Programming as a Tool for Learning (EDUC2323)

Teaching Material

Week 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11

Week 1 Conversation

Technical strand: Introduction to SCRATCH, conversation project

Educational strand: Computational Thinking, why do we care?, assignment introduction

Module scope, aims and philosophy
Policy context: why did the National Curriculum change in 2014 and what do schools and teachers need to do?
Approaching the project development blog
Seymour Papert and constructionism
Computers as ‘objects for thinking with’
What do we mean by ‘Computational thinking’?
What do we mean by ‘digital literacy’?
What do we mean by computer programming?
Practical projects and ‘meaningful learning’

Suggested focus for your project development blog:
Identifying possible topics and ideas for your practical project

To do:

Topic for project
Teams

Links and References

Simon Peyton-Jones, Microsoft Research and CAS Chair

Clare Sutcliffe Co-Founder of Code Club

Brennan and Resnick (Brennan & Resnick (2014)

Meaningful Learning with Technology (Jonassen, 2011)

Computing in the National Curriculum

Communites of Practice (Wenger, McDermott & Snyder, 2002)

Video

Week 2 Slug Racer

Technical strand: Looping, If Then, Event blocks,

Educational strand:Mental models

Abstraction and algorithms: modelling (representing real world issues, systems, situations); decomposing (breaking a problem into sub problems, solving sub problems, putting solutions together); generalising & classifying.
Implementing algorithms as programs.
Reviewing progress on the project development blogs.

Suggested focus for your project development blog:
How can theory, research and professional literature inform the development of your practical project?

Finished slug racer project http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/30609918/

Powerpoint

Loops and Decisions

Sample Files

Track.png

SlugSprite.png

Audio Icon Screech.wav

Links and References

Adventures in Scratch by Andrew Murphy (Murphy, 2013)

Find the bug (Debugging)

Language-Independent Conceptual "bugs" in Novice Programming (Pea, 1986)

Brennan and Resnick (Brennan & Resnick (2014)

Video

Week 3 Guess the Number

Technical strand: Debugging, Variables

Educational strand: Learning through discussion and mistakes Just in Time Learning

Reviewing progress on the project development blogs – questions and answers
Use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs
Debugging: identifying and correcting errors
Reviewing and assessing the quality of code.
Making use of feedback
‘Just-in-time’ learning
Pair and ‘extreme programming’
Explaining the thinking behind algorithms to others

Suggested focus for your project development blog:
Evaluating examples of other, existing programming projects (online and in the literature) which have links with your practical project. (c.250 words)

Finished guess the number project https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/246726979/

Powerpoint

More Decisions and Variables

Extracts from McCauley et al (2008)

Links and References

Brennan and Resnick (Brennan & Resnick (2014) Page 7

Just in Time Learning (Baruah, 2013)

Computer Science Concepts in Scratch (Armoni & Ben-Ari, 2013: 86)

Code-It

Video

Week 4 Microworlds

Technical strand:

Educational strand: Microworlds

Reviewing progress on the project development blogs – questions and answers
Designing bigger programs to model and simulate
Testing hypotheses
Writing functions/procedures
Commenting code
Learning from user experience

Suggested focus for your project development blog:
Bringing it all together: Articulating a clear rationale and key objectives for your practical project and identifying any necessary resources (c.250 words)

Finished Jess in Space project https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/259057383/

Powerpoint

Microworld Case Studies (Handout)

Members of the Solar System (Handout)

Links and References

Rethinking the Microworld Idea (Hoyles et al, 2002)

Introduction to the Theory of Microworlds

Video

Week 5 Unplugged and Syntonicity

Technical strand: Suntonicity

Educational strand:

Body, ego and cultural syntonicity
Turtle geometry and ‘appropriable mathematics’
Role-play and movement to model algorithms
Computer Science ‘Unplugged’

Powerpoint

Word

Blog Post by Uttam (2016) Handout

Links and References

Berry (2013)

Computer Science Unplugged (2015)

Body Syntonic

Teaching with technologies: the essential guide (Younie, Leask 2013)

Education Research Complete

DMU Library Catalogue

Google Scholar

Video

Week 6

Enhancement Week

Week 7 Broadcasting

Technical strand:

Educational strand:

Reviewing expectations and requirements for the practical project
Program communication & co-ordination, e.g. broadcasting
User interaction and sprite sensing
Triggering costume and background changes

Powerpoint

Broadcasting Handout

Links and References

Broadcasting - Intro Example

Broadcasting - Animation Example

Broadcasting - Full Example

Video

Week 8 Lists

Technical strand:

Educational strand:

Data structures and representation (lists)
Manipulating text and numbers
Sorting and searching
Mathematical functions and Boolean logic
Revision of term 1 Scratch concepts/blocks

Powerpoint

Word

Links and References

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/140776476/
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/140869683/
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/141244527/
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/141243455/

Video (This is last year's video so some details related to the assessment may be slightly different.)