What safe tasks could be done with a "challenging" child?

[LeMarchand]

I've been asked if I can work with a "challenging" pupil who is keen on computing, but isn't finding what the school has to offer worthy of his alleged intellectual standard. As he's known to have "over shouldered" passwords in the past, and as I suspect that this is a precursor to him trying to find some exploitable holes that he can use to do what he wants (like play Nazi Zombies), I'm not keen; however I know some on here have been helped by such interventions and feel I ought to think of something.

 

Anyone got any ideas? I doubt he's anywhere near as clever/knowledgeable as he thinks he is, but knowing that there is a server involved somewhere in the process makes him a genius compared to his minders, so I can't get him to write me scripts. Last year of KS2. Looking for something above "Toner Monkey" but nothing that might spark any thoughts of rebellion.

[3s-gtech]

Demonstrate quantum computing with him. Put him in a large box, and occasionally observe him to see if he's still alive. Record the results.

[Jcx500]

could set him a standalone machine up with virtualbox and let him play around with Servers Etc

[LeMarchand]

I may have dodged the bullet, as child hates me for blocking him from various things that I've been asked to stop him using, though more suggestions would be welcome just in case...

[hardtailstar]

Have you got any spare parts about? Get him to build them up into laptops/computers.

 

Even if you dont use them. just something to keep him busy.

[jthompson]

Making and testing patch cables.

[LeMarchand]

Making and testing patch cables.

 

 

It's a junior school; the only reason we have the tools for that is because they came out of my pocket - they won't get replaced if broken!

[tmoon-mint]

Have you got any spare parts about? Get him to build them up into laptops/computers.

 

Even if you dont use them. just something to keep him busy.

 

^ This if you have any parts you don't really care about. I had the same thing asked of me a while ago and I gave the student two old laptops to "fix". They were very good at ripping them apart but not so good at putting anything back together so make sure its old or broken kit.

[MatthewL]

One way to off load a child they don't know what to do with!!

[Primus]

Is this during the school day or after the school day?

[dhicks]

I've been asked if I can work with a "challenging" pupil who is keen on computing

 

This is, possibly, where a Raspberry Pi could be the right tool. The whole idea is that it's a cheap, self-contained computer - maybe set up with a VESA-mount to the back of whatever monitor you have spare so there's initially not too much to tinker with. Maybe set him to create some kind of information website about the school / IT department hosted on the Pi, that should provide enough of a technical challenge to keep him occupied for a while.

[LeMarchand]

Is this during the school day or after the school day?

 

 

During.

 

This is, possibly, where a Raspberry Pi could be the right tool. The whole idea is that it's a cheap, self-contained computer - maybe set up with a VESA-mount to the back of whatever monitor you have spare so there's initially not too much to tinker with. Maybe set him to create some kind of information website about the school / IT department hosted on the Pi, that should provide enough of a technical challenge to keep him occupied for a while.

 

 

Good idea. We might have a Pi, but I'd have to have a play myself as I've never used one!

[Primus]

We’ve experience of such students moving up to secondary without the necessary learning and skills. Some of our examples were working with the caretaker fixing bikes. Students go to school to be taught by qualified teachers you want no part of this unless you have QTS.

[TechMonkey]

Any HDDs that need disposing of? Give them to him to work out how they work. He can also get some cool magnets, IF he promises to be good with them.

[Duke5A]

Sounds like this kid is going to get into trouble no matter where he is placed. The people whose job it is to deal with this situation, who are payed to do so and have the requisite training are trying to offload him onto someone who doesn't. If something does happen while he is under your care you won't have any protection and will be tossed under a bus. Stay away from this with ten foot pole.

[keyboards]

Yeah as said above, if this turns bad, then you could potentially be in trouble or something could happen, this no way worth the risk with a "problem child", a nice child who wants to learn and has an interest in IT, maybe but not a challenging child.