At Blackwood Comprehensive School, teachers focus on incorporating digital skills authentically within Areas of Learning and Experience (AOLEs), ensuring learners demonstrate and further develop their digital skills. For example, the professional learning and research carried out by the CfW Champion resulted in classroom trials, which then led to the delivery of professional learning for all staff on how to use a specific software package to deliver authentic learning experiences across the curriculum. Consequently, some AoLEs employed these skills to teach learners how to design informative websites. For example, in humanities, learners design interactive websites on topics such as Welsh Castles and tornadoes, which enables them to demonstrate and further develop their digital skills, as well as their subject skills and knowledge, effectively.
The school believes in teaching these skills early, so that learners can continue to use and develop their digital skills throughout their learning journey. For example, in Welsh Baccalaureate Enterprise Challenges, learners apply the coding skills taught in Digital Technology to produce educational games for younger learners, whilst in BTEC Business Studies learners create websites, logos and cash flow spreadsheets to support their business plans. In Expressive Arts, the drama teacher supports learners in using video editing software to effectively edit their performances and create professional movies. In Science and Technology, learners use 3D design software to design, evaluate and refine their designs for sustainable glamping pods.
Most recently, the Digital Competence Lead has introduced Digital Skills Passports for learners in Years 7 and 8. Learners store their virtual files in this passport, which contains a list of DCF skills that can be tracked by learners when they use them across the curriculum. This virtual space for learners to link their digital work enables both teachers and learners to effectively collate work and track the progress of their digital skills development. These Digital Passports enable learners to take ownership of their own work, becoming digitally competent and resilient learners.
