Monday, 14 December 2015

Subject Specialism Training - Day Two 14/12/15

Variables - the computer cannot remember variables like you - you must set them!

For turtle resources: www.pythoncode.co.uk

"Without the colon the bottom falls out of your program!"

Python Practise

User - input 
Program - output

print ("hello world")
hello world


Find the line / column by putting your cursor on the line you want


input stores letters...





Whereas int stores numerical data...



Conversation in Python AND correcting grammar!! 


Decisions using if and else AND forcing letters to be lowercase


Decisions using elif

\n --> new line

Strings using str (good practise - rather than using commas)


Lists....

append adds onto the end
use [ ] brackets to choose from the list

Three types of loops:

finite - runs a set number of times --> seen as a for in Python

infinite - keeps running e.g. traffic lights

conditional - keep running until a condition is met -->seen as a while in Python

Lists Take 2...


TWO TOPS TIPS:
  1. Highlight code and press tab to indent all code highlighted
  2. Adding \ to code to shorten the width of the window


Random insults!!


Monday, 9 November 2015

Subject Specialism Training - Day One 9/11/15

Notes from the session...


Task 1: Random Number Game here's my pseudocode followed by my flowcharts...






Task 2: System Password - here are my flowcharts...



Last Task: Arithmetic Quiz -  here's the task followed by my flowcharts...




Monday, 12 October 2015

CPD - Mindset - 12/10/15

Aim: To outline a few pedagogical implications of mindset theory and routes towards nurturing growth mindsets

Key points



  • Key phrase from kids: "I'm not smart". Response: "Become smarter through learning".
  • What individuals believe about concept of ability is more important than 'ability' itself
  • Meaningful success requires effort
  • (perfect) practice makes perfect --> OR practice until you cannot get it wrong!!
  • Motivating students.... Intrinsic: doing something for the thing itself - a focus on process
  • Keywords: drive and curiosity 
  • Praise... Good EFFORT rather than good WORK
  • Students to self-monitor their own work --> they have to do the work = most effective feedback
To do

  • Reinforce students seeking challenges... Create worksheets to challenge pupils (as extension tasks?)
  • Look into mindset stickers
  • Trying out meta starters/mains/desserts:

Links

ICT department Google Doc HERE

Monday, 5 October 2015

Subject Specialism Training - Introduction 5/10/15

Key issues

Time to learn
'winging it'
Keeping one step ahead
Dry subject - trying to 'pimp' up the resources/lessons
Programming - not comfortable 'modelling' it in front of the class
Hard to motivate students to WANT to learn

Impact on pupils

Attitudinal surveys - Finding out if their subject knowledge has improved, they are the feeling more motivated, etc

Admin

Alison Annetts and Nicky Henry - admin
mslc@soton.ac.uk

Support in school

Tig to teach 11m7!!

Computing with Tig - Intro

Definition of Computing: Solving real world problems using computers
History of Booting - boot-strapping - use as a starter task
History of Spam - spamming a thread using the Monty Python SPAM clip - use as a starter task
Computational thinking starters e.g. chicken crossing the road solution
GIF images have 256 colours (128, 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1)
Abstraction (London tube map) --> what we turn it into
Decomposition --> breaking it down into manageable chunks
Systems analysis --> a problem solving technique that decomposes a system into its component pieces


Friday, 3 July 2015