tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59097685031157000722024-03-12T17:55:58.070-07:00Kids Can Code blogMy experiences of developing computer science concepts and using technology to support learning in primary classrooms - @b3ndavi3sAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00197287182177056710noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909768503115700072.post-78254850791097364352017-02-02T12:04:00.000-08:002017-02-02T12:09:21.760-08:00The Primary Computing Currciulum
Part 1 - The Challenge
Primary schools have had many challenges to overcome in the last few years one of which has been the implementation of a new subject when ICT was replaced by Computing. A subject which Britain's newspapers inaccurately inform us that requires all children to be coding from the age of 5: the term coding isn't mentioned once in the primary Computing curriculum.
Schools Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00197287182177056710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909768503115700072.post-63068996399130548752015-07-26T23:03:00.000-07:002015-07-26T23:03:50.460-07:00Using Lists with ScratchMy class have previously used lists in scratch to create adventure games where the player selects an appropriate item from his/her inventory to solve certain problems. This was nothing too complex: choosing between a banana, a key, a telescope and a piece of wood when faced with the problem of a locked door. Recently I have been looking at how lists can be used in a cross-curricular way and came Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00197287182177056710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909768503115700072.post-14554534109820032422015-06-28T08:02:00.000-07:002015-10-20T11:44:49.507-07:00Beats and BytesOn June 25th, I had the pleasure of hosting eleven local primary schools for an afternoon of live coding using Sonic Pi.
Before the session had taken place, I had run a cpd session to introduce the teachers to the software and show how the Key Stage 2 computer science concepts can be taught using it. After this session, teachers were armed with the subject knowledge and resources to Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00197287182177056710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909768503115700072.post-67373172471807830052015-06-26T13:41:00.000-07:002015-06-26T13:42:24.401-07:00Using Makey-Makey Boards with Scratch
When I first bought a makey-makey board, I saw it as a toy. However after letting my class play with it, I soon realised it had more educational value than it was letting on, providing a great tool for engagement and motivation.
My first use came while trying to extend some high achievers in ICT, as it was then, when using scratch. The children were already making games with an olympic theme (Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00197287182177056710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909768503115700072.post-30807974019490044602015-06-14T04:18:00.000-07:002015-06-14T12:14:28.920-07:00Introducing Selection with Guess Who
I have discussed how the board game guess who can be used to introduce the concepts of variables in a previous post, but it occurred to me recently that the whole structure of the game is underpinned by selection statements. Therefore it seemed like a perfect way to introduce the concept to children.
Every time a child asks a question in guess who, they are creating a selection statement Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00197287182177056710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909768503115700072.post-8868887992890511502015-03-08T10:36:00.001-07:002015-07-07T13:38:47.338-07:00Unplugged VariablesFor the last few years, when teaching variables to key stage 2 pupils, I've mainly focused on scoring systems, timers, lives etc in Scratch games and introduced the concept as a value that is changed. This sat well with children's scientific understanding of the word and was readily accepted.
When ICT evolved into Computing, and variables were mentioned explicitly in the key stage 2 program ofAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00197287182177056710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909768503115700072.post-3276075882863598472015-02-15T02:00:00.000-08:002015-02-15T09:47:36.293-08:00Go on bore them - A ReviewWhether you're a newly qualified teacher starting out on your career, an experienced classroom practitioner, or somewhere in between, you will find something to take away from Terry Freeman's digital publication Go On Bore Them.
The premise of the booklet is how teachers make ICT lessons excruciatingly dull and draws on the author's 30+ years experienced in education as a teacher, Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00197287182177056710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909768503115700072.post-17270956806925348812015-02-12T22:09:00.001-08:002015-02-25T12:09:14.946-08:00CAS CPD EventsThis term I will be running two CPD sessions on behalf of Computing at Schools.
The first course - Introducing Computer Science to the Primary Classroom (10/03/15) - explains the computer science concepts and terminology of the new computing curriculum and explores a range of engaging unplugged activities (non IT) that can be used to introduce such concepts to the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00197287182177056710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909768503115700072.post-15504541435353044892015-02-12T12:23:00.000-08:002015-02-12T12:27:27.088-08:00Earthquake watch on Google Earth
If you are teaching lessons on natural disasters, then using Google Earth, to show pupils recent seismic activities, is a powerful way to get across the idea that earthquakes of a low magnitude happen frequently.
To launch this, first open the Google Earth then open Earth Gallery.
Next select crisis from the explore menu and open the Earthquakes from the Last Week map, selecting viewAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00197287182177056710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909768503115700072.post-38254515806981493742015-02-07T22:41:00.000-08:002015-02-07T23:07:12.577-08:00Databases using Top Trumps<!--[if gte mso 9]>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00197287182177056710noreply@blogger.com0Manchester, Manchester53.479324 -2.248485tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909768503115700072.post-35820371846189808032014-10-30T09:12:00.002-07:002015-02-12T13:28:03.288-08:00Is it an Algorithm?
If the new primary computing curriculum has achieved anything, it is introducing the word algorithm into the vocabulary of most teachers. We now all know that algorithms are just a set of instructions to get something done and range from knitting patterns to recipes, from lego instructions to programs written in logo.
This term we have introduced the word algorithm to pupils EYFS. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00197287182177056710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909768503115700072.post-52243431292631762052014-10-30T03:00:00.001-07:002015-02-16T23:54:57.478-08:00Celebrity Spelling TestsI have been using the free iOS app photospeak for sometime, primarily as an alternative way of recording. For those who haven't used the app, photospeak allows you to record a voice over an animated face. This face can be one within the app or an imported image. In class we have created animations of Isaac Newton explaining why the Jenga tower collapsed, Winston Churchill persuading people to Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00197287182177056710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909768503115700072.post-48228119198011072862014-04-11T04:09:00.003-07:002014-04-23T15:04:50.033-07:00Programming with Thomas Trackmaster
Programming with Thomas Trackmaster
After spending a few hours the previous day developing a long term plan for the new computing curriculum, I started using my five year old as a guinea pig for many of the KS1 resources that had been suggested. He found the bee-bot app easy and a bit boring, loved light-bot and within 15 minutes was able to create and use simple procedures (he even Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00197287182177056710noreply@blogger.com1