Tech Task Intro

Overview

This 45-minute lesson introduces Entry Level 1 students to how Information Technology (IT) supports task management. Through discussion, visual aids, and simple activities, learners will identify everyday and classroom tasks improved using technology. This aligns with the National Curriculum for England’s Computing Program of Study focus on understanding technology’s role in everyday life and basic digital literacy.

National Curriculum Links

Subject: Computing / Information Technology
Key Stage: Entry Level 1 (equivalent to bottom of Key Stage 1 / early KS2 alternative curriculum)
Related Program of Study:

• Computing: Understand what information technology is and how it can be used to help with tasks.
• Skills focus: Developing familiarity with IT in everyday contexts.
• Encourages communication and interaction skills supporting English (Speaking & Listening) and personal development.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify what IT is and recognise simple forms of IT used in task management (e.g., timers, calculators, tablets).
2. Understand how IT can support completing different tasks (e.g., writing, calculating, scheduling).
3. Express at least one advantage of using technology in a task compared to doing it without technology.

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Resources

• Visual cards/images showing different IT devices (tablet, calculator, digital timer, computer)
• Task cards depicting common tasks (shopping list, homework, cooking recipe, organising books)
• Large poster or whiteboard for mind-mapping
• Simple tablet or computer with accessibility options enabled (optional demo)
• Sticky notes and pens for student input

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter (5 minutes)

• Greeting and settle: Welcome students, briefly introduce the lesson title “Tech Task Intro.”
• Engage prior knowledge: Ask students, “What is technology?” and “What machines or devices do you use at home or school?”
• Use visual cards to confirm different everyday IT devices.

2. Input & Modelling (10 minutes)

• Show images of different IT devices and explain simply how each device helps do a task.
  • Example: Timer helps keep track of time when cooking or during activities.
• Use direct, clear language suitable for Entry Level 1 learners, supported with gestures and visuals.
• Model with a digital timer countdown – explain how it helps to finish a task on time.

3. Group Discussion & Interaction (10 minutes)

• Put up task cards and ask students to match them with the IT device that could support it (e.g., calculator + shopping list for budgeting).
• Encourage students to say why they think the IT device helps (simple prompts like “faster,” “easier,” “more fun”).
• Create a mind map on the board titled “How IT helps with tasks” capturing students’ ideas.

4. Individual/Paired Activity (10 minutes)

• Give each student or pair sticky notes and have them draw or write one task they do that could be helped by IT.
• Examples: "Doing homework on tablet," "Using stopwatch for sports," etc.
• Students place their sticky notes on the mind map board.

5. Plenary and Recap (5 minutes)

• Recap learning: ask each student to say one thing they learned about IT in tasks.
• Highlight one advantage of using IT (e.g., saves time, easier to do task).
• Praise contributions and posit a brief question for the next lesson teaser: “What tech will we learn about next to be ‘Tech Task Masters’?”

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observation of students’ ability to identify IT devices and match to tasks during group work.
• Verbal contributions during discussions and plenary.
• Review of sticky notes to check understanding of IT’s role.
• Informal questioning throughout, ensuring tailored support for any learner struggling with concepts.

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Differentiation / SEND Support

• Use of simple, concrete language and plenty of visual support.
• Provide one-to-one assistance for matching tasks if needed.
• Allow alternative communication modes: drawing, single words, gestures.
• Adjustable difficulty of tasks based on student ability (e.g., fewer task types or more scaffolding).
• Use assistive technology if appropriate and available (e.g., speech-to-text on a tablet).

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Extension Ideas (if time or for homework)

• Encourage students to spot and photograph IT devices used in their home or local environment and bring images or drawings to share next session.
• Create a simple class “Tech Task Diary” noting when and how technology helped during the week.

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Teacher Reflection Prompts

• Did students clearly link IT devices to real-life tasks?
• Were visual aids sufficient to support comprehension?
• How engaged were the students during discussion and practical activities?
• What adjustments are needed for future lessons to further boost understanding of IT’s role in task management?

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This lesson uses a multisensory, discussion-based approach with visual aids and real-world contexts to meet Entry Level 1 learners’ needs and aligns with England’s National Curriculum computing goal to develop fundamental IT awareness. The structure supports confidence and curiosity in technology use from the outset of the "Tech Task Mastery" unit.