COMPUTING

As a teacher of Computing at Sandymoor School, a Microsoft globally recognised Showcase School in Runcorn, Cheshire, promoting digital literacy is a curriculum area I have been developing during the last academic year with my classes. The three main strands within Computing are mapped against Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy. Each component is essential in preparing pupils to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Digital literacy is about pupils building their technical knowledge and skills to ensure they become confident and competent users of technology.

Online resource experts Britannica are working with schools across the UK to support students in becoming good and knowledgeable global citizens. Britannica Digital Learning’s content is all editorially checked to ensure all articles and images are age-appropriate, and teachers can be confident that students are using a reliable safe resource with full citation information included.

Bett Awards partners i2i Events Group and BESA (The British Educational Suppliers Association) have announced the launch of the education sector’s 20th annual Bett Awards. This ceremony brings together developers, suppliers and educational practitioners each year to recognise, reward and celebrate ICT excellence in the education sector. The 2017 awards introduce three new categories: ‘Best Education Support Resource for Parents/Home Learning’, ‘Edtech Start-up company of the Year’ and ‘Higher Education Digital Services'.

Your website is one of the most invaluable tools for communicating effectively with your wider school community, and it is the first port of call for most parents to access key information. The run up to the summer hols is a great time to get on top of your website and make sure it’s all set for the new year and it’s a popular time for schools to do an entire refresh too.

The BBC micro:bit, the pocket sized coding device created by the BBC and 29 partner organisations, is now available for the public to purchase through selected distributors and partner organisations. This is set to drastically increase the use of the device in schools and homes across the UK and play a fundamental role in helping to bridge the UK digital skills gap as the nation gets coding.

Friday 17th June will see educators from across the country converge upon Roehampton University’s Froebel College for Festival of Computing 2016, a day of inspirational talks, workshops and research presentations. The event, taking place in south-west London, will be a place for educators to meet, create, share and inspire one another. Practical workshops will be enriched with talks and presentations about pedagogical approaches to learning and teaching with technology. Tickets cost £60 for an adult and £40 for a student.

Animate 2 Educate, in partnership with Naace, are hosting their 2016 Summer Conference, themed around 'The Art of Computing', on Friday 10th June. Taking place at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. Coming to the north east will be some of the best speakers in the world of Primary Computing, with speakers including Lee Parkinson, Mark Anderson, Claire Lotriet, Rachel Orr, David Mitchell, Julian S Wood and many more.

You know that abject look of terror on a Primary school teacher’s face you get when you ask them to teach Computing? The one that says they would rather teach 5J for writing in an afternoon after a wet lunchtime.

I have recently implemented a Digital Leader programme within the Primary School where I work, requiring children to complete a written application, attend interviews and complete practical challenges. I’ve tried to encourage those children who need support with social skills or behavioural issues to apply and get involved. One thing that I have long since noticed is that many of the children who gravitate to the often more solitary activities, such as Computing, are those that need this support.

Teachers across the UK are sending in their applications for the Digital Schoolhouse programme, a pioneering initiative that has been proven to improve the quality of teaching, learning and pupil attainment for Computing. The programme was recognised in the Royal Society report Shut Down or Restart and the House of Lords’ Digital Skills Select Committee report, and also won a TES Award for its innovative approach to improving computing education.

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