Vector graphics are computer graphics images that are defined in terms of points connected by lines and curves to form polygons and other shapes. (wikipedia) Inkscape is free, professional quality, vector graphics software. Note, for Inkscape v0.91 go to this project. Computing is about so much more than just programming, and Inkscape is a great way to introduce students to vector graphics. Although those with an artistic flair will particularly love this series of lessons, they were extremely popular with ALL students. The course comprises 7 one-hour lessons, using a stimulating PowerPoint presentation to introduce each lesson, and includes worksheets to accompany the lessons, and a Kahoot! quiz. Digital Images and a first look at Inkscape Exploring Inkscape v1.3x features and the Node Editor Projects (3 lessons): Penguin, Pac-man baddie, Elephant, Turkey Free exploration Kahoot quiz and Self assessment Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, and a BIG BIG thanks for looking (as a full time practising teacher, I KNOW how time consuming this process can be). ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested” - before I publish, my lessons are tested by both myself and colleagues, rigorously evaluated and discussed, and continually updated to maximise their effectiveness. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so do please provide constructive feedback.

Machine Learning and AI are terms we all hear a lot about every day. They affect our lives profoundly and yet, we know so little about either. Producing this presentation in what I hope is an easy to understand form, was hugely challenging and immensely rewarding, and I hope it can benefit you and your students. We all need at least a basic understanding of what is happening in the world of AI. This lesson for absolute beginners looks at what is intelligence (easy start!!) what is machine learning how AI is related to machine learning the ethical concerns of bias The lesson comprises: a fully animated PowerPoint with explanatory slides inspiring embedded videos (if you need to extract, click here) Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, and a BIG BIG thanks for looking (as a full time practising teacher, I KNOW how time consuming this process can be). ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested” - before I publish, my lessons are tested by both myself and colleagues, rigorously evaluated and discussed, and continually updated to maximise their effectiveness. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so do please provide constructive feedback.

Flowol 4 allows students of all ages to develop logical reasoning and problem solving talents, develop programming skills and explore the world of automatic, autonomous systems and robots. This series of 3 one-hour lessons for absolute beginners looks at what is control technology using Flowol to control simple mimics using Flowol to control mimics with decisions and numerical inputs Each lesson comprises: a fully animated PowerPoint with explanatory slides inspiring embedded videos worksheets and self-evaluation files Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, and a BIG BIG thanks for looking (as a full time practising teacher, I KNOW how time consuming this process can be). ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested” - before I publish, my lessons are tested by both myself and colleagues, rigorously evaluated and discussed, and continually updated to maximise their effectiveness. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so do please provide constructive feedback.

Paint .NET is image and photo editing software that features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools. My view…in the era of digital photography, every photo taken should be seen as a “draft” to be edited (or deleted!). These 3 lessons for absolute beginners look at what is paint .net and photo editing selecting and cropping colouring and recolouring image effects image adjustments correcting image exposure using curves and levels The lessons comprise: a fully animated PowerPoint with explanatory slides and tasks images files to match the tasks Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, and a BIG BIG thanks for looking (as a full time practising teacher, I KNOW how time consuming this process can be). ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested” - before I publish, my lessons are tested by both myself and colleagues, rigorously evaluated and discussed, and continually updated to maximise their effectiveness. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so do please provide constructive feedback.

The Internet (or internet) is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. The World Wide Web, commonly known as the Web, is an information system where documents and other web resources are identified by Uniform Resource Locators, which may be interlinked by hyperlinks, and are accessible over the Internet. (wikipedia definitions) This is a series of 60 minute lessons that will give students (and often, teachers) a much greater understanding of what the internet is, how it works, what the World Wide Web is (no, it is not the internet) and creating web pages using HTML. Each lesson comprises: 1 a fully animated PowerPoint with explanatory slides 2 loads of embedded videos (can be extracted if required) 3 worksheets and self-evaluation files plus a Kahoot! Quiz The lesson objectives are: understand what the Internet is understand how the Internet works understand what the World Wide Web is understand web pages and HTML In addition, there are a series of lessons that look at what a web page is, how HTML works, and creating a web page using HTML ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested” - before I publish, my lessons are tested by both myself and colleagues, rigorously evaluated and discussed, and continually updated to maximise their effectiveness. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so do please provide constructive feedback.

“Social media is a computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of >ideas, thoughts, and information through the building of virtual networks and >communities.” (dictionary definition) Social media is everywhere… it is certainly of our time. Students spend hours on it and that is not likely to diminish, so these lessons try to promote and encourage the safe use of social media. This series of 5, 45 min to 1 hour, lessons looks at what social media is privacy and profiles friends, posts and digital footprints influencers safety on line Each lesson comprises: a fully animated PowerPoint with explanatory slides loads of embedded videos (can be extracted if necessary) worksheets and self-evaluation documents Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, and a BIG BIG thanks for looking (as a full time practising teacher, I KNOW how time consuming this process can be). ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested” - before I publish, my lessons are tested by both myself and colleagues, rigorously evaluated and discussed, and continually updated to maximise their effectiveness. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so do please provide constructive feedback. Teacher/Author: Barrie James Search words: computer social media facebook twitter pinterest youtube tiktok instagram snapchat post profile privacy friends

I introduce students to programming through Scratch, and then extend this into the world of coding through Python. The lessons use Trinket as a simple interface for entering and running Python 2 and Python 3 code - no downloads required. This series of 4 one-hour lessons for absolute beginners looks at what is Python using strings and performing maths operations functions, variables, loops and comparative operators creating a Magic 8 Ball game in Python using user input adapting the game to SenseHat in Trinket Each lesson comprises: a fully animated PowerPoint with explanatory slides embedded videos worksheets and self-evaluation files Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, and a BIG BIG thanks for looking (as a full time practising teacher, I KNOW how time consuming this process can be). ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested” - before I publish, my lessons are tested by both myself and colleagues, rigorously evaluated and discussed, and continually updated to maximise their effectiveness. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so do please provide constructive feedback. Teacher/Author: Barrie James Search words: computer coding programming Babbage Lovelace function loop variable

Computers did not just drop out of the sky - real people came up with the ideas and created what we have today! The series of 3 lessons tries to make these pioneers real, and focuses on people such as Leibniz, Jacquard, Babbage, Ada Lovelace, Alan Turing, Tim Berners-Lee, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Page and Brin, Jeff Bezos, and more… They cover topics such as binary numbers, early computers, the internet, the World Wide Web, Apple, Microsoft, Quantum computers, Amazon, Ebay, Google, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok Each lesson comprises: a fully animated PowerPoint loads of embedded videos (can be extracted if required) fun worksheets Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, and a BIG BIG thanks for looking (as a full time practising teacher, I KNOW how time consuming this process can be). ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested” - before I publish, my lessons are tested by both myself and colleagues, rigorously evaluated and discussed, and continually updated to maximise their effectiveness. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so do please provide constructive feedback. Teacher/Author: Barrie James Search words: computer pioneer history Leibniz Jacquard Babbage Ada Lovelace Alan Turing Tim Berners-Lee Steve Jobs Bill Gates Page Brin Jeff Bezos google amazon apple microsoft internet world wide web www

Click here for a full listing of all my Scratch Projects In this project, students create a toy bear, using sprites to simulate “touch pads” -making the bear smile, blink, change colour, etc. Enhancements include using the keyboard instead of sprites, and adding sound. There are many sites offering Scratch Projects. However, many tend to be like recipes - students almost mechanically enter code and create “delicious cakes”, without learning a lot about Scratch. My goal is to get students to create a fun project, and at the same time learn how the instructions work and fit together. I use the following approach: - break the project into manageable chunks - present “pseudo-code” for each chunk - provide the Scratch commands to implement the pseudo-code, but jumbled up In this way, students learn about pseudo-code (an important part of coding), and have to understand the Scratch instructions in order to sequence them correctly to match the pseudo-code. The lessons comprise: 1. a PowerPoint with instructions 2. a Word document with the instruction slides printed 2 to a page as a handout 3. accompanying Scratch files for teachers that match each stage of the project ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested”, and continually updated. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so please provide constructive feedback.

Click here for a full listing of all my Scratch Projects In this project, students create a question and answer quiz using different backdrops for each question. There are many sites offering Scratch Projects. However, many tend to be like recipes - students almost mechanically enter code and create “delicious cakes”, without learning a lot about Scratch. My goal is to get students to create a fun project, and at the same time learn how the instructions work and fit together. I use the following approach: - break the project into manageable chunks - present “pseudo-code” for each chunk - provide the Scratch commands to implement the pseudo-code, but jumbled up In this way, students learn about pseudo-code (an important part of coding), and have to understand the Scratch instructions in order to sequence them correctly to match the pseudo-code. The lessons comprise: 1. a PowerPoint with instructions 2. a Word document with the instruction slides printed 2 to a page as a handout 3. accompanying Scratch files for teachers that match each stage of the project ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested”, and continually updated. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so please provide constructive feedback.

“The low-level software that supports a computer’s basic functions, such as scheduling tasks and controlling peripherals.” (dictionary definition) So, what is an Operating System - our computers, tablets, smartphones, etc all need one, but what do they actually do? Most adults have no idea! The course is delivered in 4 x 60-minute lessons, using stimulating, animated PowerPoint presentations with painstakingly selected, embedded videos, and includes worksheets to accompany the lessons and a Kahoot quiz. This series, for absolute beginners, looks at how computers worked before the Operating System the role of the Operating System managing things and user interfaces examples of Operating Systems Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, and a BIG BIG thanks for looking (as a full time practising teacher, I KNOW how time consuming this process can be). ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested” - before I publish, my lessons are tested by both myself and colleagues, rigorously evaluated and discussed, and continually updated to maximise their effectiveness. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so do please provide constructive feedback. Teacher/Author: Barrie James

Embedding videos in a PowerPoint presentation is a really useful feature, but if you are using an older computer to display the slideshow, or an external monitor, the video playback may flicker. The simplest solution to this is to save the video as an mp4 file, and then play back with whatever video player you normally use outside of PowerPoint.

This is Part 2 only. This complete topic comprises 7 by 1-hour lessons, broken down into two parts Part 1 - The fascinating History of Numbers tally marks, Sumerians & Babylonians Egyptians and Romans Mayans and Hindu Part 2 - Binary numbers the binary number system - how it evolved and how it works how computers use binary numbers, looking at text and images Each lesson comprises: a fully animated PowerPoint with explanatory slides loads of embedded videos (to extract, click here) worksheets and self-evaluation documents I have used it very successfully with students in years 5 through to 7 (with slight modifications), and all have absolutely loved the topic. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, and a BIG BIG thanks for looking (as a full time practising teacher, I KNOW how time consuming this process can be). ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested” - before I publish, my lessons are tested by both myself and colleagues, rigorously evaluated and discussed, and continually updated to maximise their effectiveness. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so do please provide constructive feedback. Teacher/Author: Barrie James Search words: numbers, binary, ascii, bitmap, transistor, computer, programming, coding, algorithm, digital, image

This is Part 1 only. This complete topic comprises 7 by 1-hour lessons, broken down into two parts Part 1 - The fascinating History of Numbers tally marks, Sumerians & Babylonians Egyptians and Romans Mayans and Hindu Part 2 - Binary numbers the binary number system - how it evolved and how it works how computers use binary numbers, looking at text and images Each lesson comprises: a fully animated PowerPoint with explanatory slides loads of embedded videos (to extract, click here) worksheets and self-evaluation documents I have used it very successfully with students in years 5 through to 7 (with slight modifications), and all have absolutely loved the topic. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, and a BIG BIG thanks for looking (as a full time practising teacher, I KNOW how time consuming this process can be). ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested” - before I publish, my lessons are tested by both myself and colleagues, rigorously evaluated and discussed, and continually updated to maximise their effectiveness. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so do please provide constructive feedback. Teacher/Author: Barrie James Search words: numbers, binary, ascii, bitmap, transistor, computer, programming, coding, algorithm, digital, image

** Updated for Scratch version 3.** Click here for a full listing of all my Scratch Projects In this project, based on Flappy Birds, the player has to navigate an octopus through waves of hungry sharks. There are so many really great sites offering Scratch Project ideas. However, many tend to be like recipes - follow the instructions and you’ll create a cake. The problem I find is that the students almost mechanically enter code and create “delicious cakes”, but without learning an awful lot about Scratch. My goal is to get students to create a fun project, whilst at the same time learn how the instructions work and fit together. To this end, I use the following approach: break the project down into manageable chunks present students with an algorithm for each chunk provide students with the instructions for each algorithm, but jumbled up In this way, students learn about algorithms (a VERY important part of coding), and have to understand the instructions in order to sequence them to correctly match the algorithm. The lessons comprise: a PowerPoint with introductory slides, together with the project instructions a Word document with the PowerPoint instruction slides printed 2 to a page as a handout for students to follow accompanying fully-working Scratch project files for teachers that match each chunk of the project Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, and a BIG BIG thanks for looking (as a full time practicing teacher, I KNOW how time consuming this process can be). ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested” - before I publish, my lessons are tested by both myself and colleagues, rigorously evaluated and discussed, and continually updated to maximise their effectiveness. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so do please provide constructive feedback. Teacher/Author: Barrie James Search words: scratch, computer, programming, coding, algorithm

** Updated for Scratch version 3.** Click here for a full listing of all my Scratch Projects In this project, students use the mouse to move a target across the screen to shoot ghosts. The coding makes it easy to add any number of ghosts, varying their size and speed, There are so many really great sites offering Scratch Project ideas. However, many tend to be like recipes - follow the instructions and you’ll create a cake. The problem I find is that the students almost mechanically enter code and create “delicious cakes”, but without learning an awful lot about Scratch. My goal is to get students to create a fun project, whilst at the same time learn how the instructions work and fit together. To this end, I use the following approach: break the project down into manageable chunks present students with an algorithm for each chunk provide students with the instructions for each algorithm, but jumbled up In this way, students learn about algorithms (a VERY important part of coding), and have to understand the instructions in order to sequence them to correctly match the algorithm. The lessons comprise: a PowerPoint with introductory slides, together with the project instructions a Word document with the PowerPoint instruction slides printed 2 to a page as a handout for students to follow accompanying fully-working Scratch project files for teachers that match each chunk of the project Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, and a BIG BIG thanks for looking (as a full time practicing teacher, I KNOW how time consuming this process can be). ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested” - before I publish, my lessons are tested by both myself and colleagues, rigorously evaluated and discussed, and continually updated to maximise their effectiveness. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so do please provide constructive feedback. Teacher/Author: Barrie James Search words: scratch, computer, programming, coding, algorithm

How often have your students (and often, colleagues) struggled to find their files? File Management is so critical to managing digital content, yet students (and adults) know so little about this. The course is delivered in 3 x 60-minute lessons, using stimulating PowerPoint presentations with embedded videos, and includes worksheets to accompany the lesson, a self evaluation document, plus a Kahoot quiz. storage devices digital files opening and saving files from within applications like Word managing files and folders using File Explorer I repeat these lessons at the beginning of each school year with students in years 3 through to 7 (with slight modifications) so that they are better equipped to work with their files in applications such as Word and PowerPoint. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, and a BIG BIG thanks for looking (as a full time practising teacher, I KNOW how time consuming this process can be). ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested” - before I publish, my lessons are tested by both myself and colleagues, rigorously evaluated and discussed, and continually updated to maximise their effectiveness. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so do please provide constructive feedback. Teacher/Author: Barrie James

A pixel is generally thought of as the smallest single component of a digital image. (wikipedia) Using technology to create art has become extremely common and popular (and also, financially lucrative!). Furthermore, students love designing and creating sprites and animated GIFs. This series of 4 one-hour lessons looks at digital images - bitmaps and vector graphics using the piskel web app to create sprites using the piskel web app to create animated GIFs I have used it very successfully with students in grades 4 through to 8 (with slight modifications), and all have absolutely loved the topic. The lessons comprise: a fully animated PowerPoint with explanatory slides, together with embedded videos (to extract, click here) worksheets, ideas and self-evaluation documents Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, and a BIG BIG thanks for looking (as a full time practising teacher, I KNOW how time consuming this process can be). ALL my postings are FULLY “classroom-tested” - before I publish, my lessons are tested by both myself and colleagues, rigorously evaluated and discussed, and continually updated to maximise their effectiveness. But there is always the possibility of error and room for improvement, so do please provide constructive feedback.