This document illustrates how the yearly objectives from the Framework for teaching ICT capability: Years 7, 8 and 9 can be grouped together and taught in a way that promotes and utilises knowledge and understanding of computing. Programming is a core activity of computing because it enables the user to access and release the potential of the computer they are using. Computer programming can be likened to playing chess - although there is a relatively small set of simple rules, it is the strategic and sustained application of those rules that can create interesting games between children or intellectual fights between grand masters. The same with programming, the first applications of the rules can produce the interesting results, fun play on graphics, numbers or words. But, there is no boundary preventing the learner moving all the way to being the grand master of computer programs. Once you can do it, the sky's the limit over what you can make computers do.

Resources:

• Booklet [6Mb]
• Greenfoot [12Mb]
• Visual Basic [5Mb]
• Alice [17Mb]