This is the big blue bunny rabbit that our children spotted whilst on holiday in Dorset. It was for sale for the quite reasonable price of 50p. After some debate over who would be making the purchase, he was presently in the bag / saved from landfill / one of the family. The parting words of the stall holder rang in my ears, a…
Sometimes chopping a database up and sorting into into 1st, 2nd and 3rd normal form on the very floor works best!
Demonstrating automated systems to Year 9 with a Raspberry Pi 4, breadboard mounted PIR and resulting monkey on patrol.!
A full weekend of study at Bath University. Being presented with the opportunities and the potential of Raspberry Pi by those who know it best. My thanks to Dan, Mark, Laura and Alan for an amazing time.
Dad loved this phone. I used to get in trouble for borrowing it. Before there were "cordless" phones and well before many people had mobile phones, this was an early "I'm in the garden" device.!
Popping into a Year 7 Science lesson I was perplexed to find all the pupils elevating laminated symbols above their heads as their teacher held her phone up to scan the scene. The data promptly appeared on the white board at the front. This was my first taste of Plickers in action - now I am keen to give it a go!
The wonderfully talented Year 13 A Level Computer Science class that I teach weren't quite sure what to make of my scrawled starter question: what happened in 1998? They made some great suggestions (considering that this occurred comprehensively before their birth!), but what I remember of 1998 is that the idea started to formulate in my mind that not everyone was going to grasp…
There is something fascinating revealed on those rare occasions when computer hardware (here at Heathrow) reveals what it is really thinking.!
Just to round off the training that I have been fortunate to receive recently: the NCCE Certificate in Computer Science Subject Knowledge has come through. Julia kindly presented me with it at BCS HQ.
Delighted to record that I have been awarded the BCS Certificate in Secondary Computer Science Teaching - my thanks to LPA for providing the experience and guidance to achieve this key qualification. As a separate, but related, enterprise I have also been made a STEM facilitator for the National Centre for Computing Excellence (NCCE). This means that I can help to deliver the new…
We recorded our responses to pupil debating using an agreement / disagreement selector on the screen of each pupil: as persuasion shifts the balance, so the background colour indicates the viewpoint of each pupil around the room.
Farewell to my Cousin Joe. I just wanted to record here how much I miss him - we all do. Joe always supported any tech venture that I made. The way that he pondered a concept, and gave gentle pointers was such a precious gift. Full tribute here: http://www.flickernet.net/jpg/
After a little father and son time, the latest iteration of the Garage Robot is born! Upon being shared as the designated show-and-tell item, the spinning motor jams on, resulting in a scene of suitable chaos in the classroom with the robot determinedly making the most of its chance to take a turn at the front!
The high security screen saver has been compromised: busy hands have been adding fish galore! at least these fish can't be overfed.!
Enjoyed meeting Claire Penketh today at BCS HQ. We chatted about the CS Accelerator course. She has turned our chat into an article here. Thanks Claire!
Please use this form to send me feedback / request new links to be put on to the Code Club page or to share your great ideas. Thank you.
..when your son is so determined to have some bonus screen time, he builds his own computer out of wood and paper.!
Testing out a Crowd Beamer unit lent to us by the parent of a pupil. It transmits the video signal (though not the audio) via a dedicated WiFi channel which pupils can then view, zoom in to and capture on their own devices.
My thanks to Jayne at Wroughton Academy for becoming the second school to join our Transition Group, first year prototype. We will trial the Universal Transition Project after SATS in the Summer of 2020. Jayne has form in Primary Computing innovation looking forward to working with you Jayne!
A James Bond themed evening in aid of our local primary school called for an outfit festooned with gadgetry! Cue Q: A Rav Power block running to a chest held hub so that USB devices could attach centrally with wires tucked away! The wrist-worn Microbit had different messages displayed including "Pay attention 007" {button B} and {when shaken}: "shaken, not stirred" (of course!) Having…
Thanks to Andy Andy Andrew Mark and Paul for a great welcome to their Raspberry Jam, hosted at the Waterworth building of the University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham campus. We demonstrated the Cigar Box Computer in action and enjoyed trying out the Raspberry Pi creations that were on display. Space Invaders, using three micro-switches Paul has built the most amazing assortment of security equipment…
The Centre for Computing History was my destination once more for Day 2 of the NCCE Algorithms in GCSE Computer Science course. Anjali and Chris were again on hand to guide our small but merry group in the ways of approaching a challenge patiently, logically and with an eye to what can be delivered through coding. Loving the pun in the name: the concept…
Immersed in the wonderful world of historical tech at The Centre For Computing History, in Cambridge. My thanks to Anjali and Chris for a fascinating insight into engaging techniques for the teaching of algorithms. Their delivery of this NCCE Accelerator course was inspirational, in every sense! Also rather enjoyed the chance to explore the adjoining facilities at lunchtime and then to have the immense…
Thank you to everyone who came along to LPA on Wednesday (20th March) for the first major gathering. There was a sense of tangible potential in the room that will make the next step - reporting on the data as a research project - a fun challenge to underpin the initiatives ahead. Thank you especially to Beverly who shared NCCE opportunities to all and…
How many screens does it take to prepare for the Transition Group meeting?!
Thanks to Beverly and all at BCS for a great start to our NCCE Facilitator Development Program. Swindon were well represented; robots were coded; and the Primary / Secondary / Tertiary worlds of education thoroughly post-it noted!
One week to go until the first large scale TG gathering of teachers and Computing Coordinators at LPA to hatch our plans to improve the experience for pupils as they move from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3. That vital interface point would benefit from a new dialogue - and we hope to provide it! Everyone is invited, we will remain open…
