e-learner certificate will be issued to the learner.

 

4. Is it necessary that my primary school child receives an international IT certificate?

The importance of certification cannot be over stressed in our times where people are losing jobs, unemployment is high and school pressure creating its own issues. Your child will be one step ahead of his/her peers with an international certificate. International certification and assessments creates a very important mindset with learners regarding how important it is to receive certification from a recognised institution and not from the corner IT centre down the road.

 

5. Do you have some sample lessons I can try?

Yes we do. Click here and choose between the learner or adult versions.

 

6. What makes you different from the other companies offering similar services?

 

The product and opportunity is quite unique in South Africa and fills a niche market.

Our curriculum has been internationally endorsed by the ECDL Foundation in Ireland and we are the only company world wide providing international certification at this level.

We are a South African born company created and managed by a team of Educators.

Our core focus is education and ICT

Our curriculum is Southern African based and is an integrated adaptable and flexible curriculum, not an adapted overseas or foreign curriculum

All licensees have the option of becoming fully fledged ICDL centres with the option of offering the full spectrum of ICDL courses (see www.icdl.org.za) making your centre quite unique

Our curriculum, although flexible, allows for progression of ICT skills through integration

We offer continuous support and backup at all times