An inspiring unplugged session on teaching computing for teachers.
Overview
It’s easy to assume that programming is something you have to learn at a computer but if you want your students to deeply understand programming concepts, rather than blindly getting programs to work then unplugged techniques can work really well to get students started. We will see how to program a robot face that is made of students, look at a simple way to give a deep understanding of how variables work by making them physical, and see how to compile programs onto your class instead of onto a computer.
Session material This session will cover:
- Inspiring ways to introduce programming away from computers.
- What is a variable?
- How does assignment work?
- Programming simple objects
- Introducing flow of control and if statements
Activities are suitable for all age groups and can be adapted to fit your teaching needs.
Resources
This session comes with linked activity sheets and ‘story’ write-ups that you can download:
- Activity: Create-a-face [PDF]
- Activity: The Emotional Robot [PDF]
- Video: Link to Social Robot Video [LINK]
- Slides: Create a Face [PPT]
- Applet: Create a face applet on cs4fn [LINK]
- Activity: Box Variables [PDF]
- Slides: Box Variables [PPT]
- Activity: Assignment Dry Run (Python version) [PDF]
- Activity: Assignment Dry Run (Scratch version) [PDF]
- Activity: Assignment Dry Run (Java version) [PDF]
- Activity: The Imp Computer [PDF]
- Slides: The Imp Computer [PPT]
- Booklet: Computing without computers [PDF]
- cs4fn article: A Recipe For Programming [PDF]
- cs4fn article: Who wants to be the weakest millionaire? [PDF]
- cs4fn article: Strictly X-Factor [PDF]
Format
This is a self-contained evening interactive seminar session of around 60-90 minutes.
Similar sessions on other topics
Want to get up to speed on computing concepts like computational thinking or ideas for how to teach computing in a fun, inspiring way? Teaching London Computing with cs4fn run as series of free one off sessions for teachers of ICT and computing such as this one.
For our programme of longer courses for teachers please see CPD courses.
Sign-up to be kept informed of future workshops and courses.
Teaching London Computing: A RESOURCE HUB from CAS LONDON & CS4FN 
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