I have a long history in teaching Computer Science at secondary level. Most of my resources are related to the Edexcel syllabus, but in CS computing is computing, and it is all much the same!. I like to teach programming in a way that the kids will really 'get' using things relevant in their lives, like Beyonce, and Adidas!
I have a long history in teaching Computer Science at secondary level. Most of my resources are related to the Edexcel syllabus, but in CS computing is computing, and it is all much the same!. I like to teach programming in a way that the kids will really 'get' using things relevant in their lives, like Beyonce, and Adidas!
This resource explains the concept of debugging, and the types of errors that can occur. It has an accompanying worksheet and Scratch files to debug and write about. There are assessment questions at the end. This has been very engaging, and has been observed twice as an outstanding lesson.
Here are six starters, or plenaries for embedding computational thinking, searching and sorting algorithms. There is one for each lesson in a half term of work. They are printable. More suited to key stages 3 and 4. Good also for drumming in the key terms for revision as a whole lesson.
This contains a starter where students are asked to ponder what makes an animated card interesting. The scripts are then given for learners to create a fully animated e-card. It includes moving snow, decorations that find their way to the tree, a star coming from the sky and landing on the tree. Baubles that flash, and a merry Christmas sign that lights up. Some features start automatically and others are interactive. This can be used from around age 7 right up to year 11! Everyone loves a Christmas theme! The lesson ends with a bronze, silver gold worksheet which allows differentiation from a cloze key word task, to considering real life uses, and ends with Blooms evaluative task for more able learners. There is also a homework / extended learning task available. Two learning walks have been rated outstanding with this lesson.
This lesson, with learning objective and bronze, silver, gold outcomes introduces lists in Python. It uses ideas that they are familiar with, to teach the concept before the coding. Several examples are given, including populated lists, empty lists, and lists which can be appended with inputs. My learners were very engaged with the bronze silver and gold tasks, and all wanted to get researching to complete gold! None of the lesson expects prior Python knowledge other than opening it, and using print("this"). There is an extended learning task on the lesson too.
There are enough here to attach to a whole harm term of work (7 activities with solutions). The activities can either be used as a warm up starter, a recall to retain, or a plenary to check understanding. The activities are all different, and have things like spot the errors, true false, cloze sentences, amongst other things. Very engaging, and they bring real life situations to what can be quite a dry subject. I hope your learners are enthused with these activities as mine have been.
From absolute beginner. These could be used as solutions (given as problems to solve). Or used to copy code and annotate. Or even 'broken' and used as debugging tasks. The scripts all have a Christmas theme to keep learners engaged for the run up to Christmas. The skills / constructs included are:
Using strings
If, then else
Tuples
Import time
Import webbrowser
Maths
Append to list
Sub routines
While loops
For loops
Sorting
Concatenation
Casting
You will use this invaluable resource with different scenarios over and over again! Enjoy - and merry Christmas to you!
I have created this resource to take the child through adding a sprite, a stage, colour change, music loops, speech, and movement. The theme is crazy monsters, as they are in the disco, you will see the delight when they can have a highly interactive monster change colour and play music loops. There is very little text on the screen, designed for the very young, or those who have English as a second language. They just follow the circles on each slide to add to the coding. There are 36 slides, with a certificate for the basics, then extension work for faster learners. You won't be sorry you bought this idea and activity as you see their engagement and delight.
Part of the follow me range, designed for younger learners, non-readers, or EAL pupils. The learners are able to follow the circles on a slide show to code a lady dancing to a guitar. Skills built in this:
adding stage
adding and editing sprites
changing costumes
adding music changing beats to suit
using a forever loop
using delays
There are two certificates to be gained in this very engaging lesson(s) This resource could be used by an independent learner, or by a teacher going through the slide in turn. It's real strength though is with non specialists, helping those who are unable, or unwilling to read. The lesson is very visual, and the audio also makes it engaging.
An engaging resources which allows the learners to find errors marked with hashtags. The slides include the broken code (fixed code is on the teacher slides, separate and can also be received via email). Even if you choose not to use this for debugging exercises, it is useful for programming ideas for beginners to copy. After each script the learners are encouraged to state initial tests, actual tests, in preparation for GCSE NEA work. My learners raced up the stairs to start on these tasks, very enthusiastically. The topics include maths, strings, lists, tuples, concatenation, for loops, sub routines and appending to lists. The scripts can also be used as base scripts for other ideas. At the end of the half term of work, there is a challenge project, worded like a very watered down GCSE project. Enjoy!
More than 70 pages of revision notes. The whole Edexcel course broken down in note form. There is a contents page for easy access too. Special offer for the exam this week!
These cover reading and writing to files. They have LOs, homework, and tasks set. There are two CSV files to be used in the lessons for reading and writing. Both lessons were graded outstanding with different staff members delivering them.
Follows lessons on decomposition, and abstraction, this lesson shows how the decomposed, abstracted ideas fit back together with an algorithm. There is opportunity to practice creating algorithms in group work. Then at the end, learners are able to practice all three cornerstones of decomposing, abstracting, and creating a main and sub routines. Learning objectives, tasks, and home learning are all included.
Another DOUBLE lesson for the Scratch DJ script. Complete with learning objectives, outcomes, plenary and homework. This presentation gives the codes and shows the learners how to make the disco lights flash. Then they can create a changing stage and create a story animation.
This is a PowerPoint (left without images) which takes the learner through what they need to know for the exam paper. The exam paper is made up entirely of questions from past papers, and only on topic 4.
This is a week's work, and cover all of the topics in Edexcel GCSE ICT. There are past papers, with mark scheme, results plus, and examiner reports, with just the questions on that particular topic. These are accompanied by a pre-test revision PowerPoint, and a whistle stop tour of the topics. Each one contains a link to a Kahoot to add some fun into the lessons. The topics are:
Connectivity
Digital Devices
Issues
Social networking
Online services
Operating online
Everything you need for revision from now until the exam.