Week 4 · Theme 1, Lesson 4 Digital Communication Tools · 3 lessons
3
Networks give independence
ICT P5 Term 1, Theme 1: pp. 22–25
GoalExplain how networks give independence to people of determination and how to use networks responsibly.
New words
screen reader · a program that reads the words on a screen aloudbraille display · a device with small raised dots that a blind person reads by touche-commerce · buying and selling through the internetresponsible · careful about what you do and how it affects others
Explanation
People of determination are people who face a challenge, such as blindness, and find a way to succeed. Networks help them be independent. A child who is blind can use a screen reader, which reads the words on the screen aloud. A braille display raises small dots that the child reads with the fingers. With these tools the child can read lessons from the school network and send homework without waiting for help. Networks also bring shops to the home. That is e-commerce: buying and selling over the internet. Children do not buy anything or type bank details; a parent decides and pays. Using networks responsibly means being kind, telling the truth, keeping personal details private and asking a trusted adult when something feels wrong.
Tool
How it helps
Who uses it?
screen reader
reads the screen aloud
a child who is blind
braille display
raised dots to read by touch
a child who is blind
video class
lessons from home
a child who cannot travel to school
Worked examples
Nour is blind. Her tablet has a screen reader. It reads her teacher’s message aloud and she answers by speaking. She does her homework on her own.
Mina’s family wants new school shoes from an online shop. His father looks at the shoes, decides and pays. Mina chooses the colour. He types no names or numbers himself.
Jana sees a message that calls a classmate a rude name. A responsible user does not join in. She tells her teacher and says something kind to her classmate.
Class activity
Park clean-up campaign (pretend). A class wants to clean a local park. On paper, make a table with three columns: Job, Tool, Why. Choose a tool for each job: telling everyone (a message to parents through the teacher), keeping a list of who brings what (a shared spreadsheet), and a quick vote on the date (a class poll). Write one rule for being responsible online.
Practice
1
What does a screen reader do?
It reads the words on the screen aloud.
2
How does a braille display help a child who is blind?
It raises small dots that the child reads by touch.
3
Who should decide and pay when a family buys something online?
A parent or another grown-up.
4
Name two rules for using networks responsibly.
For example: be kind, keep personal details private, ask a trusted adult.
