The Education Team are delighted to introduce you to a series of training sessions focused on the new primary Computing Curriculum.
Have you felt that feeling of exhilaration when you’ve written some code that actually works? Have you seen the joy on a struggling pupil’s face when it all clicks?
Don’t worry if you haven’t. You soon will.
Our team offers a range of primary-focused workshops to suit all levels of confidence:
If you find programming in the new curriculum daunting, this tried and tested approach will definitely help you overcome your fears!
We’ll be looking at simpler alternatives to Scratch that really help adults and pupils engage with programming, including Blockly and the Hour of Code resources. Then we will carefully wade into the safer areas of Scratch with some simple ideas that are easily to deliver but allow pupils to explore constructively.
Facilitated by our Primary CAS Master Teacher
As pupils progress and expect more from lessons, they start to need new challenges, and Scratch software can begin to feel tired after a few years. This course is designed to share a few tricks and tips that make Scratch fun again, including creating an interactive webcam background, and also look at a few different ways that we can use scratch to create games that can be saved and played by anyone!
Facilitated by our Primary CAS Master Teacher
This briefing will explore the new Computing Curriculum and introduce new resources to support schools in developing staff confidence to help them get to grips with the changes. It will include:
Introduction to the new computing curriculum
Computational Thinking concepts and approaches – how can computational thinking be integrated into the everyday primary curriculum through ‘unplugged’ activities?
Computer Science concepts and approaches – what are the key foundations of computer science and how do I get started and progress with programming?
Planning for and leading CPD in your school
Barefoot Computing Project resources
QuickStart Computing resources
Digital Literacy Curriculum
Staff will leave this session equipped with a range of free resources to support and guide them in the new computing curriculum, and hopefully feeling as enthused and excited about computing as the students!
We will tailor this session to suit the requirements of the school, whether this be with a primary or secondary focus, or specifically for SEN staff.
Facilitated by Julia Adamson, Education Manager and Sophie Brown, Education Coordinator
Whether it’s the BBC micro:bit you’d like some help with, or understanding how the features of Office 365 could benefit teaching and learning, we have the man with the expertise.
We are happy to tailor this session to meet your school's requirements, just let us know what you're looking for.
Facilitated by Stuart Ball, Microsoft Programme Manager for Education
With Computing now on the curriculum, Primary teachers are now expected to teach using coding software such as Scratch…cue panicked faces.
The positives - Scratch is a fantastic tool, pupils love it and it provides a great platform to start exploring the power of coding and express creativity.
The negatives – many teachers have never coded themselves, let alone taught coding, and are not confident using programs such as Scratch.
This one-day course is targeted at those teachers above, those who are feeling apprehensive about using Scratch, and are unsure how use of the tool can be integrated into their existing lessons.
Working through a series of examples, by the end you will have built a number of programs (starting simple!), planned your own lessons using Scratch and developed the skill to analyse and debug your pupils’ programs. We will explore animations, quizzes and games during the day.
This course is more than just a point and click lesson on Scratch, it’s about thinking how programming can fit in with topics you’re already teaching; how to effectively designing programs on paper first using computational thinking, and only then build and debug these designs in Scratch. Every program must starts with an algorithm!
At the end of the session you will be provided with materials to take back to the classroom:
Feedback from previous sessions: "What a fantastic day. Thank you so much. I feel my confidence in Scratch has done a complete 360 degree spin. I am now full of ideas to take back to school."
A guide to integrating Computing into the Primary curriculum – examples of how Computer Science, Digital Literacy and IT can be taught through 9 primary themes e.g traditional tales, celebrations, space, keeping fit & healthy
Building blocks for coding in Scratch – this guide will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to develop bespoke projects in Scratch matching the interests of your pupils
A collection of Scratch projects for use in the classroom
"SO helpful - it will really impact on our school and Teaching & Learning!"
Our next date for this course is the 21st September at Exeter Golf & Country Club. Contact Sophie to book your place.
Facilitated by Martin Coath and Sophie Brown
This full day course is packed with practical ideas on teaching the physical computing requirement of the National Curriculum.
Throughout the day delegates will build robotic instruments, scribble bots and more, as we explore the subject knowledge and teaching approaches underpinning outstanding key stage 2 computing. Delegates will take away a Crumble robotics kit and a series of lesson plans from the day, as well as a computing assessment framework for both key stages 1 and 2.
Develop understanding of National Curriculum requirements for key stage 2 physical computing
Develop subject knowledge and explore teaching approaches for physical computing
Gain hands-on experience of creative physical computing projects for key stage 2
Explore assessment requirements and frameworks for computing.
Facilitated by Jon Chippindall, CAS Master Teacher
This one day course starts at the beginning with the BBC microbit. It is designed for 'non-computing' experts who are looking to develop physical computing in a creative and integrated way. The course will cover the basics and develop to show how to integrate micro:bit into project across the curriculum. This course is suitable for KS2 and KS3 teachers. Course delegates will take away their own micro:bit.
This one day course explores how to use and develop computing across the curriculum using the free resource from Microsoft Research Kodu.
Kodu is a free games creation application, that run on Windows devices. It allow students to create Xbox quality games in a simple and visual way. Kodu is ideal for students of all abilities. This course will cover how to get started with Kodu , develop activities ranging from simple to complex. Discover how integrate computing into curriculum areas such as art , geography, science and business enterprise. The course will also cover how to develop physical computing with the micro:bit and makey makey.
This course is suitable for KS2 and KS3 teachers.
This one day course explores how to use Office 365 in the classroom. It will focus on OneNote and OneNote Class Notebook Creator. Discover to develop collaborative and flipped learning approaches with this free resource from Microsoft.
For further information, or to enquire about booking one of our courses, please contact Sophie Brown, our friendly Education Coordindator, at firstname.lastname@example.org or on 0845 601 3203.
This one day course explores how to use the Microsoft's 21st Century Learning Design Course that allows teachers to design, create and evaluate lessons that incorporate effectively the following skills:
Real world problem solving
Use of ICT for Learning
This course is applicable to all teachers regardless of technology used, experience, key stage and setting. Learn how to implement this course on return to your education setting for all staff.