Oct 1 2016
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
Jun 28 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”.
Apr 29 2016
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:
Jan 27 2016
Here is my assortment of notes from #BETT2016, including follow-up tweets and next steps. Sorry if I have missed anyone deserving of a mention.
Digital leaders | Code Club | Raspberry Pi | Microbit | Computing Curriculum | #Teacher5aday
Digital Leaders
It’s my fourth year in a row taking Digital Leaders to Bett, and this time was the best yet due to working with other colleagues and students for both the arena presentation and the #kidsmeet.
Highlights of the arena were @L_S_Stone’s 22 (yes twenty two) Year 1’s invading the arena with an assortment of Beetbots and Spheros, and of course, all our digital leaders standing up and demonstrating all the good work that is going on in these schools – Recreation Road Infant School, Norwich; Myrtle Park Primary School, Bradford; King Edward VI School, Southampton and Lady Lumley’s School, North Yorkshire. Supported by @L_S_Stone, @_Wossername_ and @rlj1981. Unfortunately I didn’t get to meet some of my #dlchat colleagues afterwards as one of my year 7s was sick in the toilets. Luckily he recovered to enjoy Bett later. Thanks to @clcsimon, @slr112 and @ThatEdTechGuy for tweets from the Arena.
Highlights of the #kmbett2016 were seeing the school leadership summit tent overflowing with digital leaders from at least eight schools. Also meeting #nightzookeeper (Paul Hutson) and catching up with @SheliBB and other DL coordinators. A big thank you to the hardworking teachers for bringing students to BETT (@HeadDownEyesUp and @Claire_N_Jones) and the volunteers such as @ictevangelist for giving up their time to provide the activities. Sophie, Karen and i2i made a big commitment to have more students at BETT2016 and I’m very grateful for their help and support.
Next steps:
> follow up having more students involvement at Bett next year
More
Jan 21 2016
Lady Lumley’s School, North Yorkshire – @gr8ict /Chris Sharples (Secondary) – confirmed 20/10/15
Title – “How Digital Leaders run cracking coding Clubs”
https://docs.google.com/a/ladylumleys.net/presentation/d/1XDE-fyjLTvPN1R4JcBL39oTxi5_oifaUkubXnIG3ouw/edit?usp=sharing
Description – with so much change within Computing at present, a key requirement is to build capacity for learning programming. Y9 LLS DLs will talk about setting up Raspberry Pi’s and using them for Y9 Code Club and then in lessons. Y7 LLS DLs to talk about setting up Y7 Code Club with the approach of the BBC Microbit. They will also mention Makewaves ( 2016 BETT winner for ICT Innovator of the Year) and DL #openbadges.
Recreation Road Infant School, Norwich – Louise Stone (Infants)
Title “Infant Digital Leaders – Getting to Grips with Gadgets” More
Jan 20 2016
@Shelibb’s background to slow #dlchat
Qu.1
If you (and Digital Leaders) have been to BETT16, what did you find useful – pls cd you link to blogposts.
Qu.2
Can you (and Digital Leaders) link to the reflections of Digital Leaders having been to BETT16? Can we get comments between DLs and their findings in different schools…
Qu.3
Any reflections on how to improve teaching of Computing as a result of BETT16 (even if you haven’t been, there should be lots of useful findings for you from the hashtag #bett2016 )
Qu.4
Any reflections on Hardware as a result of BETT16 (even if you haven’t been, there should be lots of useful findings for you from the hashtag #bett2016 )
Qu.5
Any thoughts on the use of Digital Leader #OpenBadges in the next few months – including new level 3 badges. Especially as @makewavestweets win the BETT16 Innovator of the Year Award.
Nov 19 2015
Qu.1
When did you first introduce #computing into your curriculum lessons? and with what examples?
Qu.2
How have students (not necessarily DLs) helped in #computing lessons? Have they added in ways you could not do on your own?
Qu.3
Do you run a code club? What sorts of activities have you covered? More
Oct 30 2016
Lost In Translation “Gender and High School Computer Science” – Goode J, Estrella R, & Margolis J – 2006
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”.
More
By Chris Sharples • #CompSci, #CompSci_Research, #CompSci_Teaching •