We do not provide downloadable samples of our Key Stage 3 units. The primary reason is that answers and guidance for teachers are embedded throughout the teacher presentations and lesson plans. Making these materials publicly available would make it easier for students to access answers, which could reduce the effectiveness of the learning activities and assessments. We have also found that offering separate "sample" and "full" versions of a unit can create confusion. On occasion, teachers have downloaded a sample version and assumed that the full scheme does not include answers, teaching guidance or supporting materials.
More importantly, a small number of sample files cannot fully represent the scheme as a whole. While every unit follows a consistent structure and approach, the learning experiences within them are deliberately varied. Lessons include a mixture of plugged and unplugged activities, teacher-led instruction, student enquiry, independent learning, paired work and collaborative tasks. Looking at one or two units in isolation provides only a limited view of what the scheme offers.
Instead, we use video walkthroughs to help teachers evaluate the scheme. These allow us to showcase examples from a range of lessons and units, highlighting the different types of presentations, resources and activity materials available. Video demonstrations also explain how the resources are intended to be used in the classroom, which is not always apparent when viewing individual files. In addition, they give us the opportunity to provide context, explain our curriculum approach and answer common questions, helping teachers make a more informed decision about whether the scheme is the right fit for their school.
FAQs
A common question is how our scheme teaches the basics of file management, e-safety, email and web searching.
Our recommendation is that you continue to use your existing introduction to Computing unit for the first 6-8 weeks. We do plan to create a "basics of computing" unit, but we anticipate this being heavily adapted by teachers as each school has different systems. While an introduction unit will focus on simple essential skills, our scheme aims to provide greater depth with the following units, each being 6 lessons each:
- File management – I’m a digital archivist
- Safety and wellbeing – I’m a digital safety educator
- Digital citizenship – I’m a community manager
- Cybersecurity – I’m a cyber security consultant
- Online communication – I’m an events organiser
- The information web – I’m a blogger