Computing

[tony85wild]

Hi,

 

I am looking for some help and or advice with computing. We are currently looking at the computing scheme of work and we need to refresh it. We currently have 90 iPads and a computing suite with 30 iMacs. The suite has a green screen and a coding area. The coding area has a smartboard plus 6 OSMO kits.

At the moment, teachers use the iPads for a computing lesson instead of the suite. This stops other classes using the iPads for general lessons. My thought is that we should be using the computing suite as much as possible because we have it! iPads can we used at any point to enrich a lesson.

 

What do you do at your school?

 

We are a 3 form entry primary (90 in each year group).

 

Thank you for any help with this.

[mikeprice]

I used to teach Computing in a Primary - I taught years 5 and 6 but advised/helped most years

 

Many parts of the computing curriculum can be done with no IT equipment at all. e.g. you can teach sequences using a dance - both use sequences

kids can be used as robots following instruction written on white boards

instruction cards can be used to develop a 'program' to guide a kids around a course

 

as far as using the equipment is concerned - I think a desktop type machine is far better - I normally used a spreadsheet to teach formules and IF type stuff

you can also user Power point (not sure about other things) using non-linear pages (hot spots/action buttons) and cancel the mouse forwarding - this also teaches severla parts of the curriculum if you put it together properly.

 

Obviously using Scratch is a wonderful way of using the concepts - but I found it best to introduce them with no IT equipment - but when you do them desktops are better

 

lookup 'teaching computing without computers'

 

just my way - which is obviously the best in my head - YMMV

[tony85wild]

Hi Mike, that information is very helpful. I agree with the not needing equipment all the time!

Thanks