Storify Vs Flipboard

Let me start by saying that both are great tools and enable you to collate materials quickly and efficiently.  The big plus point for Flipboard is how cross platform it is with you being able to collect data from apps and browser click-ins.  You can easily select materials as you go.  It also makes a beautiful magazine that you will enjoy reading.  However it does not always put things in the order that you would like them. It's like you are the writer of the magazine, but it is the editor that lays it out and decides the order.

On the other hand Storyboard enables you to easily compile your entries together at the end of the event and put it in the order that you would like.

So when I did my week running #AsiaED, I did both:

Flipboard version: http://flip.it/E4UfH

Storify version: http://sfy.co/byXK

On this occassion, I prefer the Storify, because the narrative stays in place, but for Learning 2, Flipboard worked very well and I was able to do it as I went along, which was brilliant!

Google+ Communities for Educators

I can't claim to be an expert, but these are some of the Communities on Google+ for educators. Please feel free to add your own in the comments.

Google Summits in Education

https://plus.google.com/communities/103776281271850350584

Creative Computing Online Workshop

https://plus.google.com/communities/116632236256522474009

Deep Learning Asia

https://plus.google.com/communities/106363993440238710512

TechSmith in Education

https://plus.google.com/communities/111980779315598024356

Ask a Google Education Guru

https://plus.google.com/communities/103407500858579814147

Raspberry Pi

https://plus.google.com/communities/113390432655174294208

Chromebook EDU

https://plus.google.com/communities/111885171520981887334

EDUMaker

https://plus.google.com/communities/104957385931397866529

EdTech

https://plus.google.com/communities/113018638134660266670

Google Slam

https://plus.google.com/communities/109257171251369452815

When to teach what in Primary Computer Science

There are a lot of concepts in Computer Science and it is important to teach them in a sensible sequence. This post is for primary children, for Secondary the planning is well defined in the Compute IT series. (I am one of the authors)  So here are some of the tools that I use and when I use them.

UK Year group	Age	What I use
1	5-6	Beebots & iPad Apps
2	6-7
3	7-8	Lego WeDo / Scratch & Scratch Jnr
4	8-9
5	9-10	Scratch, html (via webmaker.org/tools & Blue Griffon)
6	10-11

This is really just an idea of the tools I use and I also ensure children have a good grounding in core ICT skills. In the 21st century, ideally we should cover all angles. We don't want Computing students at University who can't write an essay in Word or explain a project with appropriate slides!  Below is a much more thorough presentation taking you through most of the tools available that I gave at the 21st century learning conference.

If you are looking for a ready made curriculum, check out my Ready Made Curriculum post.

An Internet Minute

In every minute of every day, loads of data are being generated. Just how much, you ask?

On average in a minute...

• YouTube users upload 48 hours of new video
• Instagram users share 3,600 new photos
• Brands and organizations on Facebook receive 34,722 "likes"
• Over 100,000 tweets are sent

Taking Your first steps in Programming

Taking your first steps in programming can be a little scary! However don't worry, there are lots of great tutorials to get you started. You can buy a book, watch a video or follow some simple tutorials.  I am going to start by suggesting Scratch. It's a friendly, visual language and a great place to start to learn to code. I can get most students to make their first game in less than 30 minutes, so I promise it doesn't take long to get started!







When my son was 9, he made this Screencast to help other children get started and I think it's probably the best way to see how simple coding can be!

Once you have seen that, probably the best place to start is the help Section of the Scratch Website. http://scratch.mit.edu/help/  It includes lots of help and some lovely tutorials. After that, on this blog, have a go at the Making Your First Game tutorials.  Once beyond that, Shaun The Sheep is happy to help.

If you have an iPad and a computer together, then David Phillips has made a nice app to help.  There are also some excellent books to buy on Amazon. Super Scratch Programming Adventure and Learn To Program With Scratch

How to run your class like a Video game!

John Hattie says, "Video games know exactly what your prior achievement is, they then set success criteria not too much and not too little above it, but unlike many classrooms they don't change the success criteria. They don't say, ahh you're not doing very well or we'll make it easier. They keep it and then they make you practise until you get and once you get it, they raise the bar and that's a good teacher, a teacher who knows where you are, how to set the bar and not change it."  A very interesting interview on Radio 4 with John Hattie. Well worth your time and available internationally.  Also check out my article on Visible Learning.

We need a plan for Primary Computing right now!

After the summer, every school in the UK should be teaching Computing and this is a great challenge for many primary teachers who had enough difficulty with the requirements of older curriculum to do sequencing.   If you are a teacher with enthusiasm for Computing then you will enjoy finding the apps and playing with Scratch and even Shaun The Sheep to deliver a truly engaging curriculum. However this is a blog entry for head teachers who need a plan and they need a plan now!

These are the options that can be bought right now, both have free samples so you can give them a try and see if they are worth ordering.  If money is an issue, I would priorities Upper Key Stage 2, because this is where it gets most complicated and much of lower curriculum can be covered with a few apps, turtles and Maths that is familiar.

iCompute

http://www.icompute-uk.com/Sample.html 

Written by Liane O'Kane who is a primary computer science master teacher teach computer science to primary pupils of all ages and train teachers in how to teach computing.  The total cost for all of the packs is £600, which is substantial but includes all the planning needed.

Switched on Computing

http://www.switchedoncomputing.co.uk/

This is written by Miles Berry, who has had many years of experience in NAACE and with Computing at School. The full pack costs £965.  There are discounts available if you bought Switched on ICT.