Introduction to Programming with Python - Teesside

Introduction to Programming with Python

A 4-week twilight programming course for teachers

Location: Egglescliffe School, Eaglescliffe, TS16 0LB

Date: CURRENTLY POSTPONED UNTIL THE SUMMER TERM

Summary

This 4 week course is aimed at teachers who want to prepare to teach computer programming at KS3, KS4 or KS5, although anyone with an interest in learning to program will benefit.

Similarly, although the course focuses on the Python language, many of the skills are directly transferable to Java, C++, Visual Basic and other prgoramming languages.

The course is delivered by Mark Clarkson, a currently practising teacher and CAS Master Teacher. See below for more details.

No prior programming experience is required and all equipment & software is provided for you as well as l tea/coffee and biscuits.

If payment by invoice or cheque is preferable click "Show other payment options" above. Contact details are below. 

Course Content

Starting with accessible tasks to use with KS3 students we will move on to look at basic user input and console output, we will examine the role of variables and the need for different data types before moving on to look at the essential elements of control flow - sequencing, selection and iteration.

The course is designed to get you up and running with the foundation elements of computer programming, with sufficient knowledge to be able to cover the subject at KS3 and to begin to tackle programming for KS4.

Most importantly, you will complete the course with the confidence and knowledge to deal with the inevitable challenges that will crop up in the classroom.

The timetable below gives an approximate timetable of topics, although this is flexible and will be adjusted depending on the needs of those attending.

An intermediate programming course will be taking place in the spring term, covering topics such as arrays, lists, file handling and regular expressions.

Week One - 10th March

• 
  
• KS3 Programming Lessons
  
• Building on existing code
  
• Paired programming techniques to accelerate progress
  
• Hiding the complexity to achieve quick wins and build confidence
  

Week Two - 17th March

• 
  
• Input and outputs
  
• Variables
  
• Data types
  
• Arithmetic
  

Week Three - 24th March

• 
  
• Making decisions - selection
  
• Repeating code - for loops
  

Easter Holidays

• 
  
• Time for reflection and practice
  

Week Four - (Depending on consensus, Wed 13th or Thurs 21st April)

• 
  
• Repeating code - while loops
  
• Validation routines
  
• Next steps
  

Course Leader

Mark Clarkson is the Subject Leader for Computing and ICT at Egglescliffe School and is a board member of Computing At School as well as being a local Hub Leader and recently a DfE funded CAS Master Teacher.

Mark was one of the pilot teachers for OCR GCSE Computing and has taught AQA A Level Computing for several years. He has worked with Nelson-Thornes, Hodder, BBC and PG Online to produce and edit computer science materials.

He currently teaches Computing using a combination of Python, Java, Scratch, HTML, CSS, Javascript, ActionScript and Alice.

mwclarkson.co.uk  |  [email protected]  |  @mwclarkson  |  mukoku.co.uk

Host or Publisher Mark Clarkson