HTML Tutorial for WJEC Unit 2 On-Screen Test

In addition to my recent blog post on the Greenfoot element of the on-screen test, I thought I would produce a new video for the HTML part. This is a much simpler task once students are familiar with the tags. I always advise my students to do this task first to get it out of the way and allow for more time to be spent on the other tasks (Greenfoot and the Algorithm) however from September 2017 we will also have to factor in time for the Assembly Language task, but don’t worry, by the time you need it I’ll have you covered with a tutorial and an example 🙂

The video below is the HTML guide which is also linked in the PDF task here or if you are a teacher wanting to deliver this there is a powerpoint version here. The resources also include links to the raw text required for the tasks.

Best of luck, and as always, enjoy! 🙂

Advertisement

Greenfoot Tutorial for WJEC Unit 2 On-Screen Test

Working with other schools recently through my lead practitioner work with GwE, the concern was raised that there are not enough resources that adequately fully support the Greenfoot task in the on-screen test for the Computer Science GCSE. I am currently teaching this to my third cohort of students and can honestly say that each year I have tried a different way of approaching it. However this year I am adding in some extra assessment for students to undertake this task in a controlled manner in the hope of giving them a more realistic experience of a Unit 2 exam. As a result I have produced a set of video tutorials that are hopefully easy to follow for students and that they can learn in a more purposeful manner.

Having worked through the Ice Breaker task that was the scenario for the 2015 WJEC exam, students can proceed to work through the Chase task (WJEC 2016) to see if they can apply what they have learned.

The resources are online here in PDF format that include links to the video tutorials and links to the scenarios needed.

If required, Greenfoot can be downloaded from here.

Any feedback gratefully received via Twitter

Share this:

Encryption Challenge

Below you will find clues to the encryption challenges, the clues are not in any specific order but relate directly in some way to the challenges. Remember, spotting patterns is key in deciphering codes, apply the knowledge from that pattern to your problem and see where it leads you.

        

   

 

BBC micro:bit launch at Ysgol Bryn Elian

On the 22nd March, Ysgol Bryn Elian launched the micro:bit to teachers and pupils in North Wales. This micro sized computer has 25 LEDs, a compass, input buttons, i/o contacts, an accelerometer and a low energy bluetooth antenna.

We were on air at 8:20am on BBC Good Morning Wales

Our Year 7 students had a great day, they started out by learning all about broadcasting before getting down to teaching some Year 6 students and some secondary school teachers all about the micro:bit.

Getting in the broadcasting zone

Look how professional they look

Preparing for the morning radio slot

All set for the launch

Happy Birthday micro:bit

Hive of activity

BBC Wales Today

Will demonstrating for the TV piece

The students even put together a piece for the BBC Good Evening Wales program.

The launch also appeared on BBC Wales today too!

All that remains now is to get coding with these awesome devices.

Getting ready for the BBC Micro:bit

I distinctly remember coding on the old BBC Micro when I was about 12, I played Repton quite a bit too! There was only one teacher in the school who knew how to work it, Mr Collier. Thanks to him he brought out the inner geek in me. Thirty years later I’m playing with the new addition in anticipation of the next generation of coders! Thanks BBC!

   
 

Rhyl Summer Tech-Dojo 2015

Groups of eager coders attended the Rhyl Summer Tech-Dojo at the end of July at St Ann’s Church. They made real working circuits using a Raspberry Pi, did lots of coding in Python particularly with Minecraft. The children especially enjoyed the Chatbot Challenge. The three events were lots of fun. I must thank Andrew Mullholand for his excellent work on PiNet which makes running a Pi network a breeze!

Ysgol Bryn Elian – Digital Pioneer School

It is with great excitement that we can announce YBE as a Digital Pioneer School that will work with a select few schools across Wales to shape the curriculum for the future. We push the limits of technology at YBE and have a great team working hard to bring latest technologies and innovation into the classroom. We can’t wait to see where we can take this!

Find out more here

Summer Tech-Dojo – Rhyl 2015

Come and learn all about the fun and exciting things you can do with a Raspberry Pi. There will be a range of activities including hacking Minecraft using Python and creating an artificially intelligent chatbot.

This event is aimed at 10 year olds and above, if your child is younger than 10, please contact the event organiser prior to booking.

Each day is exactly the same so you only need to book your child on to one of the days as places are limited therefore BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL ON ONE OF THE DAYS ONLY. 

Parents/carers are encouraged to attend with their child however only a child place needs to be booked.

The Rhyl Tech-Dojo will run for 3 dates in July, please book using one of the links below.

Monday 27th July 2015 10am – 2pm

Tuesday 28th July 2015 10am – 2pm

Wednesday 29th July 2015 10am – 2pm

Introduction to Programming Using Computer Craft in Minecraft

I’ve been messing around with ComputerCraft for a while now and I think it’s a great mod for Minecraft. Recently I’ve been working on a series of lessons to introduce programming using this mod and in particular the programmable turtles and terminals.

I’ve created a series of 7 lessons:

1. Command line and Conditionals
2. Variables and Boolean Logic
3. Logical Expressions
4. While and For Loops
5. Functions
6. ComputerCraft Communications
7. Programming Challenges

The lessons can be run on any version of Minecraft with the ComputerCraft mod installed. There is also an accompanying map you could use with programming challenge stations set up.

The lessons are on GitHub and the link to the map can be found on the main page.

I hope you find the lessons useful, please send feedback via Twitter @MrAHeard

As always, enjoy! 🙂