ABSTRACT
The introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) teachers and teacher trainees, who need to develop new skills in Computing, in order to meet the requirements of the new Programmes of Study. While much of the material in the new Programmes of Study is built on established skills in ICT and digital literacy, there are many new elements to be learnt by classroom teachers and teacher trainees. One of the suggestions made by the Secretary of State was to use Scratch, a visual programming language, also called a "block-coding" program. Stories, originally created using the more familiar PowerPoint, and now redeveloped using Scratch, could be illustrated by pupils; they could be animated, and voice-over sound files could also be added, either in English or in a second language.
