First Lego League Regional Champions

6th December 2019A Hayward

Yesterday we held our annual First Lego League Regional Tournament.  We all had a fabulous day.

We’ll post more pictures soon, but going to Bristol to represent South Tyneside at the National Finals are … Harton Puzzlers.  Congratulations to them, and huge thanks to everyone who took part.

Warning – Omegle social network site

26th November 2019A Hayward
Please be aware that a site called “Omegle” is now becoming popular in South Tyneside and the area.
This chat site’s catch phrase, “Talk to strangers!”, says it all. Omegle is rated at 18, and is definitely not for kids. The site puts two strangers together in a chat room. Though chats start out anonymous, users often ask for and share personal information. Exchanges of photographs, video files and video streaming are also facilitated by the site.  Language is uncensored, and sexual come-ons and requests for email addresses are common. There is an app which has the same basic functionality.

Hour of Code 2019 Dance Party updated

20th November 2019P Chippendale

This years Hour of Code resources from Code.Org sees an update to the popular Dance Party activity.  Hour of Code: Dance Party inspired tens of millions of students in classrooms around the world to dance and code last year, and we can’t wait for you to discover all the exciting new updates this year!

There are new songs, backgrounds and a new character. You can code your own dancing sloth! this will no doubt be a huge hit with the students!

Hour of Code 9th – 15th December 2019

15th October 2019P Chippendale

Last year, the Hour of Code theme of creativity inspired students globally to create technology using computer science. On Code.org alone, students have created over 55 million projects!

Starting this year, the Hour of Code will continue inspiring student creativity with a new theme: Computer Science for Good. #CSforGood

CS Education Week, December 9th – 15th 2019, we hope you’ll join us!

Inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Hour of Code will highlight how we can all use computer science to make a positive impact on our world, from writing apps to solve a local problem, to using innovative ideas in data science to address global challenges.

 

 

Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it ís important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030.

 

Barefoot Code Cracking

17th September 2019A Hayward

 

Barefoot has launched a new campaign today – Code Cracking (#BarefootCodeCracking), a campaign demonstrating how computational thinking was used in World War Two. The lessons encourage pupils to become code crackers themselves, research the history and then produce a film about code cracking.

Click here to go to the website.

As part of the campaign Barefoot are introducing the Code Cracking Cup, a UK-wide competition to win a VIP trip for 50 people to Bletchley Park, featuring an award winning learning experience, £500 towards travel* and the much coveted Barefoot Code Cracking Cup trophy! (see details on the website).

*An alternative prize is available if the winning school is too far away to travel to Bletchley Park. See terms and conditions for more information.

Classroom pack
As part of the Code Cracking campaign, they have created limited edition Code Cracking classroom bundles, the first 150 teachers that request a workshop via the website and enter the word ‘Cup’ as the campaign code, will receive one of these. They are designed to support pupils in these exciting lessons and will include the following:

A Top secret folder

Code Cracking ID cards for the whole class

Colourful A2 posters which will get your pupils excited about Code Cracking and the Code Cracking Cup

Bunting to dress your classroom

Code Cracking pencils and stamp

They are limited to the number of packs that  but as always, some of these materials will be available to download from the Barefoot website.

 Win prizes

There will also be spot prizes for people engaging on our social media platforms and they will be asking people to ‘tag a teacher’ to help spread the word about Barefoot during the campaign, which runs from Monday 16 September to Monday 18 December 2019.

Twitter:       @BarefootComp

Facebook:    /Barefootcomputing

Young people and privacy

17th September 2019A Hayward

The My Data and Privacy Online website has a range of resources for young people, their parents and professionals, while the Outcomes Report is an interesting read providing an overview of the research behind the project.  Below is an extract from the report of children’s understanding of privacy online:

 

5 to  7 year olds         

·         A developing sense of ownership, fairness and independence

·         Learning about rules but may not follow them, and don’t get consequences

·         Use digital devices confidently, for a narrow range of activities

·         Getting the idea of secrets, know how to hide, but tend to regard                    tracking/monitoring by a trusted adult as helpful

8 to 11 year olds 

·         Starting to understand risks of sharing but generally trusting

·         Privacy management means rules not internalised self-regulation of behaviour

·         Still see monitoring by a parent or other trusted adult positively, to ensure their              safety

·         Privacy risks linked to ‘stranger danger’ and interpersonal harms

·         Struggle to identify risks or distinguish what applies offline/online

12 to 17 year olds

·         Online as ‘personal space’ for expression, socialising, learning

·         Concerned about parental monitoring yet broad trust in parental and school restrictions

·         Aware of/attend to privacy risks, but mainly seen as interpersonal

·         Weigh up risks and opportunities, but decisions influenced by desire for immediate benefits