(August – December, 2008)

Welcome to the first IT newsletter for the new academic year.

As in previous years, the homebase teachers in Grades One and Two will team-teach technology lessons with the IT teachers in the computer lab, during a scheduled time once a week. Homebase teachers in grades 3, 4, 5 are the main technology teachers using iBooks and eMacs in the classroom, with support from the IT teachers in the school. The technology lessons for these grades will happen during various times and various subjects as the needs arise.

Below is an outline of the IT Focuses for each grade level:

Grade 1
In Grade One the students, through IT activities directly integrated with their class' Units of Inquiry, are being introduced to:
*View IT as an exciting, enjoyable, useful and necessary part of daily life
*Identify their own specific OFS login username and password
*Identify and understand new IT specific vocabulary
*How to navigate the computer's OSX (operating system's) interface
*Understand how to find, open and save files
*Various keyboarding skills, (not touch typing yet though – their hands are too small)
*Efficient use of keyboard shortcuts
*Developing their fine motor skills to operate a mouse efficiently
*Identifying various applications and their best use
Grade One Units:
Where We Are in Place and Time
'Days of our Lives'
Central Idea: Everyone has a unique history.

How The World Works
'Growing Things'
Central Idea: Plants have certain requirements in order to grow and survive.

Who We Are
'We Are What We Eat'
Central Idea: A balanced diet and exercise can help to keep our bodies healthy and working well.

Grade 2
In Grade Two the students, through IT activities directly integrated with their class' Units of Inquiry, are developing their understanding of, or being introduced to:
*View IT as an exciting, enjoyable, useful and necessary part of daily life
*Identify their own specific OFS login username and password
*Identify and understand new IT specific vocabulary
*How to navigate the computer's OSX (operating system's) interface efficiently
*Copy and paste between applications
*Understand how to find, open and save files
*Develop a personal system for creating folders and organising their files
*Various keyboarding skills, (not touch typing yet though – their hands are too small)
*Efficient use of keyboard shortcuts
*Developing their fine motor skills to operate a mouse efficiently
*Identifying various applications and their best use
*Using digital cameras for practical purposes

Grade Two Units:
Who We Are
'The Responsibility of Being Me'
Central Idea: We all have choices and responsibilities to ourselves and others.

Where We are in Place and Time
'A Sense of Place'
Central Idea: All Places on Earth have special physical and cultural features that distinguish them from other people.

How We Express Ourselves
'Signs and Symbols'
Central Idea: A variety of signs and symbols are developed to communicate.

Grades 3-5
Students will have the opportunity to use IT across all subject areas. We maintain an active website that supports students in their use of online resources. This can be viewed at:

http://www.ofs.edu.sg/user/ele/students/
(*Temporarily unavailable – being updated)

Specifically, Grade 3-5 students may also undertake specially prepared IT Tasks which aim to be independent, integrated activities. The IT tasks can be viewed at:

http://www.ofs.edu.sg/user/ele/students/tasks/tasksindex.html
(*Temporarily unavailable – being updated)

We hope you have found this newsletter informative. If you have any feedback about it or the IT program in general, please don’t hesitate to contact us at ele@ofs.edu.sg

We’re looking forward to a great year ahead.

Mr. Scott Dickson
Mr. Damian Groufsky
Mr. Philip Toovey
(IT Teachers)