An inspiring unplugged session on teaching computing for teachers.
Computing is not just about technology, it is about understanding people too. When we solve computing problems we are solving them for people. Computational thinking is the general group of problem solving skills that students learn as a result of studying computing. Often this is equated with algorithmic thinking – a direct result of learning to program. However it just as important to make programs usable by people – or they won’t be used. We will see how magic gives a fun way to introduce these ideas and how a simple game demonstrates why graphical user interfaces are effective.
This session is in collaboration with CHI+MED: an EPSRC funded project about making medical devices safer.
Session material This session will cover:
- computational thinking: understanding people
- human computer interaction
- why GUIs are better than text-based interfaces
- The importance of data structures
Activities are suitable for all age groups and can be adapted to fit your teaching needs.
This session comes with linked activity sheets and ‘story’ write-ups that you can download:
- Activity: The Four Aces [PDF]
- Slides: The Four Aces [PPT] (forthcoming)
- Activity: Activity-Spit-Not-So [PDF]
- Slides: Spit-Not-So [PPT]
- Activity: The Teleporting Robot [PDF]
- Puzzle: The Teleporting Robot [PDF]
- Activity: The Microwave Racing Video [PDF]
- Video: Microwave racing [LINK, video also below]
- Activity: Change Blindness [PDF] (forthcoming)
- Slides/Puzzle: Change Blindness [PPT]
- Activity: The numbers game [PDF] (forthcoming)
- Slides: The numbers game [PDF] (forthcoming)
- Magazine: cs4fn issue 17: Machines Making Medicine Safer [PDF]
This is a self-contained evening interactive seminar session lasting 60-90 minutes.
Similar sessions on other topics
Want to get up to speed on computing concepts like computational thinking or ideas for how to teach computing in a fun, inspiring way? Teaching London Computing with cs4fn run as series of free one off sessions for teachers of ICT and computing such as this one.
For our programme of longer courses for teachers please see CPD courses.
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