From May the 11th you can sign up to the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) called Let’s Teach Computing.

Here are the details:

Details

Let’s Teach Computing is a Department for Education funded MOOC (Massive Open Online Course).  It is a free online six week course that will help you to deliver the primary computing curriculum with confidence by sharing practical ideas that you can use immediately in your teaching.

The course has been developed by senior lecturers in Initial Teacher Education, classroom practitioners and trainers so it is full of tried and tested activities that use equipment found in most primary classrooms and free to use software.

• Week 1: Algorithms and Computational Thinking
  Get to grips with the use of the terms like algorithm, abstraction and computational thinking.
  Identify how computational thinking can be embedded in good primary school practice.
• Week 2: Programming   
  Identify how to engage children in being able to write predict and debug programs
  Apply programming skills using a variety of software
• Week 3: Programming physical devices    
  Illustrate ways to help children design and write programs that accomplish specific goals including controlling or simulating physical systems
• Week 4: Understanding the internet and keeping safe online   
  Outline ways in which pupils can be helped to become responsible, discerning and creative users of information and communication technology
• Weeks 5 & 6: Using technology purposely for learning
  Plan opportunities for children to use technology to produce creative digital artefacts using a range of devices and applications

COMMITMENT:
You can access the course content for each week at any time once it is released. We suggest that in order to get the most out of the course that you spend up to 3 hours a week.

LEGACY:
Throughout the MOOC you will be creating and sharing resources through a Google Community that you will have access to after course. You will have the opportunity to develop networks with other teachers and continue to share and collaborate.

One of the writers of this course is Helen Caldwell, a Senior Lecturer in our School of Education here at the University of Northampton. This is a wonderful opportunity to improve your subject knowledge and confidence in this very new area of the primary curriculum.

Go to the link above to find out more and sign up for the MOOC.