ICT Curriculum

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The following was written in response to a request on the Edubuntu list about which Open Source programs should be included in this forthcoming distribution.

In England & Wales, the DfES provide a fairly detailed 'optional' scheme of work for ICT, thus giving an indication of the type of application software that will be needed in this context, and possibly some idea of the sort of thing that would be appropriate for the IT bit of the curriculum in countries where this is left to the discretion of teachers, schools or districts. I've given a brief indication of what the units involve, and some idea of open source software that could be used, but others may know more about this than I, so please edit the wiki accordingly! You'll notice that other than the Turtle graphics stuff, there's none of your actual programming required by the scheme of work!

Overall, FLOSS software can provide coverage of the vast majority of the curriculum. The weak area seems to be the control and monitoring aspects: Linux has a huge prescence in the embedded operating system world, powering devices where control and monitoring is of crucial significance, but I'm not aware of any child friendly versions of the software needed for this.

The vast range of packages available in a Linux distribution make it possible for innovative schools and teachers to go way beyond the scope of the QCA schemes, which are meant to be optional. For depth, lots of programming languages are available, and the source code of the applications used is available for inspection or experimentation. Open source tools also make it possible for schools to be at the cutting edge of collaborative use of ICT, by exploring ideas like virtual learning environments, blogs, wikis and e-portfolios.


Key Stage 1 (5-7 years)

  • Unit 1A. An introduction to modelling - representing real or fantasy situations on a computer - gcompris
  • Unit 1B. Using a word bank - assembling a story from clickable words on screen - don't know what FLOSS software is available here, perhaps something from the accessibility world, but it would be possible to set up OpenOffice Impress to arrange words with screen clicks, or drag words in OpenOffice Draw to make a story. Not ideal but it could be done.
  • Unit 1C. The information around us - getting used to different media - probably Firefox will suffice.
  • Unit 1D. Labelling and classifying - perhaps something in gcompris?
  • Unit 1E. Representing information graphically: pictograms - data handling - any pictogram or simple charting software?
  • Unit 1F. Understanding instructions and making things happen - more in the real world than on the screen, but possibly turtle based, or games, or gcompris, Squeak eToys plugin, Alice. Again "My World" is not Open Source but there is a web based version and it would run on an Open Source platform.


  • Unit 2A. Writing stories: communicating information using text - very simple WP - possibly OpenOffice Writer, but I like the idea of getting them started with a text editor first, perhaps not Emacs though!
  • Unit 2B. Creating pictures - bit map graphics, tux paint?
  • Unit 2C. Finding information - it actually says a CD ROM, can you believe it? CD ROMs! I like the idea of Wikipedia for this, but worry that the language is too sophisticated for 7 year olds. Is there a child friendly version?

(How hard to make one? It would only need limited amounts of content to show the principles)

  • Unit 2D. Routes: controlling a floor turtle - can you plug a floor turtle into a Linux box? If not, then one of the screen turtle programs - kturtle, Squeak eToys plugin
  • Unit 2E. Questions and answers "binary tree program", or branching database - don't know if there's a FLOSS equivalent, we use the proprietary ReTreeval; honestly, why has this been given such priority? Something like this can be done fairly easily in Moodle's Lesson Module


Key Stage 2 (7-11 years)

  • Unit 3A. Combining text and graphics - probaly better to go with OpenOffice Impress, rather than Writer, but some clipart might be helpful.

(I'd say use OpenOffice Draw. Also relevant to Bronze INGOT); Sodipodi and Inkscape are possible too.

  • Unit 3B. Manipulating sound - "simple music software" - I suspect http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/ RoseGarden] is a bit advanced, I'd like to see them use Audacity, but worry that that's too complex too.
  • Unit 3C. Introduction to databases - simple flat file stuff - I'd use OpenOffice calc.
  • Unit 3D. Exploring simulations - representing real and fantasy situations - Squeak perhaps, and gLife.
  • Unit 3E. E-mail - We use squirrelmail which is webbased and doesn't need any client set-up if they have server accounts; the feeling at the edubuntu summit was to go with evolution - perhaps someone can write a script to do the client side configuration?


  • Unit 4A. Writing for different audiences - OpenOffice Writer (or Impress)
  • Unit 4B. Developing images using repeating patterns (You could do this with a bitmap program ([Tuxpaint tux paint?) but I'd say go with vector graphics - OpenOffice Draw, Sodipodi or Inkscape.
  • Unit 4C. Branching databases (again, can you believe it! Why not just teach python and if). You could set up a course with the pupils as editing teachers and use Moodle's Moodle's Lesson Module for this.
  • Unit 4D. Collecting and presenting information: questionnaires and pie charts - the pie chart bit is easy (OOo Calc), but questionnaire design is probably back to OpenOffice Writer; compare with the proprietary Junior Viewpoint
  • Unit 4E. Modelling effects on screen - logo again - kturtle, Squeak eToys plugin?


  • Unit 5A. Graphical modelling - 'object based graphics package' - possibly just OpenOffice Draw again, but there's a CAD emphasis here - I guess qcad is too complex for 10 year olds. Alternatively go with interactive geometry packagages like Dr Geo or Kig.

Can't really see a 10 year old really pushing OpenOffice Draw to any limits - in fact I would be really pleased if most 10 year olds could use something like OpenOffice Draw with reasonable precision.

  • Unit 5B. Analysing data and asking questions: using complex searches - use of a prepared database - so you could set something up in OpenOffice Base, or Query a web site!
  • Unit 5C. Evaluating information, checking accuracy and questioning plausibility - there's a quantitative emphasis here, but really wikis would be idea here!
  • Unit 5D. Introduction to spreadsheets - OpenOffice Calc.
  • Unit 5E. Controlling devices - this is the physical interface stuff - what are the FLOSS possibilities here? Squeak? Can it drive physical ports?
  • Unit 5F. Monitoring environmental conditions and changes - data logging stuff - again what are the FLOSS options?


  • Unit 6A. Multimedia presentation - OpenOffice Impress, or build a website using a text editor or something like Quanta or nvu.
  • Unit 6B. Spreadsheet modelling - OpenOffice Calc
  • Unit 6C. Control and monitoring - What happens when...? Again meant to be physical stuff, but Squeak may be the way to go?
  • Unit 6D. Using the internet to search large databases and to interpret information - Firefox, but I can also see applications of wiki (icluding Wikipedia) and bloging here.


Key Stage 3 (11-14 years)

  • Unit 1. Using ICT - multimedia presentation OpenOffice Impress, or build a website using a text editor or something like Quanta or nvu.
  • Unit 2. Information and presentation - another presentation, this time with more emphasis on research: OpenOffice Impress / Wikipedia / The Net
  • Unit 3. Processing text and images - DTP Scribus
  • Unit 4. Models - rules and investigations - Spreasheet OpenOffice Calc, Interactive geometry: Dr Geo or Kig
  • Unit 5. Data - designing structure, capturing and presenting data - Questionnaire design, data collection and analysis, meant to be an introduction to a database (OpenOffice Base), but probably better done in Calc
  • Unit 6. Control - input, process and output - modelling really, I wonder about Squeak
  • Unit 7. Measuring physical data - remote sensors - don't know what the FLOSS software is here.


  • Unit 8. Public information systems - extends unit 7 to displaying the data - I'm thinking some php or Python scripting here, but don't really know! Perhaps any collaborative tool like a Forum, BB, Blog, wiki, moodle etc?
  • Unit 9. Publishing on the web - an emphasis on interactivity - I'd have thought something like nvu or Quanta; of course you can host your own intranet (or restriced access) websites on Apache.
  • Unit 10. Information - reliability, validity and bias - a research emphasis, so Firefox should suffice, I wonder about some mindmapping software (View Your Mind?) to help with the collation and comparison
  • Unit 11. Data - use and misuse - bar codes, epos and loyalty cards - theory based really, but I wonder if one could do somepthing practical with a FLOSS epos system, such as PHPPointOfSale (probably not needed in the core distribution!)
  • Unit 12. Systems - integrating applications to find solutions - setting up a fundraiser, standard desktop applications.


  • Unit 13. Control systems - design a theme park ride (!), is there some FLOSS control system simulator? A flow charting application like dia might be useful.
  • Unit 14. Global communication - negotiating and transferring data - meant to be by email (evolution), but I wonder whether something web (wiki) based might be more appropriate, or using RSS feeds.
  • Unit 15. Systems: managing a project - Mr Project or similar.


--Mberry 19:21, 27 Jul 2005 (BST)

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