Digital Learning Lessons

In Primary 1 the children will attend formal Digital Learning lessons fortnightly throughout the year. Digital Learning specialists will also visit the classroom weekly.

They will experience a range of creative activities to help familiarise them with desktop computers and the use of a keyboard and mouse. They use computational thinking to help them plan, sequence and debug programs both on screen and using robots such as Beebots.

At this stage the children will be using features of our Firefly online learning environment, but they will not be searching or exploring the Internet. There will be opportunities during the year for them to learn about how technology can help us communicate with others. 

_{Colour coded mouse buttons and lower case keyboards assist children in navigating their way around learning on the computer.}

Technology Rota

_{Light up mark making boards, Coding Critters dragons, digital photography, imaginative play with old computer equipment are all part}

_{of the enhanced play provision on the technology rota.}

In addition to their use of desktop computers and Beebots in Digital Learning, the children will have the opportunity to use iPads and the interactive whiteboard in the classroom to enhance their learning across the curriculum. Technology will feature widely as part of their play provision and different tools will be used on rotation between the classes. This offers children opportunities for independent and cooperative learning and peer support and gives them further practice of skills and enhancing learning in other subjects (such as letter formation).

Online Safety

The children discuss the importance of being kind and responsible online during Digital Learning lessons. In addition to this, they share online safety stories as a context for discussion in the classroom. The children will be given some of these stories to share at home with you as the year progresses.

Some of the online safety stories we share with Primary 1 children.

Skills to be developed include:

• Logging on
• Controlling the mouse to click, drag and select tools
• Using Microsoft Word including full stops, capital letters and the delete button and space bar
• Problem solving, sequencing and programming using Beebots
• Data handling
• Taking care of equipment
• Signing in to Seesaw

Accounts

All children at ESMS receive an Office 365 account. This allows them to open and create documents and presentations on any device using Microsoft Office. They also have a school email address. A guide on how to install this on PC, Mac and Android can be found on ‘My ESMS’ and Firefly.

How to support your child at home

At home, you can support your child by highlighting the many positive ways in which technology can be used and by encouraging your child to talk to you about what they are doing. It is important to establish guidelines for the time children can spend on devices and the types of activities they are permitted to access from this early stage.