Chris Sharples gr8computing Blog

Jan 29 2017

#CSToolkit BETT Jan 17 Sharing ideas to teach better Computer Science

Click here for lots of ideas for classroom teachers to get better at Computer Science teaching.

By Chris Sharples • #CompSci, #CompSci_Research, #CompSci_Resources, #CompSci_Teaching •

Jan 21 2017

Classroom Techniques, Examples and Research for Better Learning in Computer Science Talk at Bett17

Click here to go to slides. Thank you to Oliver and the Raspberry Pi Foundation for the opportunity to start to develop this strand.

Only 20% of current 9_1 Computer Science GCSEs are Python… 50% theory means we should be focussed on how to teach theory well and keeping up-to-date with latest techniques to do this underpinned with theory and a shared understanding of what works well.

I hope to make a contribution to this discussion. Please feel free to join in on #caschat and CAS forum in the next few weeks.

By Chris Sharples • #CompSci, #CompSci_Research, #CompSci_Resources, #CompSci_Teaching, BETT, Conference •

Dec 20 2016

Sandwich Robot, Etchasketch, Scratch Polygons and Snowflakes

Here I outline how we have used a variety of resources to increase our Year 7 students’ understanding of sequencing and use of loops – as well as having fun and engaging with their learning.

Having reviewed our baseline test at the beginning of Year 7, our Year 7s showed better than expected eSafety, better Scratch understanding, but poorer computing programming and sequencing skills. I looked at several resources online and have used Phil Bagge’s Jam Sandwich making Robot, Stephen Howell’s Scratch Shape Drawing Activity for CoderDojo; Simon Haughton’s Etch-a-Sketch; and Barefoot Computing’s Crystal Flowers (pdf download) to create the following resources:

“Scratch Shapes” scheme of learning – jam sandwich making robot and Scratch Polygons and nested loops More

By Chris Sharples • #CompSci, #CompSci_Resources, #CompSci_Teaching, KS3_Computing, Paired Programming, Scratch •

Dec 8 2016

Scratch Snowflakes

This post was prompted by @clcsimon’s
Festive Computing & Coding Activities and @MissPhilbin’s How to make Snowflakes with Code.

However, we have just completed two lessons with Year 7s drawing polygons and (Barefoot Computing’s) crystal flowers. I therefore wanted a scratch version of snowflakes – and also code that did a 6 pointed snowflake too.

The basics of @MissPhilbin’s python example is the following:

make 3 ‘sticks’ of distance 30 at 45 degree angles
make 3 twigs going back 30 each time
repeat branch 7 times at 45 degrees (I will need 5 times and 60 degrees for a 6 sided snowflake).

These are the steps using scratch:

1. Choose Rudolph as your sprite:
You can find him in the fantasy animals section of the sprite library. You need to select him, make him smaller, then move the rotation cross so its still in his middle… More

By Chris Sharples • #CompSci, #CompSci_Resources, Code Club, coding, Scratch • • Tags: Coding, Scratch

Nov 9 2016

Now what? Action items from social science research to bridge the gender gap in computing research – Stout-Camp-2015

Women require work to have a clear social application.
Stress teams require both genders to function to solve real-life problems – adv to be female.
Need have a sense of belonging.
Men write more on competence and women more on warmth related – compassion and interpersonal skills.

Next step(s): stress advantage to be a woman in minority STEM subject as needed in a balanced team.

By Chris Sharples • #CompSci_Research, #CompSci_Teaching •

Oct 30 2016

Lost In Translation “Gender and High School Computer Science” – Goode J, Estrella R, & Margolis J – 2006

(Chapter 3 of Women and Information Technology: Research on Underrepresentation – Joanne Cohoon and William Aspray)

Sue Sentance suggested several research papers to me, and this was by far the most useful.

“This chapter presents four themes that suggest some reasons why and how high school female students are — or are not — drawn into the field of computer science through their high school experiences. First, despite the national and local initiatives to “bring schools into the twenty-first century,” researchers discovered that few computer science learning opportunities actually exist at the high school level, especially in schools that serve communities of colour. Second, they found that notions of relevance play a key role in influencing females’ choices to enrol or not enrol in computer science classes. A limited and narrow presentation of what computer science is as well as what computer scientists actually do impacts students’ take on how computer science could further their academic and career endeavours. Third, for the female students who do take computer science, researchers observed an accumulation of negative experiences in classroom settings, where greater male technology experience/expertise and female social isolation and insecurity are part of the cultural landscape. Fourth, all of these experiences are then compounded by the way that computer science is motivated and “interpreted” for the students”.

By Chris Sharples • #CompSci, #CompSci_Research, #CompSci_Teaching •

Oct 1 2016

BBC Micro:bit quests

We are on track to *finally* get our BBC Micro:bits out to our Year 8s… this is how we are going to do it … and we are excited about the Grok Learning Quest challenges for after half term.

Our Digital Leaders are trained up using out 3 step programme www.gr8ict.com/bbc_microbit More

By Chris Sharples • #CompSci, #CompSci_Resources, BBC micro:bit, Code Club, Digital Leaders •

Jun 28 2016

Talks for STEM and CAS Yorks Humberside Computing Conference – Wednesday 29th June 2016

Using the Raspberry Pi in Code Clubs and the Curriculum – click to go to slides

“This session will provide an introduction to the Raspberry Pi and first-hand experience of setting up a Pi-Lab. Then some thoughts on how it fits in with the KS3 curriculum as well as Code Clubs. The second half of the session will be hands-on using a Raspberry Pi for an example KS3 lesson”.

Developing Digital Leaders to Support Computing – click to go to slides

“Digital Leaders can mean many things but this session will help you gain insights into how students can help you with implementing an effective computing curriculum. You will be shown stages of developing Digital Leaders and given time to discuss and plan how you might develop their use in your school including running Code Clubs”.

By Chris Sharples • #CompSci, Conference, Digital Leaders, RaspberryPi •

Apr 29 2016

Digital Leaders’ Year 7 #BBC Micro:bit Project

From the beginning, I never wanted to just give out 150 Micro:bits to Year 7s and hope good things would happen. Whether it’s staff or students, there has to be a strategy to engage people and build capacity. This is ours…

There were no Micro:bits after the official training. We bought 6 code bugs and Y8 Digital Leaders had their first taste of online coding and downloading hex files onto devices.

They did a tremendous job of showing Year 6s at the Opening Evening too.

We then brought in keen Year 7s through the Code Club, with peer training: