High-impact computer science resources that are based on sound educational psychological theories to help all pupils reach their full potential. I’m an experienced teacher/HoD and professionally create computing and computer science teaching resources through my company Nichola Wilkin Ltd. All these resources have been exclusively created by me. I’m an author who has written for both BBC Bitesize and Cambridge University Press. Quality teaching resources you can trust!
High-impact computer science resources that are based on sound educational psychological theories to help all pupils reach their full potential. I’m an experienced teacher/HoD and professionally create computing and computer science teaching resources through my company Nichola Wilkin Ltd. All these resources have been exclusively created by me. I’m an author who has written for both BBC Bitesize and Cambridge University Press. Quality teaching resources you can trust!
Are you looking to expand your student’s knowledge of Python programming? These Python challenges give students 6 coding activities all focused on extending their knowledge of using functions in Python.
If you are familiar with my best-selling Python book “Python by Example: Learning to Program in 150 Challenges” by Nichola Lacey, these new challenges will expand on the skills taught and give your student’s more coding practice.
Download this wonderful set of Python challenges today to see just how useful they are.
WHO ARE THESE PYTHON CHALLENGES FOR?
These challenges assume students have some basic knowledge of programming with Python and know how to use input and a basic print statement as well as being familiar with using if statements for loops and random numbers in Python.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
This pack includes a single 5 page PDF which gives your students an explanation of using functions in Python, example code and 6 programming challenges for them to work through. You also get another PDF which contains printed versions of the suggested solutions AND you get the Python solutions in Python programs so you can open them and look at the code using an IDLE.
HOW CAN YOU USE THESE PYTHON CHALLENGES?
These challenges are very flexible and can be used in a variety of ways. The main PDF includes an explanation, example code and a page of Python coding challenges. Students can work through them individually and the attractive PDF handout makes a perfect homework task.
Alternatively, you can print out the example code and page of Python challenges to give to your class as a starter, plenary or other in-class activity to enable your students to practise using their new skills.
You may even want to isolate the programming challenges into individual tasks, rather than use them as a printed activity to use them in your lesson as small individual coding challenges.
They are also ideal for quick finishers or to motivate higher ability students to keep them interested and learning a new skill whilst you help other students who need a little more reassurance of the basics.
As you have a separate PDF of the answers you can give them to your class at a later date for them to mark themselves, although most students do not require this as they will discover if their code works when they run it and will debug if they find an error. You could also have the answer sheet ready as a help sheet for those who are stuck and need help.
What are you waiting for? Grab your copy of these flexible and highly useful Python challenges immediately. Your students will love them.
This visually appealing knowledge organiser is a quick summary to recap computational logic. It can help pupils revise for end of unit tests or GCSE computer science exams by including small straightforward facts that can be learnt in minutes.
A powerful revision aid that your students will love.
What are you waiting for? Grab your copy now and together we can boost your pupil’s confidence in understanding computational logic.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
This PDF knowledge organiser includes the important facts and a separate PDF document includes revision tips and an exam style question including a possible answer.
HOW CAN I USE IT?
This resource makes an ideal homework task, can be used as part of a lesson or given to pupils to help them with their revision.
WHAT DOES IT COVER?
This knowledge organiser includes easy to digest facts on the following topics:
AND, OR and NOT gates and truth tables
Combining logic gates into logic circuits
Applying logical operators to truth tables to solve problems
AND, OR and NOT shorthand (^, ˅ and ¬)
Computing-related mathematics
.
Get your copy of this fantastic knowledge organiser now. You’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.
Click here to see my other computer science knowledge organisers
FREE BONUS PRODUCT INCLUDED
As a special thank you for purchasing this product I am pleased to be able to also include a surprise FREE bonus gift. This gift is one of our complete resources which we will usually charge full price for but is yours absolutely free when you purchase this product. Just our little way of saying thank you to our valued customers. I hope you enjoy it and get use out of it, with my compliments.
This visually appealing knowledge organiser is a quick summary to recap algorithms. It can help pupils revise for end of unit tests or GCSE computer science exams by including small straightforward facts that can be learnt in minutes.
A powerful revision aid that your students will love.
What are you waiting for? Grab your copy now and together we can boost your pupil’s confidence in understanding algorithms… .
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
This PDF knowledge organiser includes the important facts and a separate PDF document includes revision tips and an exam style question including a possible answer.
HOW CAN I USE IT?
This resource makes an ideal homework task, can be used as part of a lesson or given to pupils to help them with their revision.
WHAT DOES IT COVER?
This knowledge organiser includes easy to digest facts on the following topics:
Computational thinking
Abstraction
Decomposition
Algorithmic thinking
Binary search
Linear search
Bubble sort
Merge sort
Insertion sort
Pseudocode
Flow diagrams
.
Get your copy of this fantastic knowledge organiser now. You’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.
FREE BONUS PRODUCT INCLUDED
As a special thank you for purchasing this product I am pleased to be able to also include a surprise FREE bonus gift. This gift is one of our complete resources which we will usually charge full price for but is yours absolutely free when you purchase this product. Just our little way of saying thank you to our valued customers. I hope you enjoy it and get use out of it, with my compliments.
Click here to see my other computer science knowledge organisers
This visually appealing knowledge organiser is a quick summary to recap translators and programming languages. It can help pupils revise for end-of-unit tests or GCSE computer science exams by including small straightforward facts that can be learned in minutes.
A powerful revision aid that your students will love.
What are you waiting for? Grab your copy now and together we can boost your pupils’ confidence in understanding translators and programming languages.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
This PDF knowledge organiser includes the important facts and a separate PDF document includes revision tips and an exam-style question including a possible answer.
HOW CAN I USE IT?
This resource makes an ideal homework task, can be used as part of a lesson or given to pupils to help them with their revision.
WHAT DOES IT COVER?
This knowledge organiser includes easy-to-digest facts on the following topics:
High-level languages
Low-level languages including machine code and assembly language
Translators including compilers, interpreters and assemblers
Common tools and facilities of an IDE including editors, error diagnostics, run-time environments and translators
.
Get your copy of this fantastic knowledge organiser now. You’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.
FREE BONUS PRODUCT INCLUDED
As a special thank you for purchasing this product I am pleased to be able to also include a surprise FREE bonus gift. This gift is one of my complete resources for which I usually charge full price but is yours absolutely free when you purchase this product. Just my little way of saying thank you to my valued customers. I hope you enjoy it and get use out of it, with my compliments.
Click here to see my other computer science knowledge organisers
These refreshingly different attractive PDF knowledge organisers can be used for computer science revision. Also included are revision tips and practise exam questions including marks to allow pupils to practise answering exam type questions.
Includes the following topics:
Systems Architecture
Memory and Storage
Wired and wireless networks
Network topologies, protocols and layers
System security
System software
Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns
Algorithms
Programming techniques
Producing robust programs
Computational logic
Translators and facilities of programming languages
Data representation
This visually appealing knowledge organiser is a quick summary to recap systems architecture. It can help pupils revise for end-of-unit tests or GCSE computer science exams by including small straightforward facts that can be learned in minutes.
A powerful revision aid that your students will love.
What are you waiting for? Grab your copy now and together we can boost your pupils’ confidence in understanding systems architecture.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
This PDF knowledge organiser includes the important facts and a separate PDF document includes revision tips and an exam style question including a possible answer.
HOW CAN I USE IT?
This resource makes an ideal homework task, can be used as part of a lesson or given to pupils to help them with their revision.
WHAT DOES IT COVER?
This knowledge organiser includes easy to digest facts on the following topics:
The purpose of the CPU
Von Neumann Architecture
Fetch, decode, execute cycle
Factors that affect the performance of the CPU
Cache memory
Embedded systems
.
Get your copy of this fantastic knowledge organiser now. You’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.
FREE BONUS PRODUCT INCLUDED
As a special thank you for purchasing this product I am pleased to be able to also include a surprise FREE bonus gift. This gift is one of my complete resources for which I usually charge full price but is yours absolutely free when you purchase this product. Just my little way of saying thank you to my valued customers. I hope you enjoy it and get use out of it, with my compliments.
Click here to see my other computer science knowledge organisers
How can a rubber duck help you be a better programmer? How can they possibly have a place in our classrooms? What is rubber duck debugging?
When I first heard about this strange phenomenon, I was a little sceptical. Is this just another gimmick? Is there a surplus of rubber ducks that need repurposing? No, apparently this is a recognised programming technique that really works.
What do you do?
You need enough rubber ducks so that each pupil has their own duck. Amazon sell bags of rubber ducks for a reasonable price.
Run through the presentation with them, give them the 3 Python programs to practice with and watch as your programming classes learn how to solve many of their programming problems without having to rely on you!
If you are having trouble finding non-squeaky ducks you can either print out an image of the duck to be blue-tacked to the corner of their screen for everyone, or try the squeaky ducks but tell them, if there is an excessive amount of squeaking they will have their duck taken away and given a "flat duck"instead.
How can you teach your students about malware, in an engaging way? The key is to break up the theory into small manageable chunks and reinforce each section with a variety of activities. And that is exactly what this computer science lesson does.
Why spend hours making your own resources when it is all done for you? Download this malware computing lesson today and save yourself all that preparation.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
This lesson includes:
an attractive dyslexia friendly PowerPoint presentation,
differentiated lesson objectives,
videos to change focus and break up the lesson,
loads of individual and group tasks and questions,
printable ready to use worksheets for classwork,
3 differentiated exam style questions which can be used either in the plenary or set for a homework task,
a comprehensive teacher’s lesson plan including ALL THE ANSWERS.
.
WHAT DOES IT COVER?
Suitable for GCSE Computer Science pupils following either OCR GCSE Computer Science (J277) or AQA GCSE Computer Science (8520) syllabuses.
With virtually no preparation (apart from photocopying the worksheets) you will be ready to teach your classes about:
Passive attacks
Active attacks
Social engineering attacks
Insider attacks
Computer viruses
Trojan software
Spyware
Adware
Phishing
Pharming
.
DURATION: 1 lesson
Download this ready to use lesson now and take back control of your workload.
Click here to see some more computer science lessons
How can you teach your students about embedded systems, in an engaging way? The key is to break up the theory into small manageable chunks and reinforce each section with a variety of activities. And that is exactly what this computer science lesson does.
Why spend hours making your own resources when it is all done for you? Download this embedded systems computing lesson today and save yourself all that preparation.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
Suitable for GCSE Computer Science pupils following either OCR GCSE Computer Science (J277) or AQA GCSE Computer Science (8520) syllabuses.
This lesson includes:
an attractive dyslexia friendly PowerPoint presentation,
differentiated lesson objectives,
a video to change focus and break up the lesson,
loads of individual and group tasks and questions,
a printable ready to use worksheet for classwork,
3 differentiated exam style questions which can be used either in the plenary or set for a homework task,
a comprehensive 3-page teacher’s lesson plan including ALL THE ANSWERS.
.
WHAT DOES IT COVER?
With virtually no preparation (apart from photocopying the worksheets) you will be ready to teach about your classes about:
What an embedded system is
How an embedded system differs from a general purpose computer system
Identifying the purpose, input, process and outputs of a variety of embedded systems
Identifying the benefits of using embedded systems
.
DURATION: 1 lesson
Download the lesson now and take back control of your workload.
Click here to see some more computer science lessons
This memory and storage workbook is perfect for students studying for the OCR GCSE (9-1) in computer science and has been updated to completely cover the new specification J277.
It can be used in the classroom as a teaching aid, for self-study or as a revision tool. In this resource you will receive an interactive PDF workbook so your students can either print it out and complete the activities by hand or fill it in electronically making this an ideal workbook for use in school or for students studying at home.
The answer booklet is provided as a separate PDF file so you can assign your students the workbook without including the answers.
This 64-page workbook completely covers the new specification J277 1.2 Memory and Storage theory.
Table of Contents:
Read Only Memory (ROM)
The purpose of ROM
Random Access Memory (RAM)
The purpose of RAM
Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
Static RAM (SRAM)
The difference between ROM and RAM
The need for virtual memory
The need for secondary storage
Common types of storage (Optical, Magnetic, Solid state)
Data capacity and calculation of data requirements
Denary (base 10)
Binary (base 2)
Hexadecimal (base 16)
Convert between binary, denary and hexadecimal
Adding binary numbers
Binary Shifts
Character Sets (ASCII and Unicode)
Bitmap images
Colour depth
Resolution
Metadata
Sound
How sound can be sampled and stored in a digital form
Sample rate
Bit depth
Compression (Lossless and Lossy)
.
You may also be interested in these workbooks which have also been updated for the new specification:
Systems Architecture
Computer Networks, Connections and Protocols
Network Security
Systems Software
Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impacts of digital technology
Algorithms
Programming Fundamentals
Producing Robust Programs
Taking over a new year 10 GCSE computer science class? Wanting to find out your current classes Python programming skills? This resource contains a list of practical Python programming challenges which test key aspects of the KS3 national curriculum for text-based programming language.
Pupils are tested on:
Mathematical operators
Data types
Dealing with strings
Loops
If statements
Logical operators
Random numbers
Data structures (lists) and
Sub programs
The pupils are given a worksheet which contains 11 Python programming challenges. They need to work through them attempting the programs and sections they can. If they don’t know how to do something then ask them to move on and try to complete as much of the challenges as they can. This allows you to find out the gaps in their current knowledge.
The results are then entered into a an Excel spreadsheet using a simple system of 0 (not met the criteria) or 1 (met the criteria) that is then converted into a list showing you the pupils current understanding displayed as “Secure” or “Developing”. You can then use this to help you plan future lessons to fill the gaps in their skills.
This practical assessment can be used at the end of Key Stage 3 to help you and pupils when selecting their options or it can be used at the start of their GCSE to assess which areas need to be recapped.
This resource also includes the completed Python programs for all the challenges allowing you to see a possible answer for each challenge making this easier for non-specialists and NQTs who want to have a little more assistance as they build their confidence in Python programming.
FREE BONUS PRODUCT INCLUDED
As a special thank you for purchasing this product I am pleased to be able to also include a surprise FREE bonus gift. This gift is one of my complete resources for which I usually charge full price but is yours absolutely free when you purchase this product. Just my little way of saying thank you to my valued customers. I hope you enjoy it and get use out of it, with my compliments.
This is exceptional value as it includes my “Relational Databases and Structured Query Language (SQL)” workbook and answer book, clear instructions to walk you through installing DB Browser and two databases to practise with. This pack is perfect for students studying for the AQA GCSE (9-1) in computer science and has been updated to completely cover the new specification 8525.
It can be used in the classroom as a teaching aid, for self-study or as a revision tool. In this resource you will receive an interactive PDF workbook so your students can either print it out and complete the activities by hand or fill it in electronically making this an ideal workbook for use in school or for students studying at home. As part of that workbook it also includes gives clear, easy to follow instructions for creating an SQL database using DB Browser. It also shows how Python can be used to insert, update and delete data in the SQL database as well as retrieving specific data from the SQL database using select, from, where and order by.
A separate PDF answer booklet is provided giving you all the answers to the tasks in the workbook so you can assign your students the workbook without including the answers.
The 39-page workbook completely covers the new specification 8525 3.7 Relational Databases and Structured Query Language (SQL) section of the AQA (8525) GCSE in Computer Science.
Table of Contents:
Explain the concepts of databases
Relational databases
Table
Record
Field
Primary Key
Foreign key
SQL
SELECT
FROM
WHERE
ORDER BY … ASC / DESC
INSERT INTO
UPDATE
DELETE FROM
.
You may also be interested in these workbooks which have also been updated for the new specification:
Algorithms
Python Programming
Fundamentals of Data Representation
Computer Systems
Fundamentals of Computer Networks
Cyber Security
Ethical, Legal and Environmental Impacts
This is a written test about computer networks.
It includes questions about LANs, the internet and the world wide web, network hardware, network topologies, data packets, MAC and IP addresses, network security and cloud storage.
Useful revision tool to help GCSE pupils recognise gaps in their knowledge.
Suitable for GCSE Computer Science classes and KS3 Computing classes.
This test takes most students 25 - 40 mins to complete.
FREE BONUS PRODUCT INCLUDED
As a special thank you for purchasing this product I am pleased to be able to also include a surprise FREE bonus gift. This gift is one of our complete resources which we will usually charge full price for but is yours absolutely free when you purchase this product. Just our little way of saying thank you to our valued customers. I hope you enjoy it and get use out of it, with my compliments.
Are you looking for a set of fun, hands-on activities which will reinforce how to use key programming skills in Scratch? These flash card coding challenges are easy to use and will keep your students engaged whist embedding how to use the Scratch coding blocks.
Your students will be having so much fun they won’t even realise they’re learning!
Each pack includes 20 different Scratch coding flash cards WITH THE ANSWERS. You have the option of printing in colour but we also include a black and white version to save you ink.
Grab your copy now and either use them straight away or keep them as a handy addition to your teacher’s tool kit.
HOW CAN I USE THESE FLASH CARDS IN MY CLASSROOM?
Your students pick a card and create the programming challenge described on the front of the flash card. Once they have created their Scratch program, students test their completed program and turn over to see the suggested Scratch code answer on the reverse of the card. If they get stuck, they can always turn the card over to see the suggested solution they can copy.
When they have their program working correctly, students swap their flash card for another and repeat the process.
Students can work individually or in pairs for this activity and love the competitive nature of using these flash cards as they see how many they can complete.
These flash cards are great when used as:
a starter,
a plenary,
for early-finishers or
as an easy, highly engaging in-class activity.
.
HOW DO I PREPARE THE CARDS?
These flash cards are so easy to prepare. Simply print, glue the back and fold in half along the vertical guideline, before cutting to size.
If you want to reuse them time and time again, it may be worth laminating your flash cards.
Each set has 20 individual programming challenges so you may need to prepare more than one set for larger classes.
These are an excellent addition to your computing teacher’s toolkit and you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them.
Get your copy of these user-friendly, highly engaging Scratch flash cards before you forget. Go on, click on the “Buy Now” button straight away. If you don’t, you’ll regret it later.
Click here to take a peek at my Computational Thinking Escape Room - a finalist in the Teach Secondary Awards.
This visually appealing knowledge organiser is a quick summary to recap how to produce robust programs. It can help pupils revise for end of unit tests or GCSE computer science exams by including small straightforward facts that can be learnt in minutes.
A powerful revision aid that your students will love.
What are you waiting for? Grab your copy now and together we can boost your pupil’s confidence in understanding how to create robust programs.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
This PDF knowledge organiser includes the important facts and a separate PDF document includes revision tips and an exam style question including a possible answer.
HOW CAN I USE IT?
This resource makes an ideal homework task, can be used as part of a lesson or given to pupils to help them with their revision.
WHAT DOES IT COVER?
This knowledge organiser includes easy to digest facts on the following topics:
Input sanitisation
Validation checks
Planning for contingencies
Anticipating misuse
Authentication
Adding comments, indentation and using sensible variable names
Iterative and final/terminal testing
Syntax and logical errors
Using a test table
.
Get your copy of this fantastic knowledge organiser now. You’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.
Click here to see my other computer science knowledge organisers
At the start of every term I get many emails and phone calls from teachers who have recently taken over as the head of Computer Science and are unsure where to start. Some of them are walking into a well-ordered department where everything is laid out and ready-to-go, others are not so lucky.
Often, they are the only person in that department and so don’t have anywhere to turn to ask for help. And then the headteacher casually strolls into your room when you have barely been for a day and asks you for your ICT policy document by the end of the week. Gulp!
Not to worry, I have this one ready to go and better still it is completely free!
With a brief read through, only some minor tweaking to make it fit your school and copying them into your schools template it should satisfy your headteacher and give you a bit of valuable breathing space while you try to get your head around the one hundred and one other things you need to do.
Acceptable Use Of ICT Policy For Pupils
The acceptable use of ICT policy is for pupils and includes an acceptance form, they need to sign and hand back to you.
Make sure you insert your school name in the first paragraph of page 1 and if you are printing it out to send home you will probably want to copy it into your schools’ template.
This FREE programming languages and IDEs workbook is perfect for students studying for the OCR GCSE (9-1) in computer science and has been updated to completely cover the new specification J277.
It can be used in the classroom as a teaching aid, for self-study or as a revision tool. In this resource you will receive an interactive PDF workbook so your students can either print it out and complete the activities by hand or fill it in electronically making this an ideal workbook for use in school or for students studying at home.
The answer booklet is provided as a separate PDF file so you can assign your students the workbook without including the answers.
This free 12-page workbook completely covers the new specification J277 2.5 Programming Logic and Integrated Development Environments (IDE) theory.
Table of Contents:
Characteristics and purpose of different levels of programming languages
Machine Code
Assembly language
High-level languages
The purpose of translators
Source code
Compilers
Integrated development environments (IDEs)
Editors
Error diagnostics
Run-time environments
Translators
.
You may also be interested in these workbooks which have also been written to cover the J277 specification:
Systems Architecture
Memory and Storage
Computer networks, connections and protocols
Network Security
Systems Software
Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental Impacts
Algorithms
Programming Fundamentals
Producing Robust Programs
Boolean Logic
This FREE Boolean logic workbook is perfect for students studying for the OCR GCSE (9-1) in computer science and has been updated to completely cover the new specification J277.
It can be used in the classroom as a teaching aid, for self-study or as a revision tool. In this resource you will receive an interactive PDF workbook so your students can either print it out and complete the activities by hand or fill it in electronically making this an ideal workbook for use in school or for students studying at home.
The answer booklet is provided as a separate PDF file so you can assign your students the workbook without including the answers.
BONUS RESOURCE: This resource also includes a PowerPoint presentation that allows pupils to easily create neat logic circuits by simply dragging the options into the desired position. Clear instructions are given in the presentation on how to use it.
This free 12-page workbook completely covers the new specification J277 32.4 Boolean Logic theory.
Table of Contents:
Simple logic diagrams using the operators AND, OR and NOT
Truth tables
Combining Boolean operators using AND, OR and NOT
Applying logical operators in truth tables to solve problems
.
You may also be interested in these workbooks which have also been written to cover the J277 specification:
Systems Architecture
Memory and Storage
Computer networks, connections and protocols
Network Security
Systems Software
Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental Impacts
Algorithms
Programming Fundamentals
Producing Robust Programs
Programming Languages and IDEs
At the start of every term I get many emails and phone calls from teachers who have recently taken over as the head of Computer Science and are unsure where to start. Some of them are walking into a well-ordered department where everything is laid out and ready-to-go, others are not so lucky.
Often, they are the only person in that department and so don’t have anywhere to turn to ask for help. And then the headteacher casually strolls into your room when you have barely been for a day and asks you for your ICT policy document by the end of the week. Gulp!
Not to worry, I have this one ready to go and better still it is completely free!
With a brief read through, only some minor tweaking to make it fit your school and copying them into your schools template it should satisfy your headteacher and give you a bit of valuable breathing space while you try to get your head around the one hundred and one other things you need to do.
Acceptable Use Of ICT Policy For Staff
The acceptable use of ICT policy is for staff and is a little more detailed than my policy for pupils. This can also be coped into your school template and requires staff to sign the last page.
This lesson teaches the pupils about the history of computers. It uses animations to tell the story in an interesting and entertaining way. As the pupils learn the history they fill in a worksheet which you can go through with the whole class. They then complete a word search identifying the key people in developing technology and finally they play a game to recap what they have learnt.
Suitable for GCSE Computer Science classes and KS3 Computing and ICT classes.