Ideas for teaching Primary (Year 3) data according to the new Australia Curriculum guidelines. What can you teach? How can you teach different data types, recording methods and file transfer?

1. Data: Australian Curriculum
Teaching Ideas
By Joanne Villis

2. AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM
Digital Technologies Years 3
Content Descriptor: Explore and use a range of digital systems with
peripheral devices for different purposes, and transmit different types of data
(ACTDIK007)
Aims for students:
Students experiment with different types of digital systems (iPads, desktop
computers, interactive whiteboards, USB) to capture and present work.
Students learn how to transfer data from one device to another (ie iPad to
computer or desktop computer to a USB).
Students recognise that documents, images, sounds and video are all forms of
data which can be stored and viewed.

3. Teaching ideas
Teaching idea 1: Linked with English and Religion
Use a flip camera or video camera to record students
performing Reader’s Theatre. Students are then able to
view their performance for self assessment purposes.
Record students a second time so that they could see if
there were any improvements in their performances.
When recording discuss how to keep the camera still (ie
tripod or a steady hand), the need for enough lighting and
for the audience to remain quiet.

4. Teaching ideas
The next stage is to let students record their own videos. At the
time of writing this Power Point, my students were learning
about Reconciliation during Religion (ie doing something wrong
and then asking for forgiveness). Students created role plays
and then one member of the group recorded the act. This idea
can be linked to any curriculum area which requires students
acting or being filmed.
Students used an iPad for recording their videos. Discuss how it
is important to keep the iPad steady. In addition, students may
discover that not only do the actors need to speak in a strong,
clear voice but the recorder needs to be close enough so that
the device can pick up the sound.

5. Teaching ideas
Teaching idea 2: Linked with Drama and Music
Download a free app called Video Star and use it to record
students’ performances. Video Star can be downloaded from:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/video-star/id438596432?mt=8
This app also allows students to edit their video by including
texts, images and sound.

6. Teaching ideas
Teaching idea 3: Transferring data from one
device to another
Demonstrate how to copy video files from an iPad to a computer using a
USB cable. Then place the video files on a central location for students to
access . As a class, look at the file type extensions. Students will notice that
there are differences.The file type extension for a video file we used was
.MOV (from an iPad) and .MP4 (from a video camera). Students were
familiar with a .docx (word file) , .JPG (image) , .PNG (image) and .xlsx
(Xcel). Throughout the year continue to refer to the different file extensions.
Students should be able to identify and name each file type from the file
type extension.
Ideally I recommend that you show students how to use Drop Box or
Google Drive to transfer data. I couldn’t as we don’t have internet access
on our iPads! This also requires parental permission if students are under
the age of 13. I don’t encourage USBs but for various reasons I needed to
teach students how to copy files to their USB. A preferred method of
transferring files is to teach students how to email themselves an
attachment, download and access from a different location (this is currently
our main method).

7. AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM
Digital Technologies Years 3
Content descriptor: Recognise different types of
data and explore how the same data can be
represented in different ways (ACTDIK008)
Aims for students: (ACTDIK008)
Recognises representations of sound files as
waves

8. Teaching ideas
Teaching idea 1: Linked with Science
Use a free iPad app called Garage Band.

9. Teaching ideas
When I used Garage Band I was working with only a few
iPads in my class. We were learning a unit about the
Earth, moon and Sun for Science. Each student was
asked to write one fun fact to record. Students then line
up and each student takes it in turns to read their fun
fact. As a class add additional sound features (ie music to
enhance the mood).
Teachers may also choose to give students iPads in
groups to experiment with recording and viewing sound
files using Garage Band during shared reading activities.

10. Teaching ideas
If you don’t have iPads you can use a free program called Audacity.

11. Teaching ideas
Both Garage Band or Audacity will allow students to
explore sound files as they can view them visually ( wave
forms) . Ask leading questions such as:
I wonder how the tone of your voice effects what the
sound looks like.
I wonder if the loudness of your voice effects what the
sound looks like?
I wonder what a quite and loud sound looks like? Is there
any difference?

12. Teaching ideas
If students don’t have access to iPads and are using
Audacity, students who are working with Windows 8 can
capture sound wave files using the insert screen
shot/screen clipping function.
Students who are working with an earlier program can
use the snipping tool (all programs, accessories, snipping
tool, save as .JPG and insert into a document).

13. AUSTRALIAN CURRICIULUM
Digital Technologies Years 3
Content Descriptor: Collect, access and present different types
of data using simple software to create information and solve
problems (ACTDIP009)
Aims for students:
Students use Excel and Word Chart to enter data and generate
graphs.
Students improving the appearance and usability of video and
image data by using colour and headings.
Students create and label files to store different data types.

14. Teaching ideas
Teaching idea 1: Linked to Math
During a data and graphing unit in Math, include activities which
require students to use Xcel to enter data and generate graphs.
You can also use the insert ‘word charts’ function in Microsoft
Word for students to enter data and generate graphs. Ask
students to compare the two methods and evaluate which
method is easier or harder and which method is their preference.
Here is a link to my Math unit which integrates Xcel and Word
Charts:
http://www.slideshare.net/j_villis/ideas-for-teaching-chance-
data-and-interpretation-of-data

15. Teaching ideas
Teaching idea 2: Movie Maker
Movie Maker can be linked with any curriculum area which
involves role playing. Before students begin to access data
(movies, images, audio), they need to be shown how to create
and name a folder. I recommend that students name their folders
via (subject) followed by Project. Discuss the importance of clearly
naming files so that they are easy to find.
Then, show students how to use Purple Planet which is a Royalty
Free Audio website http://www.purple-planet.com/ . When an
audio file is downloaded take note of the file extension. It is .mp3.

16. Teaching ideas
Continue to refer to the different file extensions. Students should
be able to identify and name each file type from the file type
extension.
Encourage students to keep all of their files which are related to
the one project in a project folder. For example, students need to
copy and paste their video, audio and images that they want to
edit into the one folder.
Make sure that students have all of their data (video, sound,
images) located in a project folder. Then open Movie Maker.

17. Teaching ideas
1. Select add videos and photos. Upload data.
2. Encourage students to explore visual effects.

18. Teaching ideas
3. Click add title.
4. Edit the title.

19. Teaching ideas
5. Add music.
6. Add credits.
7. Save project as (name it). It is important that students save
their working Movie Maker document inside their project file. This
document can be opened and edited.
8. When students have finished editing their movie they need to
select save file, save movie for computer. This will create a final
movie which cannot be edited. The file extension is .MOV .

20. Additional resources &
Copyright
• If you like this resources you can find other units of
work which I have written at
http://technologiesjvillis.weebly.com/ . In addition,
here is a link to my blog
http://technologiesjvillis.weebly.com/ .
• I give permission for the following: Adaptations
and sharing of this resources is for educational
purpose only. I do not give permission for
commercial use of this work. When sharing or
adapting this work I ask that you give credit to the
original creator, Joanne Villis at
http://intertecheducation.edublogs.org/