When the Guardian Teacher Network asked me to exclusively reveal a list of my top 10 resources I found it really hard to narrow my choice down to just 10.
But here it is – and if you think I have left any out then please do comment on the blog and add your suggestions or send me a message through Twitter@teknoteacher.
1. Scratch Community is a fantastic programming resource for learners of all ages. What better place to start than a site dedicated specifically to teachers who want to use Scratch to teach programming? Here you will find videos, lesson plans, worksheets, discussions and even real people to ask for help. Unfortunately the webinars (which are fantastic) are around 1.00 – 2.00 am UK time, but you can watch recordings afterwards.
2. Codecademy is the web resource that does exactly what it says on the tin. This is a good starting point to discover what computer programming (in JavaScript) can be like. Sometimes unforgiving if you get your syntax wrong (that’s spelling, punctuation and grammar in computer speak). You get feedback as you progress and learners can compare their score with each other.
3. Invent With Python is a real book that teaches you step by step how to program using the Python programming language. The book is available as a hard copy to purchase, a free download or just view it online for free. The author has a friendly style of writing and explains all the code used clearly. Don’t worry – no references to large snakes.
4. Computing At School is a free-to-join association for anyone with an interest in computing in education. Sponsors include Microsoft and Google among others. Benefits of joining include free-to-attend annual conference, regional hub meetings, competitions, newsletters and teachshares. Meet up with lots of other like minded people to share and steal good practice.
5. Twitter is another great place to hang out with like minded people who wish to promote computing science in education, try following some of these people and read what they are doing. You will find they rarely tweet about what they have had for breakfast, or what colour socks they are wearing, instead they have good quality education based tweets @largerama, @drtomcrick, @codeboom ,@hubmum, @batteredbluebox, @CompAtSch, @GuardianTeach oh and@teknoteacher (that’s me!).
6. Code Hero is a totally new way to learn how to code. It’s a first-person science shooter game where you use the code gun to manipulate code. You learn how to code in order to succeed in the game.
7. Play My Code is “an online platform for building, playing and distributing browser games. Powered by HTML5, you can build within the browser and embed your games anywhere.” Start by simply playing the games, then make small alterations to make the games easier or more difficult to play, share your altered games with friends. Before you know it you are a games developer.
8. The 2008 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures were given by Professor Chris Bishop on the power of computing. The videos are now available to watch on the big screen in your classroom also available as a free DVD. Suitable viewing from around age eight upwards.
9. The National Museum of Computing and MOSI are two great museums to explore for teachers planning to teach the development of computers. Book yourself out of school to visit as part of your CPD or take your family. Create your own videos or record interviews while you are there.
10. iTunes contains many podcasts and academic programs (iTunesU) that you can follow. On your ipod, you can catch up with the world of computing science, technology and more while travelling in the car, bus or tube. Try some of these GuardianTechWeekly, BBC, Introduction to C# Programming.
• Alan O’Donohoe is Principal Teacher of ICT at Our Lady’s High School, Preston. He has been teaching for just short of 20 years. In the Summer of 2011 he taught himself how to program with Python. He seeks to evangelise teachers to teach computing science through his blogs, tweets and audioboos. He blogs atteachcomputing and can be found on twitter at @teknoteacher.
The next Hack to the Future event is on Saturday, 12th February in Preston – the event is highly anticipated and now has a waiting list of speakers but there are spaces for more children to take part so if you are interested in taking a party of children (or even one child) then see here for more details or look at the flyer designed for children.
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