Tag: onlineplatforms

DIAGNOSTIC QUESTIONS FOR COMPUTING SCIENCE

There is a bank of diagnostic questions to support SQA Computing Science qualifications, as well as other qualifications and subjects at https://diagnosticquestions.com/

To find questions aligned to SQA content, select SQAComputingScience in the Author filter drop down.  You can refine questions further by selecting topics.

 

There is the ability to add your school and create classes to track and monitor progress.

 

Questions have plausible distractors and learners are asked to explain why they chose that particular answer.

Example Question and distractors

 

Learner response options

Visit DiagnosticQuestions

 

 

micro:bit

micro:bit

Every primary and secondary school in Scotland will receive 20 V2 micro:bits.  The roll out of these devices started in April 2022.  Read more about the roll out here. 

The micro:bit Educational Foundation (@microbit_edu) is a UK-based not for profit organisation with a mission to ‘inspire every child to create their best digital future’.  The foundation helps children participate in the digital world, with particular focus on girls and those from disadvantaged groups. We work in collaboration with educators to create and curate exceptional curriculum materials, training programmes, classroom tools and free resources.

The micro:bit is a very small but functional computer. It has a range of inputs, outputs and sensors built-in. It can be programmed using blocks of code or JavaScript text-based code (you can even write your code in one format and convert it to the other!) on the Microsoft MakeCode site.

Programmable devices can be an excellent way to engage learners with a hands-on experience of coding, which is an abstract concept.

Here is an example of a micro:bit in action:

This is the front view of the original micro:bit (v1)t

This is the back view of the original micro:bit (v1)

This is the front view of the new micro:bit (v2)

This is the back view of the new micro:bit (v2)

micro:bit across the curriculum

other micro:bit posts

The Micro:bit Educational Foundation are looking for primary school (second level) teachers from Scotland to take part in a piece of research about their experiences… Read more

PASSWORD GENERATOR MICROBIT LESSON

micro:bit have created this series of three lessons (designed for learners aged 11-14 years) to introduce cyber security. Learners explore the need to create strong… Read more

Microsoft MakeCode for micro:bit This site from Microsoft offers projects to get you started with your micro:bit computer – it also has an online micro:bit… Read more

APPS FOR GOOD PLATFORM

APPS FOR GOOD

Apps for Good(@AppsforGood)is an independent charity that works with teachers to unlock the potential of learners with their free technology courses. Their courses encourage learners to think about the world around them and solve the problems that they find by creating apps and products with machine learning and IoT (internet of things). These range from no experience of coding to more advanced abilities, and includes apps, AI and IoT.

Apps for Good partner with large organisations to enhance the learning experience, provide opportunities for students and funding in order to remain free and accessible to as many young people as possible.

‘We believe that this collaboration is essential to bridge education and industry.’

digital world resources

DIGITAL WORLD – CYBER SECURITY & DATA CAREERS

Digital World (@DigitalWorldHQ) have created a toolkit to help teachers introduce cyber and data careers into the classroom. They’ve worked with experts to create a series of fun and engaging lessons that are easy to deliver and designed to fit a standard period.

From how to rob a bank through to defending a hospital, and cracking passwords to tracking rhinos (and many more), their lessons can be found here. So far, more than 100,000 pupils and teachers have used them.

scratch coding

SCRATCH

Getting started with Scratch by Code Club

Did you know that Barefoot run online Scratch workshops that are free to attend?

Go to Barefoot workshops

Scratch is a free online block-based coding editor and community. With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share your creations with others in the online community.

Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century. It is designed, developed, and moderated by the Scratch Foundation, a non-profit organization.

There is also a Scratch Jr app that is free and designed for younger learners.

OTHER SCRATCH POSTS

Barclays Code Playground aims to make learning to code easier for everyone and has resources and support to help teachers get to grips with Scratch… Read more

digital xtra fund port ellen

RESILIENT ROBOTICS TEACHING – THE NEXT GENERATION: HOW TO CODE AT PORT ELLEN PRIMARY SCHOOL    A robotics club from Port Ellen Primary School (@portellenps) on… Read more

CS First CS First is a free computer science curriculum from Google that makes coding easy to teach and fun to learn. Their site has… Read more

sphero robot

SPHERO

Sphero (@SpheroEdu) is a range of programmable robots, often spherical in shape, that can be remote controlled or programmed with code.
Programmable devices can be an excellent way to engage learners with a hands-on experience of coding, which is an abstract concept.

Here is an example of a Sphero in action:

The learners in this video were challenged to make the Sphero follow a ‘fairway’ route on a golf course floormat. They had to measure the distance of each straight, the angle of any turns and then create an algorithm for the Sphero to follow the path and reach the ‘hole’. There was lots of trial and error involved in getting the right speed and duration for the Sphero movement blocks but they all got there in the end – even if some were over-par! This learning involved an application of maths skills and understanding, along with some new computational thinking and programming ones.

OTHER SPHERO POSTS

by Laura Di Pasquale, Wellshot Primary School, (@LauraKeeney01) Due to the upcoming COP26 taking place in Glasgow, the Apple Regional Training Centre Glasgow is driving… Read more

Code Cracking Resources by Barefoot Computing

BT and Barefoot Computing provide free resources for teaching computational thinking. You can register for free at Barefoot Computing and use these great resources to add exciting new contexts to your numeracy and maths.

Code Cracking

This resource focuses on the role Alan Turing and the Enigma machine played in deciphering coded messages during World War II. Why not use this as a context for maths during your WWII topic?

Code Cracking lesson

Want to see more about code cracking?

Check out our Cryptography wakelet