Directory Of Programs And Websites To Support The New Curriculum For Computing 2014

Directory of Programs and Websites to Support the New Curriculum for Computing 2014.

Draft NC14 strand / Decoded by Simon Haughton / Program/website/Idea / DASP expert child/student/adult
Key Stage 1
1.  Understand what algorithms are, how they are implemented as programs on digital devices, and that programs execute by following a sequence of instructions. / Some lessons on 'control' - about half a term's work on programming a turtle (e.g. a Bee-Bot or Pro-Bot) around: a floor mat, a sheet of paper on which to draw patterns/shapes and on-screen (such as using the Bee-Bot app or Focus on Bee-Bot software); / 1 Sandwich BotStudents begin to understand how algorithms work by creating sandwiches and the teacher is a sandwich bot.
1,2 Blind Navigation - Blindfold a student and ask pupils to create instructions to move around the room.
1 Pack of cards (digit cards would be good, or just a set with random numbers on) - Lots of opportunities for getting pupils to think creatively about algorithmic solutions. cards with the smallest difference? Competitive group work - Which table can find the smallest number? Which table can put the cards in order fastest? Which table can find the two. From here to working on lists in Scratch is a big, but not insurmountable step.
1 Lego Models (or other construction toys) Teach students to follow a series of instructions.
1,2,3 BeeBots or beebot ipod app.
1,2,3 2go (from 2Simple, or 'Purple Mash')
·  In pairs, one describes how to draw a shape or letter from a card or whiteboard, partner follows instructions and compares
·  Getting from A to B - use the backgrounds to plot a route
Turn on the extra features (Ctrl, Shift + O) to allow programming of sequences for more able - plan the whole route before trying.
1,2,3 '2 Control' NXT
·  NXT Robot - build your own courses to navigate using the onscreen lego blocks
1,2,3 Logo - Move onto written commands (and sequences) using Logo language.
1,2,3 Flobot Sherston software, get Flobot dancing
1,2,3 Scratchel - New problem solving approach to introduce students to computer programming through MIT Scratch with Funky robots. New problems ranging in difficulty added each week
Pixies - programmable floor robots - more controls than beebots, easier than roamers
Lego Weedo - build model following instructions and then program to move (software with easy instructions)
Textease turtle, Roamer For resources: http://www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/kentict/kentict_ct_roam_index.cfm
IPAD apps
1,2 Daisy dino free ipad app, programming basics.
1,2,3 Cargobot (ipad) simple commands
Charlie chimp’s modelling party; Cato’s hike; ALEX (Ipad apps)
3. Computer games. playing a computer game is about figuring out how it will respond to what you do - reverse engineering some aspects of its algorithm. Start simple, get harder.
2.  Write and test simple programs / See above
3.  Use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs. / See above
4.  Organise, store, manipulate and retrieve data in a range of digital formats / Lots of lessons on presenting information in different forms of media using different programs/apps - painting images, capturing photographs/videos, basic word processing, making a simple e-book etc. / Most application software - Using most programs involves retrieving data, manipulating it and then storing it. Open files in a text or hex editorto see how the program stores its data.
The Magic Cloud (paid) - Simple Pc software, lets children choose what happens if their object is placed on a cloud cushion (usb). Intro to computing and 'what if' possibilities.
Media trials - Bring in a USB stick, CD-RW, DVD-RW, access to cloud storage (E.g. Google Drive) and an external hard drive. Then conduct an experiment to store a small file or picture. Ask children which is the easiest to do, how they can share the files with each other, how fast it is and how breakable each device is. Also do a Maths lesson with MB, GB and TB. Show them how much each drive can store. Perhaps with bricks or sand to show relative sizes.
Paper data cards - Get children to fill in a data card with series of fields. Create block graph so children can see answers to other questions. Manually sort cards in various ways then show how this looks on computer using software eg 2Investigate.
Giant branching tree created on carpet using paper and items
eg sports equipment/toy animals. As above - manually get children to find a question with yes/no answer to sort objects - create giant branching tree on carpet using strips of paper, YES/NO cards. Children manually move objects past questions along the correct branches. Then show how this looks on computer
Use school photocopiers, digital cameras etc
5.  Communicate safely and respectfully online, keeping personal information private, and recognise common uses of information technology beyond school. / An e-safety lesson or two (including labelling pictures of technology/communication devices used in the home).
A few lessons on Internet research using Infant Encyclopaedia or similar. / Safer internet day - range of resources on http://www.saferinternetday.org/web/guest/sid-2013
Draft NC14 strand / Decoded by Simon Haughton / Program/website / DASP expert child/student/adult
Key Stage 2
1.  Design and write programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts. / With KS2, I would interpret the requirements into the following lessons:
a unit of work on LOGO programming - repeating commands to draw shapes, calling procedures in a program (e.g. a 'leaf' procedure in a program to draw a plant);
•  a few lessons on good Internet research skills - possibly just one per year with chance to apply skills in other subjects;
•  a lesson at the start of each year on computer rules (e.g. take regular breaks, don't put drinks near computers, hold tablets with two hands, tap keys gently etc.);
As you can see, I am fairly impressed with the proposed curriculum since I teach all of it already and so few changes will be required to my planning! I also particularly like the specific requirements to teach e-safety which although aren't a statutory requirement in the current curriculum, are inspected by Ofsted!
Literally the only 'issues' that I have with the requirements are:
•  Children in KS1 are asked to manipulate 'data' - this term means numbers or words which have no meaning to a human. In my opinion, it should be followed by the phrase 'and information' (like the KS2 requirements state) as information is data which has been placed into a context (i.e. creating a purposeful piece of work like most teachers would ask children to do anyway).
•  The word 'Internet' is actually a proper noun and needs a capital letter to start it.
•  There is no mention of the word 'Internet' in KS1 - it would be nice if it could be included somehow. / Scratch - Free download. Use basic programming skills to create games, animations and more. Start with the scratch cardsand check Simon Haughton’s blogfor more ideas.
Scratchel - New problem solving approach to introduce students to computer programming through MIT Scratch with Funky robots. New problems ranging in difficulty added each week
Kodu - free resource to create and play your own games. Easy to follow tutorials, needs downloading.
Sketchup -Teach students to design 3D graphics. Resources available here. Can also be used to show how students can collaborate via the Sketchup Warehouse.
Computercraft Mod with MinecraftEdu - Use the computercraft mod with Minecraftedu (or vanilla Minecraft) to add programmable computers, turtles etc. Using the language Lua pupils can quickly learn basic programming concepts such as if, while, for and many other concepts in an engaging scenario.
Robomind - By programming a robot, students learn about logic, computer science and robotics.Starlogo- alternative to scratch
Msw logo - free logo program.
APPInventor - Create Apps for android phones. This tool from MIT builds on Scratch building blocks and takes children into more advanced coding. It has a design mode, blocks editor and emulator (although you can test your apps directly on your android smart phone by reading the QR code and downloading your creation.) also Appshed
Turtle Art - Like other Logo tools but uses similar block building structure to scratch. A nice tool to lead children into scratch and build on Logo / Kids Ruby capability.
http://llk.media.mit.edu/courses/software/turtleart/
Activities/Cards: http://llk.media.mit.edu/courses/readings/TurtleArt.pdf
Probots fabulous robots at a more advanced level than bee-bots, but the same family! use repeats as well as more specific commands to complete missions
http://www.tts-group.co.uk/shops/tts/Range.aspx?search=probot
Crystal ICT great program from Sherston allowing children to program in LOGO to solve problems.
Big Trak truck £28 Teach sequences of instructions to navigate obstacle courses.
Philip Harris. Data logging. Different input & output sensors.
CoCo Control. Both onscreen simulation & physical devices program input sensors to effect out motors
Lightbot
Puzzle gameson Hodda Mathssite
Python - raspberry pi lots of basic intro to python on R-Pi on the net, also contact @nightzookeeper & @oliverquinlan @mberry
2.  Use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output; generate appropriate inputs and predicted outputs to test programs. / A unit of work on game making in Scratch in which the children make on-screen objects respond to user inputs (e.g. drive a car around an on-screen track in a racing game); / Scratch - Free download. Use basic programming skills to create games, animations and more. Start with the scratch cardsand check Simon Haughton’s blogfor more ideas.
Scratchel - New problem solving approach to introduce students to computer programming through MIT Scratch with Funky robots. New problems ranging in difficulty added each week
Kodu - free resource to create and play your own games. Easy to follow tutorials, needs downloading.
Computercraft Mod with MinecraftEdu - Use the computercraft mod with Minecraftedu (or vanilla Minecraft) to add programmable computers, turtles etc. Using the language Lua pupils can quickly learn basic programming concepts such as if, while, for and many other concepts in an engaging scenario.
Robomind - By programming a robot, students learn about logic, computer science and robotics.Starlogo- alternative to scratch
Msw logo - free logo program.
APPInventor - Create Apps for android phones. This tool from MIT builds on Scratch building blocks and takes children into more advanced coding. It has a design mode, blocks editor and emulator (although you can test your apps directly on your android smart phone by reading the QR code and downloading your creation.) also Appshed
Turtle Art - Like other Logo tools but uses similar block building structure to scratch. A nice tool to lead children into scratch and build on Logo / Kids Ruby capability.
http://llk.media.mit.edu/courses/software/turtleart/
Activities/Cards: http://llk.media.mit.edu/courses/readings/TurtleArt.pdf
Probots fabulous robots at a more advanced level than bee-bots, but the same family! use repeats as well as more specific commands to complete missions
http://www.tts-group.co.uk/shops/tts/Range.aspx?search=probot
Crystal ICT great program from Sherston allowing children to program in LOGO to solve problems.
Big Trak truck £28 Teach sequences of instructions to navigate obstacle courses.
Codea Real textual coding on the iPad, which created the Cargo bots.
Wacker Art Fractal Generatoror the slower, but prettier Java Fractal Generators(Both require Java, but there are iPad apps available) Generate fractals. Students can directly see the results of the variables that they input and look for patterns to see how the maths repeats to generate these beautiful pictures.
Philip Harris. Data logging. Different input & output sensors.
CoCo Control. Both onscreen simulation & physical devices program input sensors to effect out motors
Lightbot
Puzzle gameson Hodda Mathssite
3.  Use logical reasoning to explain how a simple algorithm works and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs. / Explain how an algorithm works. / Computer Science Unplugged A whole scheme of work to teach computing without computers. Suitable for ks2-3.
Computational thinking games Online games to help pupils understand how decomposition, patterns, abstraction & algorithms work.
Scratch - Free download. Use basic programming skills to create games, animations and more. Start with the scratch cardsand check Simon Haughton’s blogfor more ideas.
Scratchel - New problem solving approach to introduce students to computer programming through MIT Scratch with Funky robots. New problems ranging in difficulty added each week
Computercraft Mod with MinecraftEdu - Use the computercraft mod with Minecraftedu (or vanilla Minecraft) to add programmable computers, turtles etc. Using the language Lua pupils can quickly learn basic programming concepts such as if, while, for and many other concepts in an engaging scenario.
Robomind - By programming a robot, students learn about logic, computer science and robotics.Starlogo- alternative to scratch
Msw logo - free logo program.
APPInventor - Create Apps for android phones. This tool from MIT builds on Scratch building blocks and takes children into more advanced coding. It has a design mode, blocks editor and emulator (although you can test your apps directly on your android smart phone by reading the QR code and downloading your creation.) also Appshed
Turtle Art - Like other Logo tools but uses similar block building structure to scratch. A nice tool to lead children into scratch and build on Logo / Kids Ruby capability.
http://llk.media.mit.edu/courses/software/turtleart/
Activities/Cards: http://llk.media.mit.edu/courses/readings/TurtleArt.pdf
Probots fabulous robots at a more advanced level than bee-bots, but the same family! use repeats as well as more specific commands to complete missions
http://www.tts-group.co.uk/shops/tts/Range.aspx?search=probot
Crystal ICT great program from Sherston allowing children to program in LOGO to solve problems.
Big Trak truck £28 Teach sequences of instructions to navigate obstacle courses.
Ipad - Codea Real textual coding on the iPad, which created the Cargo bots.
4.  Understand computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the world-wide web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration. / Email/skype
Edmodo - free resource to introduce safe and easy networking for children
M Hackasarusozilla Use basic coding skills to mash up existing web pages. Easy to follow site that walks you through your hack.