The UICT Requirements
What is UICT?
UICT, along with Communication and Using Mathematics, is one of the three statutory cross-curricular skills introduced as part of the NI Curriculum. It will be assessed and reported on using Levels of Progression. Using ICT replaces the former cross-curricular theme of Information Technology (IT).
The ‘C’ within UICT highlights the ever-increasing importance of ‘communications’ within Information Technology and the potential of new and emerging technologies to enable pupils to communicate with audiences beyond the school. (See Section 2)
Using ICT is about providing your pupils with opportunities to acquire, develop, understand, demonstrate and apply ICT concepts and processes appropriately in a variety of contexts across the curriculum. Since there is now a focus on ‘Using’ the skills, you should also provide opportunities for them to transfer their knowledge, understanding and skills in a variety of meaningful contexts across the curriculum.
Involvement in the voluntary ICT Accreditation Scheme will enable you to prepare in advance of UICT assessment becoming statutory.
The 5 ‘E’s Explained
The Requirements for Using ICT are set out under headings described as the 5 ‘E’s. These are:
- Explore
- Express
- Exchange
- Evaluate
- Exhibit
The 5 ‘E’s are have been colour coded and represent the steps a learner might follow when taking an initial idea from concept to completion. They are described opposite.
You need to ensure that you plan for coverage of the UICT Requirements across the 5 ‘E’s. Explore and Express form the core of most of the activities that your pupils will be involved in. However, in your planning you should build in Evaluate (for pupils to consider what they have done). In particular, wherever possible, you should also provide opportunities for pupils to Exchange (work collaboratively online) and to Exhibit (showcase their work digitally).
Explore is about looking for, finding, choosing and using information as well as using digital tools to investigate and solve problems. It ranges from resources being provided for pupils to pupils being more independent and discriminating users of ICT. This ‘E’ often forms the first part of work in which a pupil engages.
Express is about pupils being creative and developing and presenting their ideas using text, sound, music and still or moving images. It ranges from pupils using simple text, sound or pictures to the production of a multimedia product.
Exchange is about pupils collaborating with others online to share and develop their ideas using safe and acceptable online behaviour. This can include sending an e-mail, participating in a video-conference, contributing to an online course or using collaborative online tools. Tasks with a strong Exchange focus can also make a valuable contribution to the richness of pupils’ experiences of Explore and Express.
Evaluate is about pupils reflecting on their process and outcome, thinking about how they carried out the task and how they might improve upon what they did. Tasks with a strong focus on problem solving can ensure more explicit coverage of this ‘E’.
Exhibit is about pupils managing and showcasing their work digitally. It ranges from pupils printing and saving their work to organising and maintaining digital personalised areas.
You need to ensure that you plan for coverage of the UICT Requirements across the 5 ‘E’s. Explore and Express form the core of most of the activities that your pupils will be involved in. However, in your planning you should build in Evaluate (for pupils to consider what they have done). In particular, wherever possible, you should also provide opportunities for pupils to Exchange (work collaboratively online) and to Exhibit (showcase their work digitally).