Teaching Computing Systems and Networks to 5- to 11-year-olds

CO042 Online course

Improve your subject knowledge and develop your teaching to help young children understand the computing systems and networks around them.

Computer networks Computer systems Key stage 1 Key stage 2 Teach primary computing certificate

Free online course Approximately 8 hours of self-study

Whether stand-alone, connected in a local network or plugged into the internet, computers are central to many everyday tasks and routines. It's important for young people to develop their knowledge of how these devices work, so that they can appreciate the impacts that computers and networks have on the world around them.

On this course you'll explore how you can build up young learners' knowledge in an age-appropriate manner. You'll think about how you can to help your learners recognise information technology and how computers process an input to give an output. You'll learn about the key pieces of technology that allow us to connect computers into networks, and the advantages that networks can bring. You'll also consider how you can make the concept of a computer network relatable to young children. You'll investigate computer systems consisting of multiple devices working together. Finally, you will consider both the advantages of challenges that being able to work together collaboratively across a network brings.

You can benefit from facilitation by expert Professional Development Leaders during specific dates for each section of the course:

16th Sept – 22nd Sept: week 1
23rd Sept – 30th Sept: week 2

11th Nov - 17th Nov: week 1
18th Nov - 24th Nov: week 2

Don’t worry if you’ve missed the facilitation windows, you can still benefit from the contributions of others.

Who is it for?

Primary teachers who are new to teaching computer systems and networks, or who would like to develop their understanding. Primary subject leaders.

Topics covered

Technology, information technology and computers
What is a network?
The internet
Communication and collaboration online
Information technology Systems

How long is this course?

This is approximately 8 hours of self-directed learning.

How will you learn?

This online, self-paced course can be completed flexibly. You can join and start this course at any time after the advertised date, and keep access for a year after booking. You can learn independently or with colleagues to directly address your individual needs.

This course will be periodically facilitated by expert Professional Development Leaders.

Outcomes

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

Explain the input, process, output (IPO) model of computing.
Evaluate the impacts of computing systems and networks on everyday life.
Model a computer network with your class.
Summarise ways in which people can communicate and collaborate over the internet.
Introduce your pupils to IT systems that span multiple networks.

This course is part of Teach primary computing

Teach primary computing

Our nationally recognised qualification will support you to demonstrate your commitment to developing your own practice and to computing as a school subject.

Find out more