Many thanks to the learners, educators and presenters that made #CSScotland23 a success! Between 6th-10th November 2023, 9658 learners from 384 schools from 29 local authorities took part in our live create-along lessons, exploring different aspects of Computing Science. This page will host the resources and materials used in the lessons for you to explore and use with your learners. Most activities have follow up suggestions and video.
Some activities are yet to be uploaded, but will be asap.
Agents K (Kate Farrell) and J (Jasmeen Kanwall) guided recruits through a series of taxing problems during this escape room event.
Brief: You were working late on paperwork from your recent DATA mission and you’ve realised that you’ve been locked in the base. Solve the puzzles to get out without setting off the alarm.
Description of learners’ task: Learners use graphs and tables of data about theme park rides to answer questions. The answers to the questions provide them with the alarm code to be able to escape the base.
During this session, Brian explored machine learning using the website machinelearningforkids.co.uk. Learners were guided through one activity where learners trained a machine learning model to recognise different ways someone might ask for a light to be switched on/off or a fan to be switched on/off, tested this model and used the model to build a virtual smart classroom using Scratch.
This activity is one of many available on the site. The smart classroom activity can be found here The live lesson was based around the shorter version of the activity.
You may want to check out the Intro video first before following the lesson.
Introduction
Smart Classroom Walkthrough
Next Steps
Once you have completed the smart classroom activity, you may want to
add a new device (sprite) to the classroom like a television – give it an on and off costume – add 2 new buckets to the machine learning model to turn it on and off – add appropriate phrases – update the model – add new code to the Scratch program to operate the television
try the full version of the activity
explore the other beginner activities looking at text, images and numbers – you can use the filters to make sure you find beginner Scratch projects
Lorna Gibson from the Micro:Bit Education Foundation guided learners through a coding activity to turn you micro:bit into a (virtual!) hot potato! This particular activity looks at using loops and variables to create a timer. The recording of this session didn’t work very well, so here is an alternative instructional tutorial from Micro:bit.
Next steps and related activities can be found at the bottom of this post.
can you think of another use for the random timer? For example, you could try to code your micro:bit so that at some point during the school day it alerts you to get active – eg the message “Do 10 Star Jumps” could appear at random.
Related Micro:bit Activities
You can explore timer based coding activities with the micro:bit with these tutorials
Callum Croughan, Mary Frances Stewart, Zoe Shanks and Alistair Mackay – Digital School Digital Pedagogy Practitioners guided learners through building a maze game using Makecode Arcade
Learners explored aspects of computing science such as variables, algorithms, parallel programming and loops.
30 minute tutorial (below) if you want to dive straight in, or you can watch a short Makecode Arcade introduction video first (good if it’s your first time!)
This live lesson saw Craig and Daniel from Cyber Skills Live guide participants through using data about themselves to create an abstract self portrait using code. (This is activity 5 on the website). All of the coding is done in a web browser with no other software required. Larger screen devices are preferable as learners are required to edit code.
Resources from Games Design Workshops 6/11/23 and 8/11/23
Amanda Ford from West College Scotland took participants through Game Design techniques focussing on the purpose and scope of the game, followed by a session on level and character design.
The resources are available for you to use as you wish. You can use the slides to prompt discussion and design ideas for games.
Towards the end of the second session we talked about using your hand drawn designs in your Scratch programs. A quick demo of this was shown. The videos showing how to do this are below.
Video Resources
Use Powerpoint to get your hand drawn images into Scratch
Create sprites from real world objects using Powerpoint
Exporting transparent images using Keynote on iPad (they can be used in Scratch!)
Adding your own objects to Scratch as a Background or Sprite
Resources from App Prototyping Workshop from 8/11/23
We hope you enjoyed the app prototyping session with our colleagues from Inspire Learning in the Scottish Borders. The presentation from the Inspire Learning team can be found here
You can make use of the app prototyping design sheet below:
Join us and our partners from across the country to celebrate Computing Science! For the week of Monday 6th – Friday 10th November 2023, we are delighted to be delivering a host of live lessons exploring different aspects of Computing Science.
During this week you and and your learners can dive into Computing and learn new skills. We have practical code and create a long sessions as well as some unplugged activities broadly suitable for BGE levels 2/3, and two especially for early level learners.
Topics covered during this week include
Data Science
Coding
Design
Prototyping
Physical Computing
Unplugged Computational Thinking
This week would not be possible without the support from:
Daniel Devine, Craig Steele (Digital Skills Education, Data Education in Schools)
Francisca Carocca & Jessica Blake-West, (DevTech Research Group, directed by Dr. Marina Bers in Boston College)
Most of these live lessons will take place via Glow. There will be a team for you to join where the majority of the live lessons will take place. If you are unable to join the Glow team then you can still access the live lesson via direct link, however you will not be able to see / interact with the chat functionality.
Digital Skills Education, Data Education in Schools Daniel Devine, Craig Steele
Description
Join our YouTube livestreamed lesson where your pupils will combine computing, art, and data to create their own data-driven self-portrait.
In this practical workshop, pupils will learn about data visualisation and code a self-portrait using numerical personal data.
Our data experts will critique their self-portraits which will be showcased in our online portrait gallery.
Participants will follow instructions to edit and customise JavaScript code to create data visualisations based on data they collect about themselves.
Resources
Teacher plays the YouTube livestream on projector
Pupils take part individually on laptops/desktops
2pm – Game Design Part 1
West College Scotland
Dr Amanda Ford
The first game design session covering how to think about designing computer games. Feel free to join either or both sessions! Next session on Wednesday 8th at 2pm
Session 1 Game Design Basics
This lesson will cover the basics of game design and walk through how to start coming up with an idea for a game then how to take it further.
Resources
paper/pencil
Teacher joins team meeting and shares screen on projector
11am – Celebrate you with Swift Playgrounds (iPad)
Swift playgrounds is an excellent way to learn code on iPad. In Swift Playgrounds you have the ability to build apps directly on iPad. In this session pupils will do a real time introduction to developing their very first app on iPad.
Guided by an Apple Professional Learning Specialist, pupils will learn the approaches to take when building an app from the ground up.
This will be an interactive lesson with your class and ideally aimed for students P6 and up who have a familiarity with Swift Playgrounds on iPad.
Students will need an iPad with the latest version of Swift Playgrounds installed and the About Me Sample project downloaded. Teachers can download an Educator Guide here
Equipment needed in the classroom:
Screen visible for all pupils to view the webinar
Speakers/WiFi
iPads for students with the latest update installed (check Settings – General – Software Update)
Swift Playgrounds (up to date) & About Me Sample Playground downloaded (check app store or LA app library)
Having these steps carried out before the webinar ensures that everyone can take part without missing key steps/info.
2pm – Build your own AI smart classroom
Education Scotland
Brian Clark
Learn how you can use the power of artificial intelligence to control a (virtual!) smart classroom and get started exploring how to create with artificial intelligence.
In this project you will make a virtual classroom that can react to what you say to it.
You’ll be able to control the virtual devices in the classroom by saying what you want. You will teach the computer to recognise commands for different devices by giving it examples of each.
Resources
Learners should have access to a device that has internet access to the Machine Learning for Kids website and Scratch
Teacher joins team meeting and shares screen on projector
Learners can work in pairs
11am – Create the next cool app – App Design Workshop
Inspire Academy, Scottish Borders
Helen Orde, Roddy Graham, Catherine Little, Suzanne Pritchard and Paul Graham
Description
Join us for an exciting live lesson where students will create their very own mobile app prototype! They’ll brainstorm unique app ideas to make life easier or assist others, then learn to design an app logo and finally, students will craft an app prototype that they can proudly showcase to their classmates.
Guided by our instructors, students will use Keynote (or PowerPoint and Google Slides) to design their prototype. We’ll demonstrate how quickly they can design and build an app without any coding required. Don’t miss out on this creative and engaging app design experience!
Resources
Teacher joins team meeting and shares screen on projector
App Design planning sheet + pen/pencil
Pupils take part individually on laptops/desktops/iPads
Presentation software on device– either Keynote, Powerpoint or Google Slides
2pm – Game Design Part 2
West College Scotland
Dr Amanda Ford
The second session covering how to think about designing computer games. Feel free to join either or both sessions!
Session 2 Character and Level Design
This lesson will cover how to design levels and characters for your game.
Resources
pencil/paper
Teacher joins team meeting and shares screen on projector
11am – Microbit Hot Potato Game
Micro:bit Educational Foundation
Dr Lorna Gibson
In this session, we will show you how to turn your micro:bit into a physical hot potato! In this game, you will start a timer with a random countdown of a number of seconds. When the timer is off, the game is over and whoever is holding the potato has lost!
We will also consider other simple games like that could be turned into a micro:bit program
Sharing devices in pairs or small groups is absolutely fine (and actually appropriate for the hot potato game).
Teacher joins team meeting and shares screen on projector
Interesting fact! The Hot Potato game is going to feature at some point in a future BBC program too!
9th November 2pm – Build a game with MakeCode Arcade
North Lanarkshire
Callum Croughan, Mary Frances Stewart, Zoe Shanks and Alistair Mackay – Digital School Digital Pedagogy Practitioners
Learners will build a maze game using MakeCode Arcade within an online web browser. Learners will explore aspects of computing science such as variables, algorithms, parallel programming and loops.
Resources Required:
Teacher Support Pack – Step by Step guide to support all aspects of the lesson (to follow via email)
Teacher joins team meeting and shares screen on projector
Join our 30 minute session to find out how you can provide practical, fun and creative early level computing science experiences across CfE.
In this information session, practitioners will learn about computational thinking and how our youngest of learners can explore computing science concepts and approaches – with absolutely no devices or programmable toys! This session is suitable for all practitioners across a range of settings. Unplugged activities can be adapted to suit the level of learner you are working with.
NOTE: This session is hosted via Microsoft Teams.
11am – Locked in the DATA Base: Data Science Escape Room Data Education in Schools project at the University of Edinburgh Kate Farrell and Jasmeen Kanwal
Briefing for Trainee DATA Agents: You were working late on paperwork from your recent DATA mission and you’ve realised that you’ve been locked in the base. Solve the puzzles to get out without setting off the alarm.
Description of learners’ task: Learners use graphs and tables of data about theme park rides to answer questions. The answers to the questions provide them with the alarm code to be able to escape the base.
Resources that learners will require
Access to a calculator or calculator app
Rollercoaster data sheets (printed or electronic) – one copy between 2-3 learners
Questions Worksheet (printed or electronic) – one copy between 2-3 learners
There is also an optional pre-activity logic puzzle, also available on our website.
Children’s Create Along – Unplugged Explorations: Introducing early level computational thinking with Barefoot Computing Isabella Lieghio, Education Consultant, Icon Learning/Barefoot Volunteer
Description
Join this 45 minute create along, online session with Isabella Lieghio as she introduces us to the wonderful FREE Computing Science learning materials from Barefoot Computing and takes us through one of the early years activities, step by step. This session is suitable for early and first level learners.
The activity will be about recognising, continuing and creating patterns from the ‘Winter Warmers’ activity.
Where do you see patterns in you home, garden, playroom, classroom?
We will share the printable resources with you, once you have signed up. Alternatively you can use any resources to create patterns during the create along (loose parts or natural materials such as leaves, conkers, pine cones, twigs, or various colours of playdough, small construction, sorting and counting resources).
You may even choose to wear a patterned item of clothing that day!
NOTE: This session is hosted via Microsoft Teams. (a Glow log in is not required)
Resources:
Please register for a free account with Early Years | EN | Barefoot Computing and watch the ‘Getting Started’ video for practitioners before the session.
Winter Warmers printable – this will be shared with you via email after sign up.
The course is designed to allow you to teach computing within secondary schools as it has the required numbers of credits stated by the GTCS. The programme is designed to be a roll on roll off programme as each of the units are separate although designed to encompass what is involved in the computing curriculum by the end of the course.
The module, Web Design and Development will be delivered over 14 weeks and the semester will start week beginning 23rd January 2023 with an online induction and initial lecture.
The courses are open to any teachers with the relevant entry qualifications (degree and existing teaching qualification) who have an interest in computing or cyber security.
There is normally a weekly lecture and support session that lasts for approx. an hour, or more if required, with further e mail support available. The sessions are certainly beneficial as they allow you to ask questions there and then. However, the course is designed to be taught when is convenient for all the students and all lectures and tutorial session are recorded for viewing at your leisure.
There is only one module delivered each semester with no time off required during the school day. The lectures are recorded for students unable to attend in person. All activity is carried out online the majority of which happens asynchronously. The modules have a notional 200 hours per module over the semester. It would depend on your previous experience on whether you needed all that time. If you were able to set aside a day at the weekend or a couple of evenings for study, you would not be far off what is required for achieving the award.
To gain accreditation with the GTCS you need to teach a certain number of hours in computing, and you would need to discuss that with your local head teacher, as we only provide the academic requirement. This equates to 0.42 teaching or 100 teaching days.
The price is £215 per module, and this can be paid on a module-by-module basis. As the modules are 20 credits each if you were to do two in an academic year you may be eligible for SAAS funding. It is suggested contacting SAAS directly if you are planning to start next semester and confirm whether you would be eligible for funding.
You can apply through the university web site located using this link or searching for the Additional Teaching Qualification in Computing Studies CPD award at https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/ under courses.
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