Category: ELC CS main page posts

April 19, 2024

Unplugged Computing Science Live Lesson with Barefoot

EARLY AND FIRST LEVEL LEARNERS LIVE LESSON.

Join Isabella Lieghio (Barefoot Volunteer and Education Consultant at www.iconlearning.co.uk) in this interactive live lesson for early and first level learners, to explore one of the newest Barefoot Computing resources that has been specially created for younger to help develop their computational thinking skills, set around the context of ‘People Who Help Us’.

The activities are all based around our real-life superheroes, the people who help us every day. In this session children will guide a delivery person with their package to the correct destination while exploring computational thinking concepts and approaches.

Everything you need is provided via the Barefoot Computing website, including activity plans with ideas for developing computational thinking in the early years, curriculum links, all printable resources and links to extend learning.

Please visit Barefoot Computing Early Years and create a free account to access all resources and check out the introduction video, to learn more about developing computational thinking approaches in play and learning such as tinkering, creating and debugging.

https://www.barefootcomputing.org/earlyyears

This session is for all practitioners, including childminders working with early and first level learners.

Practitioners are also welcome to join the live lesson without children to observe how the resources can be delivered.

This session will be recorded.

More details, resources links and sign up here.

April 19, 2024

Introducing The Digital Learning Through Play Award in ELC – CLPL Sessions

Accompanying CLPL supporting the new Digital Learning Through Play Award in ELC.

Join us in a 30-minute information giving session, introducing the brand new Digital Learning Through Play Award in ELC and to find out about the new accompanying CLPL professional learning network.

22/08/24 11 am

22/08/24 4pm

19/09/24 10am

19/09/24 4pm

The Digital ELC Award for Scotland (DSAS) Introduction Session. Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

March 18, 2024

Introduction to The Digital Learning Through Play Award in ELC.

Introduction to The Digital Learning Through Play Award in ELC.

The Digital Learning Through Play Award in ELC in Scotland is a national award scheme to promote, recognise and encourage a whole setting approach to the use of digital technology in ELC settings.

The award framework echoes national practice guidance for the early years in Scotland, Realising the Ambition: Being me (2020), which guides and supports the ELC sector to provide high quality early learning and childcare, meeting the developmental needs of our youngest learners, enabling children to flourish as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens, and effective contributors. 

Purpose of the award.

This award has been designed to support ELC settings to integrate digital technologies into children’s play and learning experiences, both outside and indoors. Opportunities to learn with and through technology in practical and creative situations, provide children with flexibility and choice while exploring technology as a way to solve problems.

Investigating virtual environments through digital technology can inspire curiosity and creativity, encouraging children to develop imagination, beyond what is possible without the stimulus afforded by technology. Through immersive, stimulating learning environments and meaningful adult-child interactions, children are inspired and motivated to learn.

Access the draft framework here.

Aug & Sep 24 educator webinars

24/25 Professional Learning Network

March 12, 2024

Summer term early level webinar dates for you diary.

The series of This is early level Digital and Spotlight CLPL sessions will be delivered for the final time in April and May. If you missed out on the previous webinars, there is still time to sign up.

The webinars are suitable for practitioners working with children at early level across a range of ELC settings and schools. A Glow log in is NOT required to sign up or join the online sessions.

Please click on the hyperlinks below for session information and sign up details.

APRIL 2024

Tuesday 16^th April 4pm This is early level Digital: CRIS 3 part course. SESSION 1

Thursday 18^th April 4pm This is early level Digital: Spotlight on Practitioner Collaboration.

Tuesday 23^rd April 4pm This is early level Digital: Spotlight on Transition

Tuesday 30^th April 4pm This is early level Digital: CRIS 3 part course. SESSION 2

MAY 2024

Tuesday 14^th May 4pm This is early level Digital: CRIS 3 part course. SESSION 3

Tuesday 21^st May 4pm This is early level Digital: Spotlight on Outdoor Play

Tuesday 28^th May 10am This is early level Digital: Spotlight on Making Data Visible

Sign up coming soon:

Monday 13^th May 4pm – The New Digital ELC Setting Award

Thursday 16^th May 10am – The New Digital ELC Setting Award

Friday 17^th May 12.30pm – The New Digital ELC Setting Award

July 5, 2023

A ‘Concrete, Pictorial and Abstract’ Approach to early level Computing Science

There are clear similarities with the order and progression of early level Computing Science and early level Numeracy and Maths play and learning.

go to ELC computing home

We can use a concrete – pictorial – abstract concept in Computing Science, similar to how we introduce mathematical concepts e.g. counting concrete objects such as pebbles, progressing onto subitising with visuals or with dice then finally counting in our heads with no prompts to help us.

In early level Computing Science, we begin to learn about algorithms. We look at the concrete stage as using our bodies, physical devices and objects we can physically manipulate. We might explore the range of activities from Barefoot Computing, Hello Ruby and CS Unplugged. We do not need programmable devices to delve into early level computing science. We can even explore algorithms through dancing!

At the pictorial stage, we are looking at block-based coding and using visuals suitable for pre-readers, e.g., pictorial algorithms such as visual timetables and simple sequences of instructions for baking and creating and retelling stories. We might also begin to explore coding apps such as Scratch Jnr and websites such as Code.org

Later on, in the abstract stage, we are looking at more complex coding, with fewer pictures and more words, introducing coding languages, such as Javascript and Python.

July 5, 2023

ELC Independent Learning Pathway

This page contains links to pre recorded webinars focusing on early level Computing Science, from an introduction to the Experiences and Outcomes and where Computing Science is in the world all-around us, to understanding computational thinking strategies through unplugged Computing Science explorations, investigating pictorial and visual representations and finally tinkering with programmable devices.

At the bottom of the page, you can browse the resources mentioned in the webinar recordings.

go to ELC computing home

This webinar was delivered to raise and support practitioner awareness of the National advice, guidance and where to access a wealth of free learning and teaching resources to embed computing science at early level. This session welcomed practitioners working with learners are in ELC or Primary School AND all other practitioners who work with learners at any level, with an interest in creatively embedding computing science their learning environment.

This webinar focussed on how we create experiences and spaces that allows computing science to be embedded at the early level through play and where we can access a wealth of free learning and teaching resources to embed unplugged computing science at the early level. It explored a range of unplugged activity ideas and the concepts, approaches and key vocabulary of computational thinking.

In this webinar recording, we explore programmable devices and online coding and computing science resources/apps and discuss how to introduce them via play at early level. This webinar builds on content delivered in the prior two webinars.

Additional live code-along and play-along webinar recordings.

Computing Science information and resources

Introducing computing technology in the world all around us.

Nina and the Neurons: Go Digital – CBeebies – BBC

What is digital technology? – BBC Bitesize

What is a computer system? – BBC Bitesize

What are computer games? – BBC Bitesize

Software – 1st level Computing Science and ICT – BBC Bitesize

BBC Learning – What Is Coding – Rumpus

What’s inside a computer? | Hello Ruby (loosely based, could model, paint, build)

Introducing Unplugged Computing Science with downloadable resources.

Direction/arrow algorithm cards/visuals

BeeBot mat scenes (communication4all.co.uk)

Human Codeapillar cards (by Judi Regan Tayside)

Codeapillar challenge cards (by Judi Regan Tayside)

Codeapillar SLF handout (Judi Regan Tayside)

Make your own BeeBot Story Map

Algorithm Sequencer

ScratchJr – block images

Introducing pictorial/visual coding through websites and apps.

code.org

Scratch Jr

Bee-Bot on the App Store (apple.com)

Bee-Bot – Apps on Google Play

Further reading and research for practitioners.

An overview of Computational Thinking in Early Years | Resources | Barefoot Computing

Home | Hello Ruby

Computational thinking for pre-schoolers — Hello World (raspberrypi.org)

An introduction to unplugged coding for preschool children — Hello World (raspberrypi.org)

From Fakebot to Bee-Bot — Hello World (raspberrypi.org)

Coding Outdoors Hello World (page 16)

Exploring Nature Hello World (page 80)

July 5, 2023

What Does Computing Science Look Like at early level?

Many of the concepts and approaches of Computing Science will already be familiar to you. By looking at the Sway and video below, and on the ELC Computing Science Learning Pathway page, we think you will recognise that you are already embedding Computing Science through play, perhaps without even realising it, in your environment, daily interactions and experiences you provide for the children in your care.

go to ELC computing home

What does Computing Science look like at early level? (office.com)

How can we ensure children are growing up to be creative thinkers and problem solvers?

We can provide them with the opportunities, the time and the space to explore, tinker, investigate and experiment!