Computing · Year 1 · Technology in Our Lives · Summer Term

Input and Output Devices

Students understand that they interact with technology by giving it instructions (input) and receiving a result (output) through various devices.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS1: Computing - Computer Systems
• KS1: Computing - Information Technology

About This Topic

Input and Output is a foundational concept in understanding how computer systems work. Year 1 students learn that we interact with technology by giving it instructions (Input) and then seeing, hearing, or feeling a result (Output). In the UK National Curriculum, this helps pupils understand the 'Computer Systems' strand. Whether it's pressing a button to make a toy move or tapping a screen to play a sound, the relationship between action and reaction is key.

This topic helps children move from being passive users of technology to understanding the mechanics of interaction. It sets the stage for later learning about sensors and more complex systems. Students grasp this concept faster through hands-on modeling where they can 'be' the inputs and outputs in a human-scale simulation of a computer.

Key Questions

1. How can you give instructions to a tablet or computer?
2. How does a computer show you its answer , can you think of different ways?
3. Why do you think different machines have different buttons or screens?

Learning Objectives

• Identify at least three different input devices and explain their function.
• Identify at least three different output devices and explain their function.
• Classify common electronic devices based on their primary input and output methods.
• Demonstrate how a specific input leads to a specific output on a given device.

Before You Start

Basic Digital Literacy

Why: Students need familiarity with common electronic devices to understand the context of input and output.

Key Vocabulary

Input Device	A piece of hardware that sends data or instructions into a computer or electronic device. This is how we tell a device what to do.
Output Device	A piece of hardware that receives data from a computer or electronic device and presents it to the user. This is how a device shows us its answer or result.
Touchscreen	A screen that can detect touch, allowing users to interact directly with the device by tapping or swiping.
Button	A physical switch on a device that is pressed to send an input signal, often to perform a specific action.
Speaker	An output device that produces sound, allowing the device to communicate audio information to the user.
Screen/Display	An output device that shows visual information, such as text, images, or videos, to the user.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The screen is an input because I touch it.

What to Teach Instead

This is a tricky one! Explain that on a tablet, the screen is both. It 'feels' your touch (input) and 'shows' you the picture (output). Using a separate mouse and monitor can help clarify the difference first.

Common Misconception

Input and Output happen at the same time.

What to Teach Instead

While it seems instant, there is always a sequence. A 'Human Computer' relay race shows that the input must happen first before the output can occur.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The Human Computer

One student is the 'Input' (pokes a shoulder), one is the 'Processor' (claps), and one is the 'Output' (jumps). They practice different 'programs' to see how an input always leads to a specific output.

15 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: Input/Output Hunters

Pairs look at different devices (a keyboard, a speaker, a mouse, a screen). They must sort them into two hoops: 'Things we give information to' and 'Things that give information to us'.

20 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Mystery Machine

The teacher describes an output (e.g., 'It makes a loud beeping sound and shows numbers'). Students must guess the machine (a microwave) and identify what the 'input' was (pressing the time buttons).

15 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Video game designers use input devices like controllers and microphones to create interactive experiences, and output devices like screens and headphones to deliver the game's visuals and sounds to players.
• Librarians use barcode scanners (input) to check books in and out, and computer screens (output) to display book information and manage records.
• A chef might use a tablet with a touchscreen (input) to view a recipe, and the tablet's screen (output) displays the ingredients and steps.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Hold up various common objects like a mouse, keyboard, speaker, or tablet. Ask students to give a thumbs up if it's an input device and a thumbs down if it's an output device. Follow up by asking 'How do you know?' for a few examples.

Exit Ticket

Give each student a small card. Ask them to draw one input device on one side and one output device on the other. For each drawing, they should write one word describing what it does (e.g., 'type', 'see', 'hear', 'click').

Discussion Prompt

Gather students around a familiar device, like a tablet or a simple toy robot. Ask: 'What button or screen area do you touch to make it do something?' (Input). Then ask, 'What does it do or show you when you touch it?' (Output). Discuss why different buttons or screens might exist on different devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some simple examples of 'Input' for Year 1?

Buttons, switches, keyboards, mice, microphones, and touchscreens. Even a sensor that 'sees' you walk past a door is an input!

How can active learning help teach Input and Output?

Using 'Human Computer' role plays allows students to physically embody the flow of data. When a student has to wait for the 'Input' student to trigger them, they understand the causal relationship. This physical movement makes the abstract 'flow of information' visible and easy to discuss.

Is a battery an input?

No, a battery is a power source. An input is something that carries a 'message' or instruction. This is a good distinction to make during a 'Tech Safari'.

How does this link to Science?

It links to 'Senses'. Just as our eyes and ears are inputs for our brains, sensors and buttons are inputs for computers. Our voices and movements are our outputs!