Training

Over the past twelve years I've helped many subject leaders to establish Computing in their schools. This has included helping schools gain the Computing Quality Framework and the Online Safety Mark.  

I can offer full day, half day or staff meeting training sessions. Here are some of the typical sessions I've run with schools over the years:

Computing audits

It makes sense to  start with an audit to build a picture of where Computing is in your school.

Action Planning

Developed using realistic, measurable, time bound goals including the areas set out below.

Computing Curriculum Design.

Putting in place a high quality Computing curriculum that inspires pupils and staff feel confident teaching. Making sure that schools have the hardware, software and accounts set up and ready to use on the devices they have.

Computing Assessment and Evidencing.

Helping schools use a range of strategies to ensure assessment and evidencing is informative and light on workload.

Enhancing other curricular areas with technology.

Planning in purposeful, exciting use of technology across the curriculum. Here are a few examples. It might be using green screen and film for writing outcomes or audio editing for performance poetry. It may be using animation to explain scientific concepts, exploring historical sites and artefacts using virtual or augmented reality or explaining mathematical procedures through annotation of videos or images. 

Using Artificial Intelligence to save time and inspire.

Working with staff to show how AI can help with planning, creating exemplar resources, audio, video and images. How AI can be used to create outcomes for writing and used for assessment. 

Staff training in specific areas.

Computer Science, and coding in particular, is often identified as an area for staff development. Typical areas to cover include:

• Understanding computational thinking and Computer Science concepts.

• Software specific training such as Scratch Junior, Scratch, Hopscotch. micro:bit or Crumble.

• Physical Computing training using micro:bit and Crumble devices.

As a Google Education Trainer I can also offer a wide range of training in all aspects of Google Workspace for Education such as the use of Google Classroom, docs, sheets, slides, forms, sites etc. I can also help with using Google Workspace to log in and hand in work using programs such as micro:bit, Tinkercad and Canva. I can advise schools on Chromebook set up making sure they are used safely and effectively.

Computing in the Early Years.

Helping staff integrate computational thinking into practice. Making effective use of devices used in the early years such as microphones, cameras, and floor robots. Offering guidance on using technology in continuous provision. Using technology to inspire and excite children using techniques such as green screen, video overlays, augmented and virtual reality. Demonstrating how QR codes can be used to help children complete tasks independently.