An experienced writer of Computing/ICT resources (and four text books) my free products have been downloaded over a million times all over the world.<br>
Following years of regular 5 star ratings and very positive feedback I made the decision to start writing commercially. My commercial resources continue to be praised for their professional look and imaginative content.
Please download and enjoy!
Greg (Computing Science teacher for 23 years and now a national computing education adviser)
An experienced writer of Computing/ICT resources (and four text books) my free products have been downloaded over a million times all over the world.<br>
Following years of regular 5 star ratings and very positive feedback I made the decision to start writing commercially. My commercial resources continue to be praised for their professional look and imaginative content.
Please download and enjoy!
Greg (Computing Science teacher for 23 years and now a national computing education adviser)
This 16 page booklet is the first of three written to cover the process of creating a website from analysis to coding to final evaluation.
Booklet 1 (analysis and design) covers:
client - developer discussions
requirements (user and functional)
wireframe designs
form designs
website structure diagrams (navigation)
prototypes
5 tasks have been written to accompany the booklet. These come with marking instructions and may be used in class, as homework exercises or even as assessments.
Booklet 2 (implementation examples and task) covering HTML5, CSS and JavaScript coding is also available.
This unit was written to provide homework, class assessments or additional tasks to complement your own database teaching. The theme of the two table database provided is Scottish golf club members and their competition results.
There are five task sheets included as MS Word files:
Task 1 – Analysis & Design – students must identify the information to be stored and then construct an entity relationship diagram and a data dictionary.
Task 2 – SQL - 8 questions of varying difficulty based on SELECT, FROM, WHERE and AND
Task 3 – SQL - a further 8 questions continuing from task 2 but adding ORDER BY
Task 4 – SQL - 10 more SQL questions that require INSERT, DELETE and UPDATE
Task 5 – Evaluation - compare the Scottish Golfers database against a set of requirements
All marking instructions are provided.
The above tasks were initially written as homework/assessment style questions (I spent 20 years writing questions for the Scottish exam system) but I have since created database files should you wish your students to code the SQL.
The database files are provided in three formats for different environments:
An Access file (two versions, a student version and one with the completed task 2 and 3 queries)
CSV files that you can use to import the table data and build the database
Text files that contain SQL CREATE and INSERT statements which you could use to create the database on a database server
This 18 page booklet is the third of three written to cover the process of creating a website from analysis to coding to evaluation.
Booklet 3 takes students through how to comprehensively test a website for:
Usability
Navigation
Media
Forms
A specially created “testing” version of the completed student cooking website is supplied for the tasks. This website has deliberately introduced errors which students are challenged to find in the tasks. Teacher notes are included listing the errors that were introduced.
Booklet 3 also discusses how to evaluate a website by comparing the finished product to the original analysis.
The tasks in Booklet 3 should take around 6 hours to complete.
An accompanying booklet 3B contains collated analysis and designs for the Student Cooking website created in booklet 2B. This may be used as a reference when designing testing strategies.
This unit was written to provide homework, class assessments or additional tasks to complement your own database teaching. The theme of the five table relational database provided is Scottish golf club members and their competition results.
There are eight task sheets included as MS Word files:
Task 1 – Analysis & Design – students must identify how problems identified from the beginner design can be solved through the introduction of more tables.
Tasks 2,3 – Query design questions where the columns, tables, criteria and required functions are identified.
Task 4 to 8 – SQL question sets covering: SELECT from multiple tables, alias, calculations, wildcards, aggregate functions (COUNT, MIN, MAX, AVG) and sub-queries. Two versions of task 8 are included showing solution as two separate queries (MS Access) and using a single query with a sub-query.
All marking instructions are provided.
The above tasks were initially written as homework/assessment style questions (I spent 20 years writing questions for the Scottish exam system) but I have since created database files should you wish your students to code the SQL.
The database files are provided in three formats for different environments:
Access files (a student version and others with the completed SQL tasks 2 to 8 queries)
CSV files that you can use to import the table data and build the database
Text files that contain SQL CREATE and INSERT statements which you could use to create the database on a database server
Excel files, Python programs and explanations that can be used to add more of your own data.
Many students these days wish to games programmers.
Pygame is a fabulous addition to the extremely popular programming language Python. It is used to write professional looking computer games.
This tutorial was originally written as part of a training day I led for staff interested in using Pygame as part of their teaching or as part of a games programming club. The training day was very well received so I have adapted the materials to allow self tuition by staff.
If you have an interest in Python programming you'll love this extension to your own skills and knowledge.
Although written for staff, pupils could easily follow the tutorial themselves.
The knowledge acquired in this tutorial would allow you to deliver my PyGame student course:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/games-programming-using-pygame-project-1-balloon-burst-11303976
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/games-programming-using-pygame-project-2-tile-match-11303996
I love teaching with PyGame. Have fun!
Many students these days wish to games programmers.
Pygame is a fabulous addition to the programming language Python used to write professional looking computer games.
This tutorial was originally written as part of a training day I led for staff interested in using Pygame as part of their teaching or as part of a games programming club. The training day was very well received so I have adapted the materials to allow self tuition by staff.
If you have an interest in Python programming you'll love this extension to your own skills and knowledge.
Although written for staff, pupils could easily follow the tutorial themselves.
The knowledge acquired in this tutorial would allow you to deliver my PyGame student course:
https://www.tes.com/us/teacher-lessons/games-programming-using-pygame-project-1-balloon-burst-11310169
https://www.tes.com/us/teacher-lessons/games-programming-using-pygame-project-2-tile-match-11310173
I love teaching with PyGame. Have fun!
Many students these days wish to be games programmers. This booklet is the second in a series of four that teaches students the tool and techniques of object orientated programming required to become a beginner games programmer.
In Project 2 students will use the programming language Python, along with its add-ons Pygame and NumPy, to write an object orientated game called Tile Match. The booklet covers:
. object orientated programming theory (inheritance, lists vs arrays, stacks, queues and insertion sort)
. coding Tile Match (with full instructions)
. extension tasks
. ways to improve your coding
This course could be your first step to becoming a games programmer!
This booklet was co-written with my colleague David Stott for the Scottish Advanced Higher Computer Science course but could be used as part of any advanced programming course or games programming club.
Project 3 is currently being written.
This detailed database resource is an excellent introduction for students learning database theory and practical work.
The resource focuses of improving problem solving skills, encouraging students to consider field design, validation, searching and sorting. The final few pages introduce relational databases.
This self-contained resource contains:
- Workbook (34 pages)
- Task Sheets (6 task sheets to complete)
- Marking Schemes (9 answer sheets)
Teaching time (~20 hours)
This is a fun unit which has received very positive feedback.
“Wonderful resource”
“Fantastic”
“A great introduction to databases”
All graphics have been purchased and are licensed for use and distribution is this resource.
(Note that TES does not allow database files to be uploaded. For a copy of the two database files please email me at gregreid935@btinternet.com)
Many students these days wish to be games programmers. This booklet is the first in a series of four that teaches students the tool and techniques of object orientated programming required to become a beginner games programmer.
In Project 1 students will use the programming language Python, along with its add-on Pygame, to write an object orientated game called Balloon Burst. The booklet covers:
. object orientated programming theory
. coding Balloon Burst (with full instructions)
. extension tasks
. ways to improve your coding
This could be your first step to becoming a games programmer!
This booklet was co-written with my colleague David Stott for the Scottish Advanced Higher Computer Science course but could be used as part of any advanced programming course or games programming club.
Project 2 is also available.
App Inventor was developed by MIT to teach students programming in a fun context that every modern student understands, mobile phones!
My students love this unit. It allows them to move at their own pace, be creative and solve problems. For many of them it is their first introduction to the world of programming.
I first created this resource in 2012 but have recently updated it for App Inventor 2. The original free version was downloaded over 30,000 times with consistently exceptional feedback so I have written this new version as a commercial product.
The unit contains:
8 pdf copies of the workbooks
Teaching notes
Pupil files required for each workbook
An app design sheet
Have fun!!
snegreid
(The Android Robot, screenshots and images from App Inventor for Android are created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License located at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.)
Welcome to the fictional town of Sandyhaig where the residents are desperately seeking to hire a data scientist to help with their Campaign for Better Buses.
Students will take on the role of a data scientist learning:
about Sandyhaig town along with the current bus routes and the data obtained on buses and passengers
how to find the data they need for the campaign
how to present the data in a meaningful easily understood way.
To deliver this unit of work the following student files are included in the download:
A 30 page, student booklet including tasks, examples and final projects of varying difficulty
An appendix booklet with 10 appendices that cover skills like filtering, creating charts and creating a dashboard
A large map of Sandyhaig town
In addition, the following have been supplied for teaching staff:
Advice on delivering the unit
Answers to the tasks
Advice on how each project can be completed
Files used to create the appendices including the completed Excel files and dashboards
This unit has been trialled in several schools with excellent feedback. Have fun.
Many students these days wish to be games programmers. This booklet is the second in a series of four that teaches students the tool and techniques of object orientated programming required to become a beginner games programmer.
In Project 2 students will use the programming language Python, along with its add-ons Pygame and NumPy, to write an object orientated game called Tile Match. The booklet covers:
. object orientated programming theory (inheritance, lists vs arrays, stacks, queues and insertion sort)
. coding Tile Match (with full instructions)
. extension tasks
. ways to improve your coding
This course could be your first step to becoming a games programmer!
This booklet was co-written with my colleague David Stott for the Scottish Advanced Higher Computer Science course but could be used as part of any advanced programming course or games programming club.
Project 3 is currently being written and is due for release in Sept 2017.
Many students these days wish to be games programmers. This booklet is the first in a series of four that teaches students the tool and techniques of object orientated programming required to become a beginner games programmer.
In Project 1 students will use the programming language Python, along with its add-on Pygame, to write an object orientated game called Balloon Burst. The booklet covers:
. object orientated programming theory
. coding Balloon Burst (with full instructions)
. extension tasks
. ways to improve your coding
This could be your first step to becoming a games programmer!
This booklet was co-written with my colleague David Stott for the Scottish Advanced Higher Computer Science course but could be used as part of any advanced programming course or games programming club.
Project 2 is also available.
Create a version of the popular phone app Flappy Bird and then add Percy the Parrot of Doom, Invincibility and Increasing Difficulty to enhance the game.
This colorful, exciting workbook introduces programming skills and develops problem solving skills while using proper computing terminology. Unlike a lot of programming resources this workbook has been targeted specifically at able Elementary School or Middle School students.
During a series of increasingly challenging tasks students will create a version of the popular mobile phone app Flappy Bird. They then go on to enhance the game by adding another character, increasing levels of difficulty (using variables) and invincibility mode (using the timer). Students will be expected to think like real programmers solving problems and testing their solutions.
The 52 page workbook contains detailed solutions to each task for both staff (who may lack programming confidence themselves) and students. A glossary of Computing terms is included at the back of the workbook.
Once students have completed the tasks (either on their own or with some help) they should be well equipped to write computer programs of their own.
This 72 page booklet is the second of three written to cover the process of creating a website from analysis to coding to evaluation.
Booklet 2 is split into two parts and should take between 20 and 40 hours to complete depending on the coding proficiency of your students.
2A - Implementation Examples: This 48 page booklet gives worked examples of HTML, CSS and JavaScript code using a cycling website as a scenario.
2B - Implementation Tasks: This 24 page booklet contains 13 tasks by the end of which students will have coded a 13 page “student cooking” website.
The content covered can be briefly summarised as:
Building a template page
HTML 5 page structure (header, nav, main and footer)
Positioning content (margins, padding, display & float)
Building a navigation bar using lists and CSS
HTML 5 forms (text, number, radio button, text area and select input)
Interactivity using JavaScript mouse events (roll-over images, changing page styles, showing/hiding content)
Please note that students should have a basic knowledge of HTML (head, body, links, headings, paragraphs and images) and a very basic understanding of CSS (changing text size, font, colour) before starting this course.
The download comes with four additional sets of files:
The complete cycling website created during booklet 2A.
The complete cooking website created by students during the task booklet 2B.
The student files required to get started.
Additional content that can be dropped into blank pages to save student spending hours typing in content.
Booklet 3 (testing and evaluation) will be coming soon.