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Phil Nelkin - Computer Science & Physics Tutor | Teacher Mentor | Support for Schools phil@nelkin.com | +44 7947644617 |
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Phil Nelkin - Computer Science & Physics Tutor | Teacher Mentor | Support for Schools phil@nelkin.com | +44 7947644617 |
Scratch is a common coding application which many schools use at KS2 and some still at KS3. Scratch is a fantastic tool for clearly showing coding structures like loops and selection using drag and drop constructs. Many KS2 students, particularly in Years 5 and 6 adore text coding also. This is also something you might want to do at KS3 but may not have the expertise to deliver … yet. In the past, I’ve used Small Basic and Python to demonstrate how amazing shapes and graphics can be easily constructed using code. This is a great starting point to capture the students’ imagination.
This is visually very exciting for students and teaches them also about how colours are represented using code. Here are a couple of examples of how shape structures are constructed using loops and colours in Small Basic. This can also be achieved using Python but is more complex. At the end of the day, I have found that my students absolutely love creating computer graphics in this way and will research and experiment how to create more and more complex shapes independently in school and at home.
As well as a number of exciting graphics workshops, the use of code to create chatting or text games can also be introduced. Again, this can be in Python or Small Basic. As well as loops (iteration) and selection using ifs and else ifs, etc, concepts such as random number generation can be introduced to create more complex graphics. This can become very ‘mathsy’ and is great for teaching angles, shape design and generally demonstrating how maths can be highly creative in coding. The workshops are fully open ended and can flow according to the ability and interest of the students in the classes.
I deliver workshops based on the Computer Science GCSE theory or practical coding. I have taught the IGCSE Cambridge and Edexcel syllabuses as well as the GCSE AQA and OCR ones. Workshops are tailored to what the students need. Some concepts within the GCSE Computer Science syllabus are challenging and often, a workshop focusing on these difficult ideas helps students in ways that normal lessons cannot.
OCR Computer Science examination board
Edexcel Computer Science examination board
AQA Computer Science examination board
I have taught the OCR and AQA examination board syllabuses and I am happy to present workshops on theory as well as A Level coding. The schools I am currently supporting have found my NEA support for both of these examination boards invaluable. Below is an outline of some of the coding workshops I offer to support the NEA:
Object Oriented Programming (OOP)
Using Databases
Building a User Interface
Integrating all three points above – OOP, databases and a UI – to create a project
In terms of the project, whether this is AQA or OCR, my workshops give students a good understanding of the mark scheme and how to achieve high marks by selecting the right project and including all the criteria. Both OCR and AQA have their challenges and the students I have helped have performed well in their NEAs which make up 20% of the overall marks.