Any primary schools using Rising Stars

[edutech4schools]

Hi, my primary school are just about to deploy the Rising Stars - Switched on computing packages and I wondered if any other schools are using it as I have not found any in my area.

[sted]

it vaguely rings a bell

[hardtailstar]

My primary schools that I left just over 6 months ago were using them and found them easy to teach.

 

However do have a look through them as some of the modules you will need to adapt so they do not destroy the computers/network!

[ijk]

One of the schools I support use it. What is your query?

[TechSupp]

I bought it as a starting point...and thats all! It looks to be a one stop shop but be aware some links to sites in it dont now work, some software needs to be paid for and you really need to see if your kids will be able to do some of the activities (I couldnt use some of the activities as some of my Y1's just didnt have the literacy skills to do some of the tasks). As you may tell I'm not a great fan. Whoever is leading your computing really needs to get into what computing these days is all about. There are so many free activities and resources out there that there is really no need to buy into one, what you need to do is look at the curriculum and decide how you want to cover it, what skills staff have and take it from there. If the staff dont have the skills even Rising stars wont help, they may need a gentle intro to it via staff training.

Have a look at the Computing at School website, sign up and browse the hundreds of resources, lessons etc. There is also the Barefoot project with lots of lessons and resources. http://www.teachprimarycomputing.org.uk/ gives a good roundup of what a new computing curriculum should cover and include.

Hope that helps but as you are about to deploy Rising Stars...probably not!

[mats]

My schools both use it. It's ok bar

- the bit where they want a command prompt to ping a few hosts. I direct them to putty (ssh) into a linux VM and use that. Gives them a nice little primer on networked computing too.

- the year 6 stuff is bunk. Creating apps on mobile devices is waaaay beyond the capabilities of the kids and the apps / websites suggested are nowhere near good enough. Even if it was simplified enough, we don't have a load of mobile devices to use.

 

Junior Computer Science | is worth a look.

[edutech4schools]

One of the schools I support use it. What is your query?

 

Firstly just to see if other schools are using it and then to get a feel / feedback about it.

 

Thanks for all the info so far

[TechSupp]

Junior Computer Science | is worth a look.

 

Yes that's a good one to look at, some very good ideas and resources. Used some of them in my scheme. Doing your own scheme is a lot of hard work and time involved but in the end I feel you get a more personalised curriculum to your school and kids. I spent last year creating and trialling ours and this year its a case of seeing what didn't work (some activities not just Rising Stars looked good but at the stage our kids are at the moment they just didn't work) and making it more teacher friendly, more explained lesson plans etc.

Have to agree that the Y6 Rising stars modules just didn't get a starter here, did think about doing some AppInventor etc but half way through the year realised our kids were just not ready yet, the new curriculum had not had its longer term impact yet, maybe I'll try it in a couple of years when y6 will then have had a few years of programming etc.

 

Remember as well, don't throw the toys out with the bath water, i.e. some of the stuff done via the old curriculum will still fit in the new one and you still need to include other things that are not specifically mentioned in the official document. Just doing Rising Stars is a start but not everything.

 

Where are you? Is there a ComputingatSchool Hub near you that you could go to for help and ideas?