Summary: This newsletter contains the links to two surveys, one to find out about your use (or not) of Semantic Waves and the other to find your views on classroom resources & public engagement activities around Quantum Computing. Full details below.
This is the full text of the latest newsletter which I (Jo B) email to all the UK teachers on our Teaching London Computing and CS4FN (Computer Science For Fun) subscription lists. Despite London in one of the names we actually support teachers and home educators across the UK (and the globe – our free resources can be downloaded by anyone anywhere in the world (though we only post within the UK)).
If you would like to sign up to received emailed copies of future newsletters please use the orange form here.
Previous newsletters can be found here.
We have a briefer newsletter for Summer 2026, with two surveys which we’d be very grateful if you could fill in. The first is to support an Impact Case Study about teachers’ use of Semantic Waves which we hope to submit to REF 2029, the second is to find out if teachers and educators think there is a need for classroom / extracurricular activities on the topic of Quantum Computing. We hope you enjoy your summer!
☀️ 🏖 ⛱ 🛟 Keeping with the ‘waves’ 🌊 theme, to help your class remember to take particular care around water we’ve put together FLOAT! a computing- and water-safety themed activity and articles pack. Find it here.
1. Do you use Semantic Waves? 🌊
📝 Survey link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/Kt6FbfBJGj
Semantic Waves (unpacking and repacking information) are part of the ‘12 principles of computing pedagogy’ from NCCE and Raspberry Pi, and also recommended in Ofsted’s Research Review of Computing.
We’re aware that many teachers are using semantic waves to develop lesson plans but would like to try and quantify the evidence for this, to include in an Impact Case Study for the next REF 2029 – the Research Excellence Framework – “the UK’s system for assessing the excellence of research in UK higher education institutions (HEIs)”.
We’d be grateful if you would fill in our SEMANTIC WAVES survey, thank you https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/Kt6FbfBJGj
If you’re not using Semantic Waves but would like to please (a) read Paul’s blog post about them, and the Pedagogy Quick Read on the topic and (b) email us on cs4fn@eecs.qmul.ac.uk as we’re hoping to organise some more CPD sessions (probably online). There’s also more context on our blog post.
2. Do you agree young people should be better informed about Quantum Computing? ⚛️
📝 We’d love it if you filled in this QUANTUM COMPUTING survey too: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/ZED8fsxE6J
The UK Government is investing heavily in developing Quantum Computers, devices which will operate very differently from classical computers. We believe it is important for young people to understand the technology and its ramifications and for teachers to feel confident in explaining it – particularly now, before the technology becomes mainstream and (eventually) becomes part of the school curriculum. We also think that wider public engagement can increase trust in quantum technologies as well as helping people understand them better.
We are therefore applying for funding to develop a suite of educational and fun resources (for different audiences, from primary upwards) and are interested in the views of those potential audiences – that includes school teachers, home educators, parents and other interested members of the public. Please tell us what you think.
The page below, from PEEECS our Public Engagement in Electronic Engineering and Computer Science blog, contains a mix of articles, papers, short courses and activities for anyone interested in Public Engagement with Quantum Computing.
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Teaching London Computing: A RESOURCE HUB from CAS LONDON & CS4FN 