Welcome to TPEA’s special computing page to support you during this time of the coronavirus. On this page, we present, a collection of resources and links designed to assist our members, the computing community and the general public over the coming weeks and months. As a professional organisation, we want this resource to grow particularly in these times when digital technologies are being harnessed more and more to develop teaching, learning and support as this crisis evolves, so do please return and share with your friends and colleagues…
As a professional organisation, we have been working with technology to support education for well over 35 years. On this page, you will find both a collection of materials created specifically by us that we hope may be of assistance during the current health crisis.
Encourage children to explore the use of technology from three different perspectives:
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Technology as a tool
Where technology as a physical object is used to support learning (e.g. computer, digital camera, mobile technology, VR/AR/MR, assistive technology). The tool is the focus. -
Technology as a subject
The teaching the subject matter of technology (branching databases, graphic packages, spreadsheets, LOGO, desktop publishing, coding, digital citizenship, digital health & well being, e-safety). This supports children in developing their specific subject content knowledge. -
Technology across the curriculum
The use of technology to support the teaching of another curriculum subject. Be mindful of which curriculum objectives you are serving. (For example, the use of Google Earth in a geography lesson may develop geographical skills but may only develop a limited technology skill)
In addition, if you are one of our TPEA Associates, have either produced or discovered a resource that you feel would add to this collection, please don’t hesitate to let us know either by email us via admin@tpea.co.uk or by tweeting the resource to us @TPEAssociation or by using the #TPEA hashtag.
Section A – Teachers delivering lessons/support remotely
The resources in this section are aimed at teachers and other computing educators who wish to provide support, resources and activities for their students…
Online meetings, conferences and collaborative tools
With the increasing possibility of closure of schools, colleges and universities, and meetings and conferences being discouraged. there are a range of options and tools to help keep in touch. Some of these providers are now offering these tools free to schools for a limited time.
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Google Hangouts Google’s cloud based conferencing
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Jitsi Open Source Video Conferencing
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Skype best known app for video chat and voice calls between computers, and devices, needs installing
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Whereby Browser based video-conferencing, no software to install, instant connection, various price plans from free to business. Includes screen sharing and recording.
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Zoom business video-conferencing and phone software, various price plans from free to business and also education plans. Being widely used in education at the moment
- Explore the use of Explain Everything EDU (Paid app) https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/explain-edu/id431493086 This app provides a way of recording audio at the same time as you using the whiteboard. An extremely useful app for screencasting whereby you can upload your PowerPoint and then add audio to each of the slides. An interactive web browser can also be added to the screen. A good idea for supporting parents and like having their teacher with them. The output is saved as a video that can be uploaded to you website, blog or virtual learning environment.
- The Book Creator apps allow you as a teacher to make your own multimedia books/worksheets. Final books can be exported as a pdf. (https://bookcreator.com).
- Google Classroom
Section B – Computing activities to do at home
Section B is for those at home with children and who wish to provide activities using digital technologies…
- Hour of code – Create snowflakes and patterns as you ice-skate in a winter wonderland with Anna and Elsa. https://hourofcode.com/frzn
- Amazon’s Audible is streaming a collection of audiobook stories. Perfect for storytime at the end of the day of just before bedtime. https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
- Interactive Resources (IR) have produced a range of apps to accompany their range of mathematical games and apps. There are 40 desktop versions for children to practise their skills. https://www.primaryapps.co.uk
- Computing unplugged/away from the computer activities to develop younger children’s skills of computer science:
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Playing counting games, counting steps forwards, backwards, left or right.
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Develop awareness of direction and turn.
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Talking about directions when travelling somewhere e.g. how you get to Grandma’s house? How do you get to the shops?
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Make and use maps. Can the children recognise key landmarks from their local area. Use the Google Maps to
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Following and planning dance routines.
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Planning a trail (classroom or outside) and following it.
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Be a human robot.
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- Create a repeated pattern using the online painting package SumoPaint (https://www.sumopaint.com/paint/)
- Scratch – https://scratch.mit.edu. If you have explored the Hour of Code, then you be used to the way Scratch blocks of code works. Use the free software to write your own programme.
- Explore Physical computing projects at home:
- Makey Makey (https://makeymakey.com) as a low-cost way of exploring conductors and insulators. Build a project. Watch the promotional video to explore what can be achieved with a Makey Makey and its associated apps https://makeymakey.com/blogs/how-to-instructions/apps-for-plug-and-play
- Crumble boards (and Crumble Playgrounds for younger children) (https://redfernelectronics.co.uk) offer another low-cost device that provides both parents and children with computing and DT project to tackle together. Make a buggy, a bot or let your imagination go and then use the free ‘Scratch’-like software to programme the different elements.
- Stuck for ideas? There are ideas and planning lessons on the Code-IT.org site http://code-it.co.uk/csplanning.html as well as on the official project website https://redfernelectronics.co.uk/crumble/
- For Younger Children, explore the Busy Things apps and website (https://www.busythings.co.uk) as well as the apps suggested by the governmental group https://www.gov.uk/government/news/early-years-apps-approved-to-help-families-kick-start-learning-at-home. During the coronavirus, Busy Things are offering families access for one month for just £1.
- 2Simple are offering free access (https://2simple.com/free-access/) to both Purple Mash and Serial Mash for schools and home users. Request free access here.
- Read #Goldilocks: A fairytale for the digital age and talk about the content along with the supporting worksheet. https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/digital-parenting/goldilocks
- Animate anything at home. Storyboard the narrative and then use I Can Animate https://www.kudlian.net/products/icananimatev2/ica2mob.html
Section C – Teacher and Student Teacher
Section C is to support our community with their professional development during the coronavirus pandemic …
- Update your computing subject knowledge by reading this handy guide to the curriculum – Computing in the National Curriculum: A Guide for Primary Teachers. Computing at School. Available at: http://www.computingatschool.org.uk/data/uploads/CASPrimaryComputing.pdf
- Sharpen your Apple skills by enrolling and working towards your Apple Teacher certification (https://www.apple.com/uk/education/apple-teacher/)
- The Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award, known as iDEA https://idea.org.uk is an international programme that helps you develop and demonstrate your digital, enterprise and employability skills for free.
- Read the latest Digital Parenting from Vodaphone (https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/digital-parenting/resources-category
- Explore the recommendations from the NEU on distance teaching. https://neu.org.uk/coronavirus-what-you-need-know-distance-teaching
