Cylchoed Meithrin

What the (Welsh) Digital Competence Framework means for Methrin (Foundation Phase)

 

Introduction

4 strands 

• Citizenship
• Interacting and collaborating
• Producing
• Data and computational thinking

 

4 main points 

1. Neither teachers nor children have to become experts in computer programming overnight, it does not mean that the children will be stuck looking at tablets or computer screens more often than they do now and it doesn’t need lots of money spent on technology.

 

2. Just because a lesson uses technology does NOT mean it is an ICT/DCF lesson. Conversely, most of the activities that contribute directly to delivering the DCF at this age can be delivered without technology

 

3. Less emphasis on Schemes of Work, more emphasis on integration across curriculum and thematic approach

 

4. Many of the activities you do already can be enhanced or adapted to deliver DCF.  Remember, all the Meithrin competences are preceded by “…with increasing independence”. You are just setting the foundations for what will be developed further in Derbyn, Dosbarth Un / Dau

 

Suggested CPD activities

20 minutes on trying out some ‘unplugged’ activities, including playground games, which develop a range of digital competences and require  ‘homemade’ kit

 

Unplugged activity	DCF strand	Sub-strand	Competence
Coding cards	Data and Computational Thinking	Problem solving and modelling	Complete patterns and sequences
Emoticon cards	Citizenship	Online behaviour and cyberbullying	Identify emotions of others on a range of digital software, e.g. talk about feelings and begin to recognise emotions;
Human robots	Data and Computational Thinking	Problem solving and modelling	Follow a simple sequence of instructions
1 and 2 variable sorting	Data and Computational Thinking	Data and information literacy	recognise that there are different types of data, e.g. sort and/or match objects/photographs/symbols
Sticks and stones	Data and Computational Thinking	Data and information literacy	sort familiar objects using set criteria.

 

 

15 mins playing with a range of kit e.g. different robots and other non-screen user interfaces so that they can make an informed choice if they are thinking of buying anything

 

Activity	DCF strand	Sub strand	Competence
Recognising card / wooden pathways	Data and Computational Thinking	Problem solving and modelling	Complete patterns and sequences
Beebot cards and pockets	Data and Computational Thinking	Problem solving and modelling	Follow a simple sequence of instructions Create one step instructions and identify the next step
Dash and Dot – gathering snow sheep	Data and Computational Thinking	Problem solving and modelling	Follow a process making simple adjustments when needed
Cozmo	Citizenship	Identity, image and reputation	Identify emotions of others on a range of digital software, e.g. talk about feelings and begin to recognise emotions

 

 

 

15 mins playing with some creative apps that develop digital competence and really work well with 3-4 yr olds

 

 

Activity	DCF strand	Sub strand	Competence
Quiver	Producing	Planning, sourcing and searching	Explore and use different multimedia components in order to capture and use text, image, sound, animation and video.
Adding sound to emoticons	Producing	Creating	Explore and use different multimedia components in order to capture and use text, image, sound, animation and video.
Osmo	Producing	Planning, sourcing and searching	Navigate through a piece of software using an internal menu to find desired item.
QR Christmas book	Producing	Creating	Explore and use different multimedia components in order to capture and use text, image, sound, animation and video.
Chatterpix	Producing	Evaluating and improving	Describe in response to questions some of what has been done in the task, e.g. add comments using recording feature in software.