1- this is me SIMONETTA LEONARDI'S LEARNING DIARY for How to Teach Computing: An Introduction to Concepts, Tools and Resources for Primary Teachers by simonetta

this is the blog I and my two Greek colleagues manage

simonardi — 2015-04-19 21:15:32 UTC

to get in touch our pupils and let them learn English in a authentic environment

I'm an Italian primary teacher

simonardi — 2015-04-19 21:15:32 UTC

this is my school

simonardi — 2015-04-19 21:15:32 UTC

my library in Anobii

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my Flicker

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my Facebook page

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my Twitter account

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this is a EU network about Cloud computing I'm involved now

simonardi — 2015-04-19 21:15:32 UTC

this is another project I've worked about to use IWB in teaching

simonardi — 2015-04-19 21:15:32 UTC

this is a project I've been involved in the past

simonardi — 2015-04-19 21:15:32 UTC

this is the blog I manage to document activities in my school

simonardi — 2015-04-19 21:15:32 UTC

this is me while teaching "the hour of code"

simonardi — 2015-04-19 21:15:32 UTC

this is me while teaching "the hour of code"

this is my website

simonardi — 2015-04-19 21:15:32 UTC

https://sites.google.com/site/simonardikids/

ABOUT ME

simonardi — 2015-04-19 21:19:48 UTC

FIRST MODULE 1.3 TASK- What to focus on? Skills Identify a classroom activity or project that is designed to address one of the skills identified in the video. This activity or project does not have to do anything with computing. It could be a team-building activity, an activity where students have to visualize something and thereby simplify a complex reality (e.g. a map for a treasure hunt), or a project that requires students to break up a bigger task into smaller tasks (e.g. recording a short film).

simonardi — 2015-05-10 19:26:46 UTC

MY ANSWER :This page of my 6 years old pupils' textbook shows very well as many areas of coding are common with other subjects. The topic of the book is giving directions, right -left, top-down and so on. The same topic I found in the activity of the "Hour od code" called "The Maze"

1.2 Task: After watching the videos, think about how you could explain to your students the importance of computing. A good strategy will be to highlight to students how an understanding of computers will help them understand how the world around them works. To get started with this identify one everday object, activity, situation, etc. for which an understanding of computing and knowledge of how to programme machines can help the students understand their world around them.

simonardi — 2015-05-10 20:13:20 UTC

During my "Hour of code" I faced this topic with my very young learners (6 years old) explaining that if they want not only use games and programs done by others but they want to create games for their own, they have to learn the computers language called "Java script". I supported my point of view with this presentation

1st MODULE 1.1 Task: What is the situation of computing teaching in your country? Briefly explain in the padlet below (and on your learning diary, just copy & paste) what parts of computing are already taught in primary schools in your country. Do students work with computers at primary level? Do they learn how to use software? Do they already write basic code? Do you explore topics such as esafety with them? Identify anything that you do in your school that you think might link to computing.

simonardi — 2015-05-11 13:27:30 UTC

In Italy there isn't a homogeneous situation between schools. Some (very few) have modern learning environments characterized by lots of devices, connection and innovative methods. In the remaining schools there are obsolete devices, no connection or problematic connection and so on. Consequently didactics can be the same. Few schools use in the daily routine computers, most part just some times during the week or the month. This year we started to know and to speak about CODE but the great most part of italian teacher (included me) aren't enough skilled to teach it.

interesting Web site and video about computational thinking I've found and I share

simonardi — 2015-05-11 13:57:12 UTC

https://www.iste.org/explore/articledetail?articleid=152

interesting video by Google team explaining how is useful computational thinking o improve Google tools

simonardi — 2015-05-11 14:08:03 UTC

https://youtu.be/SVVB5RQfYxk

my first badge

simonardi — 2015-05-11 14:28:55 UTC

https://beta.openbadges.org/share/3f13df458308001a46374e22779304c9/

2n MODULE .......... Infact ....It sound strange to me........

simonardi — 2015-05-11 14:45:27 UTC

[...]It might be strange to consider teaching computing without using computers but it is probably one of the most powerful ways to approach the subject. Not only does it highlight to the students that computing isn't all about computers but more about complex problem solving,

I found interesting this method

simonardi — 2015-05-11 14:54:19 UTC

CS Unplugged is a collection of free learning activities that teach Computer Science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons and lots of running around.

2 .2 -Developing Collaboration in Computing What other methods have you used or could use to develop collaboration when working on computing related topics? How can we illustrate our students the importance of good communication when programming computers? Share any ideas here.

simonardi — 2015-05-11 15:20:47 UTC

My answer: I Always have to face this problem due to a lack of necessary devices to lead a computing lesson. My pupils often argue to take the mouse and manage the only computer for a group of 4 or more. It's a big problem I'm still trying to solve establishing rules and turns that never work. I think collaboration becomes natural when pupils are used to work frequently with computer. If they consider using computer at school a special event they can't get over to the excitement and aren't able to collaborate too.

2.3 -Engaging Girls Do you agree with the views presented in the video? What do you think are good strategies to engage girls in computing topics? How do you address this challenge in your classroom. Share your ideas and reflections here.

simonardi — 2015-05-11 15:43:08 UTC

My answer:In my school I never noticed differences due to the gender of students. All boys and girls are all interested on using computer.During our school experience of "hour of code" boys and girls have shown the same interest and enthusiasm. I don't know what happens in the upper levels of school and why girls aren't attracted by scientific paths. So it difficult for me suggest strategies

finished module 2 , got a badge

simonardi — 2015-05-12 21:05:48 UTC

MODULE 3 .2Educational Robotics Activities Do you have experience of using robots in the classroom? What activities work especially well with robots? Are you using Lego WeDo or the Bee-Bots in your classroom? What works well, what doesn't work well with them? And finally, what other robotic tools are you aware of that you can recommend for the primary classroom?

simonardi — 2015-05-12 21:06:12 UTC

My answer-unfortunately I can't share my experience in this field because I'm a newbie and I've never used in my class robot. I'm attending this course hoping to get ready to use them in the next future. What I can do at the moment is reading all your interesting posts and learning by your experiences

3.4 - Post a link or description of your game in the Tricider below and of course on your Learning Diary.

simonardi — 2015-05-12 21:26:17 UTC

MY ANSWERI'm not yet in the stage of creating game, what can I show is just my first attempt created in a Teacher dojo I'm attending https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/57664562/

other subjects

simonardi — 2015-05-13 11:23:40 UTC

here lesson plans for teachers from a variety of subjects and different levels of experience. http://www.allyouneediscode.eu/news/details?articleId=33788

2.3 women and techonology

simonardi — 2015-05-13 11:31:44 UTC

from Cosmopolitan this documentary CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap that explore why there are so few women in tech. The film includes interviews with several different women who give their point of view and experiences.

3.4 MAKEY MAKEY GO

simonardi — 2015-05-13 12:30:53 UTC

The only experience I've had is not about robots but about conduction bit of electricity using MakeyMakey inventors of Makey makey say: "We believe that everyone is creative, inventive, and imaginative. We believe that everyone can create the future and change the world. We believe that the whole world is a construction kit, if we choose to see it that way. So we have dedicated our lives to making easy-to-use invention kits"

MY LESSON PLAN ON LEARNING DESIGNER

simonardi — 2015-05-13 16:25:32 UTC

http://v.gd/VGFKV8

4th MODULE-

simonardi — 2015-05-16 08:29:52 UTC

Neil Rickus http://computingchampions.co.uk.

3rd MODULE BADGE

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QuickStart Computing

simonardi — 2015-05-16 08:41:46 UTC

a comprehensive CPD toolkit for the new national computing curriculum. This website is a professional development resource to help teachers deliver the new computing curriculum with confidence. Each section includes material that explores the subject matter, offers teaching guidance and planning advice together with practical activities to use in the classroom. Accompanying videos present concepts and ideas in an easy to understand way. Use these materials to acquire the necessary skills to make the transition from teaching ICT to teaching Computer Science, and learn how to assess pupil progress using the new Progression Frameworks. http://www.quickstartcomputing.org/

Computing at School (CAS)

simonardi — 2015-05-16 08:47:32 UTC

http://computingatschool.org.uk/

Promoting and supporting excellence in computer science education: Computing At School provides leadership and strategic guidance to all those involved in Computing education in schools, with a significant but not exclusive focus on the Computer Science theme within the wider Computing curriculum.

searching the internet web editing and computer networks

simonardi — 2015-05-16 09:14:28 UTC

http://www.scoop.it/t/primary-compu James Abela's web site , an experienced primary school teacher and currently Head of IT Bangkok Patana School

4.3 Teaching internet search, web editing and computer networks Share your experiences, resources and ideas for teaching these topics in the primary classroom. Have you designed a website with your students? Have you explored how a Google search works? What other tools and resources are out there that we could use to address these topics?

simonardi — 2015-05-16 09:34:12 UTC

MY ANSWERthis school year I've used for 1st time a virtual class to support an eTwinning and a Cloud computing project. Sixty Italian and Greek pupils have taken part to the virtual class offered for free by Powtoon. Pupils in the virtual environment have created videos describing themselves. The videos have been posted in the blog (http://schoolonthecloudkids.blogspot.it/) . After having watched all videos pupils have filled a "Who is who?" quiz answering questions about their foreign friends. The blog has been embedded also in the eTwinning platform where the project carries on with other activities

4.4 share your views in the Padlet below on when we should start talking to children about these important topics? At what age of the students and how do you start to address these topics in your classroom? Can you recommed resources from your country?

simonardi — 2015-05-16 09:44:11 UTC

MY ANSWER:I think media education has to start early at school, for example when they start using internet. Prensky say that "digital native" are very able to use devices but "digital wisdom" is missing. School, family and society too have the task to promote this wisdom. A couple of years ago I leaded a lab in 5th grade of primary (10-11 Y.O.) to promote awareness and safe and correct behavior using the Web. You can see below the video produced by pupils