subjects > ict
Why teachgameprogramming?
There is increasing need for people,
other than professional programmers
to have some programming ability.
It requires logical thinking, critical
reasoning, problem identification
and solving skills and persistence.
In years 7, 8 and 9 students are de-
veloping programming skills using a
program called Scratch.
Scratch is fun!
There
are
many benefits
to
learning
in a fun en-
v i r o nm e n t .
C omp l e t i ng
Scratch pro-
jects requires
persistence but because students
are working on projects that interest
them, they are motivated to over-
come challenges and frustrations.
Scratch encourages creativity, both
thinking of ideas for projects and
finding ways to overcome difficulties
in implementing them. Music can
be added to Scratch or even written
within Scratch. Photos and graphics
can be imported and edited. It can be
downloaded for free. It has minimal
system requirements and download-
ing and installation is easy.
/
Page 7
ICT is changing to Computing
The ICT department is changing di-
rection this year, with the ICT courses
being replaced with a new Computing
curriculum. These changes will affect
students from year 7 through to Year
13. This new curriculum is already
starting to be implemented for years
7, 8 and 9.
Students will develop core skills in
problem solving as well as developing
programming skills. The students in
year 10 can now opt for the Com-
puting GCSE course. This course will
allow students to learn a high level
programming language. We are using
codecademy to help with this.
/
What is Digital Literacy?
Children and young people in today’s
society are using the immense power
of digital media to explore, connect,
create and learn in ways which
were unimaginable a few years ago!
Throughout the curriculum using a
piece of software is enhancing their
learning? Technology is advancing
at a rapid rate, bringing about many
concerns and pitfalls that schools
and parents are dealing with on a
daily basis. Through teaching them
to become ‘Digitally Literate’ we are
teaching the children to act responsi-
bly and use the internet and its pow-
erful resources in a better, much safer
way. We primarily use the CEOP
think
you know
website to help deliver the
importance of internet safety.
/
We also teach elements of computing
using KODU and Gamemaker studio
which are both free.
Kodu lets students create games on
the PC and Xbox via a simple visual
programming language.
Gamemaker:Studio caters equally
for entry-level novices and seasoned
game development professionals, al-
lowing them to create cross-platform
games in record time.
Competition
Create a functioning game in
scratch, kodu or gamemaker.
The game must have reference to
healthy eating and the winner will
receive a £20 gift voucher.
Email it to bflood or see me any
lunchtime in room 29. We'll tell you
who won in the next Courier!
Computing Quiz
Can you answer the following ques-
tions on Computing?
1. Which came first, the World Wide
Web, or e-mail?
2. Who invented the first computer
mouse ?
3. Which country has the highest %
of Internet users?
4. Why is the term ‘bug’ used for
computer errors?
5. Who was the first computer
programmer?
6. When was the first computer virus
created?
7. Name three 3 famous people in
this video who have a ‘superpower’.
Answers from the ICT department
Extra Curricular for all
The Computing Department runs
extra-curricular activities during
lunchtimes in room 28 and 29, with
more planned for September.
Kodu/Scratch Club
Monday room 29
Programming Club
Friday room 29
Charles Babbage 1791 - 1871
Famous Mathematician & Computing Pioneer
By the time he went to Cambridge
University in 1810 he was very inter-
ested in mathematics and, with his
Cambridge friends, set up the Astro-
nomical Society in 1820. From 1828
to 1839, he was Lucasian Professor
of Mathematics at Cambridge.
The 1820s saw him work on his
'Difference Engine', which could
performmathematical calculations.
Later he developed plans for a
bigger, better, machine - Difference
Engine 2. Aother invention, the
more complex Analytical Engine,
was a revolutionary device on which
his fame as a computer pioneer now
largely rests. Babbage also worked
in the fields of philosophy and
code-breaking.
Charles Babbage and his
Analytical Engine
