Days 0 to 3: Python Primer, Moving on with Python, Binary Representation and Boolean Logic, Memory/CPU and low level programming (Day 0: start at 13:00)

10 twilight sessions, one session per week excluding school holidays

2-day residential conference for teachers

Moderate each others' A452 and A454 controlled assessments. To register, email Victoria Matthews <matthewsv@freebroughacademy.org> by Friday 5 April 2014.

Sessions on using Lego WeDo, Little Man Computer and Primary Scratch

KS3 material on day 1 (3 July), KS4/GCSE material on day 2 (4 July)

Combining the Constructionist Learning model, Maker Projects and programming, Build IT provides a series of resources and activities for the new computing curriculum.

Various short, 12 hour, part-time courses throughout the summer including programming with Python, Javascript and Ruby, and app development.

This course is a follow-on from the "Introduction to Programming in Visual Basic" course that ran earlier this year. It is designed to assist those teachers who wish to deliver Visual Basic to a more advanced level at GCSE, or to A Level in particular.

Digitally Confident Conference is a leading cross phase professional development event outstanding speakers with proven success in primary, secondary and special schools. Sessions:
The Devil Is In The Data - Graham Brown-Martin,
InstaEdu: A tale of using selfies and 15 second videos in school - Claire Lotriet,
Invisible Technology: What every school needs from a digital strategy - Jose Picardo,
The Journey Towards a Digital School - Rachel Orr and Martin Waller,
GeoCraft: Teaching children about their local environment through Minecraft - Zoe Ross,
Pay Attention; Face the Front Normanby - Primary Digital Leaders,
Build-IT - Learning by Making - Chris Wilde,
Social Media and Inclusive Literacy - Carol Allen,
MAnglish and the Tomorrow Children - Lisa Jane Ashes,
BRandU: Sharing your engagement and what people think of you - Ken Corish,
Digital Literacy: Practice made powerful - Josie Fraser,
More Than a Silver Lining: Teaching with the cloud - Jim Knight

This two-hour course provides an introduction to coding for teachers who are completely new to it. Absolutely no prior experience required! You will be shown how to use Python - a freely downloadable program which is widely used in schools. You will progress to writing your own short programs and will be given resources and advice to enable you to continue to develop your skills.

Digital Learning Network and Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums are jointly hosting a half day event, to discuss all things digital learning and innovation -] focusing on how schools are using technology creatively and how cultural organisations can learn from and support the best of what is happening in their classrooms. Sessions include: Mapping Minecraft (Ordnance Survey and Minecraft) and Digital Storytelling.

This course aims to equip teachers with the knowledge and confidence to teach coding at KS3 and 4. It is aimed at those who have some knowledge of coding - perhaps having attended a beginners' course (such as the twilight "Python for Beginners" on 21st October)

An opportunity to get together and discuss the challenges and opportunities currently facing schools with the delivery of GCSE Computer Science.

The Little Man Computer really is a great tool for a whole range of things. It encourages computational thinking and looks at creating sequences of instructions - but it's also a practical way to explore memory usage, variables, the fetch-execute cycle, CPU architecture, the importance of caching and a whole host of other area.

The aim of this Hack To The Future event is to inspire and engage the digital creators of tomorrow and at the same time to develop outstanding teachers of Computing. We will be working with a group of up to 200 pupils with a range of learning experiences and there are a number of ways you can benefit, contribute or participate.

The aim of this Family Hack Jam event is to bring friends and families together to discover the fun, excitement and power of computer science, through an enjoyable, team-based problem-solving evening. We invite you to join us and up to 150 other children and adults from a range of ages and experience levels for an evening of family fun, competition and games. Please note that children must be supervised by an adult.

The aim of this Raspberry Jam event is to bring people together from across a wide area to discover the exciting potential of the Raspberry Pi computer. We invite you to join us and up to 300 other children and adults from a range of ages, backgrounds and experience levels for a day of computing fun, talks, demonstrations and hands-on workshops.

This course is designed for absolute newcomers to programming in general, and the Python programming language in particular. You will learn about the basic constructs of the language and how to put them together to write simple programs.

An introduction to algorithms and data structures for A Level. This course aims to give teachers an understanding of some of the common data structures covered at A Level. This has been devised by looking at what will be expected for the new 2015 syllabuses.

Programme
16:00 - 16:15 Refreshments
16:15 - 17:15 Workshop One: Barefoot Computing - An introduction and guide to online resources
17:15 - 17:45 Workshop Two: Digital Literacy and Social Media discussion
17:45 - 18:00 - Feedback and close
We should also have QuickStart computing packs for teachers to take away on the evening, along with a brief demonstration of the pack.

This course is ideally suited to those with little or no prior experience of teaching computer programming. It is designed to equip and prepare KS1 and 2 teachers with the confidence, inspiration and motivation that they need to introduce and develop computer programming in their school.

This course will be delivered in two four week blocks (24 February-17 March and 14 April-15 May). In the first block, we will use Python Turtle graphics to solve problems that introduce variables, data types, selection, iteration, lists and functions. Python will be the primary programming language. In addition, we will use Scratch for prototyping and to reinforce program structure. In the second block we will build on the material from the first four weeks to solve further problems and extend programming in Python to more advanced topics.

This session will cover: Breaking down the new Computing POS for KS1,2 & 3; guidance on innovative delivery methods; hands on activities to develop confidence; guidance on implementing the new POS; and time to develop skills and confidence in computing.

This session will cover: Breaking down the new Computing POS for KS1,2 & 3; guidance on innovative delivery methods; hands on activities to develop confidence; guidance on implementing the new POS; and time to develop skills and confidence in computing.

A free AQA teacher training event hosted by Newcastle University: from lesson planning and teaching resources, to the issues and expected outcomes of the new A level assessment. The event provides: guidance on course planning including the co-teaching of AS and A-level; advice on teaching the trickier topics, such as assembly code and algorithm; a review of example students answers to questions on the specimen papers; a closer look at the requirements for the non-exam assessment (A-level only); an opportunity to talk and share ideas with other teachers and ask any questions.

This course of 3 sessions over 3 weeks is for teachers who want to learn the skills required to teach App Inventor to their learners. It will go from a basic level to a level good enough to take on a controlled assessment. There will also be hints and tips from experience in terms of what seems to work and pitfalls preparing learners.

Ideally suited to KS2 teachers looking to develop their skills and gain a better understanding of the Primary computing curriculum, this course will develop an understanding of computer networks, including the internet (with some links to data and representation).

The aim of this 3 session course is to introduce people to the wonders of the Little Man Computer (LMC), a highly effective way of demonstrating how CPUs work. With Computing being taken up at all key stages, this is a central concept to their use. Also, OCR GCSE Computing has use of the LMC at its very core. This course will have a focus on teaching this at all of these levels.

This conference covers computing in the primary and secondary curriculum. Paul Curzon of CS4Fun will deliver the keynote. Workshops will be delivered by Sue Sentance and Mark Dorling of the CAS national team, Zoe Ross and Jane Waite of the Barefoot national team and by CAS Master Teachers and other school computing specialists from around the region. See the conference home page (http://casne.ncl.ac.uk/events/2015/conference/) for programme details and registration information.

The session will cover issues relating to: Ofsted expectations and requirements; Cyberbullying; Sexting; Self harm; Online reputation and Practical guidance on how to improve and support online behaviour of adults and young people.

The event is for primary and secondary colleagues in and around the Durham area. The meeting is a chance to share practice relating to the implementation of the new computing curriculum.
If you would like to sign up to share good practice then please contact Hub Leader Amanda Stewart on amanda.stewart@durham.gov.uk with details of what you would like to share, whether your audience is primary/secondary or mixed and how much time you will need.
Provisional Agenda:
4:15pm – 4:30pm: Welcome, introductions and refreshments
4:30pm – 5:00pm: Ben Garside – Networks and Communications in the Classroom
5pm – 5:15pm: Paul Williams – Quick Start Computing
5:15pm - 5:30pm: Sharon Briggs – Using Rapid Router
5:30pm – 5:45pm: – Paul McPartlin - Raspberry Pi’s
5:45pm-6:00pm - James Hill – An undergraduate perspective on Computing Education

6pm – 6:15pm – questions and AOB.

With many schools assessing controlled assessment for GCSE Computing for the first time, this is a chance to get together with teachers from other schools and moderate work together. You are welcome whether you're teaching the OCR spec, AQA, Edexcel or WJEC. It is essential that you bring some work with you (not original copies, please!). We will be working in small groups to cross-moderate each others' work and if you don't bring any work then there will be nothing to moderate!

Please note that this session is NOT endorsed by any of the exam boards.

This course is aimed at teachers who are new to teaching Computer Science at GCSE and will address the aspects of computing hardware associated with the processor and the fetch execute cycle. It will also introduce logic gates and circuits.

This event is for those teachers of GCSE Computing/Computer Science who wish to carry out some moderation/standardisation with other teachers. The session will be informal but a good chance to network with peers and look at the standards required for controlled assessment tasks. It will be helpful if teachers bring samples of work, but we strongly suggest that you do not bring originals. Teachers following any exam board (OCR, AQA, WJEC and Edexcel) are welcome.

The session will cover issues relating to: Ofsted expectations and requirements; Cyberbullying; Sexting; Self harm; Online reputation and Practical guidance on how to improve and support online behaviour of adults and young people.

This hub meeting will include practical workshops for primary and secondary computing, as follows:

- Session 1 - Primary Workshop and Secondary Workshop to run in parallel
- Break and networking
- Session 2 - Primary Workshop and Secondary Workshop to run in parallel
- Hub Business, Wrap Up and networking

Nick Cook will deliver a hands-on workshop on the use of sensors and motors in primary (including Scratch programming with WeDo). Jeanette Patterson will deliver a secondary session on A level computing.

Learn how to use Linux to a good standard. This course is for teachers who want to learn how to use the Linux terminal. It will teach you a range of commands that are useful for the controlled assessment. There will also be some information on different ways you can get Linux working on your network. By the end you will be able to teach the commands to your learners so that they should be ready to take on the controlled assessment.

This course is aimed at people who already have a basic grasp of Python (eg using conditionals, for loops, defining functions). It introduces a range of more advanced topics which students will encounter at GCSE and A Level.

A chance to have another look at the Quickstart Resources and discuss with other teachers which activities they have found useful. Also, an opportunity to try using Picoboards with Scratch - a sensor board with light, sound, slider and button sensors which can control the movement and appearance of sprites.

This event will bring schools, providers and initiatives together to share practical advice and experience and work towards:
- More coding clubs and maker clubs in schools
- Connecting schools with CPD and funding opportunities
- Greater awareness of prospects of careers in IT
- More women in IT
- More IT apprentices
- Support for schools with the computing curriculum / building coding skills
- More IT companies engaging with schools around work experience, being a governor, sponsoring activities etc.
The event is part of Dynamo's IT Skills workstream, organised and hosted by Gateshead College, and inspired by an idea from Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy in Birtley.

This course is designed for teachers who are looking to develop their understanding of the new computing curriculum. It will help KS1 and 2 teachers gain confidence in many key areas such as algorithms and problem solving, the application of computational thinking and logical reasoning, cross curricular activities.

How might YOUR online reputation affect you? An eSaftey event in collaboration with the NUT. It is free to NUT Members and £10 to non member (payable at the event). A light buffet will be served from 4.30pm.

Martyn Soulsby is a Y6 teacher and member of the Leadership team at North Lakes School in Penrith. He is a newly appointed Level 2 CAS Master Teacher.

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. No prior programming experience is required and all equipment & software is provided for you as well as l tea/coffee and biscuits. The course is delivered by Mark Clarkson, a currently practising teacher and CAS Master Teacher.

With the new Computing Curriculum requiring the knowledge of two languages, Javascript is a perfect fit, as a first or second language. This course will start for absolute beginners and, by the end, assist those who are undertaking the relevant controlled assessment.

This CAS Hub Meeting will cover:

Primary
- kodu
- greenfoot

Secondary

- computer components and pulling a computer apart
- app inventor
- inside the processor
- computational thinking

CAS Teesside Hub Meeting about the KS3 curriculum. We're one year on from the official start of the new Programme of Study, so how have things gone? Is your department moving towards complete coverage, or are you just starting out? What have been the successes, and challenges, this year? What worked? What ideas can you share with others and what ideas will you take away?

This two part course is designed to provide a gentle introduction to using Linux in a classroom environment. Using old PCs, Raspberry Pis or online systems it is possible to give students access to a command line environment which can help with their understanding of HCI (GCSE ICT and GCSE Computing) as well as introducing a hands on approach to networking.

The course comprises 2 twilight sessions: 16:30-18:30 on 30 June and 14 July.

This course is aimed at primary Computing coordinators, leadership, classroom teachers and assistants.

Keynote, Assessment in Primary Computing: Phil Bagge (Computing Inspector/Advisor working for Hampshire Inspection & Advisory Service, Primary CAS Master Teacher and Regional Coordinator)

Optional Sessions on: App Design - LEGO - Using Tablets in the Primary Classroom - Teaching an Inclusive Computing Curriculum - Learning with Beebots

This course has a fee of £229, a £337 bursary will be available for state funded schools to support with fees and expenses.

The summer term CAS hub meeting is for primary and secondary colleagues in and around the Durham area. The meeting is a chance to share practice relating to the implementation of the new computing curriculum. If you would like to sign up to share good practice then please contact Hub Leader Amanda Stewart on amanda.stewart@durham.gov.uk with details of what you would like to share, whether your audience is primary/secondary or mixed and how much time you will need.

This hub meeting will have a similar format to the 6 May meeting with workshops for both primary and secondary. These will include:

- unit testing - a systematic approach to testing programs
- unplugged puzzles and maps that demonstrate computational thinking in practice and the connection between city tours and checking that a computer system will work correctly
- approaches to problem solving
- tools and apps for digital literacy

The hub is also an opportunity for you to share practice and experience in an informal session. If you have something to contribute, from a few minutes to a longer session, just contact Mike (mike@tyncan.com), Jeanette (jeanette.patterson@computingatschool.org.uk) or Nick (nick.cook@newcastle.ac.uk).

CAS North East is hosting the BBC Micro:Bit Roadshow for the North East of England at the School of Computing Science, Newcastle University. The event is organised through Computing At School in collaboration with Microsoft, the BBC and other Micro:Bit partners.
The BBC micro:bit is the new pocket size computer that will be given free to every Year 7 child later this term.
This is a hands on workshop aimed at Secondary Teachers who are keen to share the skills gained in this workshop with their Secondary colleagues. CAS Secondary Master Teachers, NoE Hub leaders, NoE Lead Schools, Local Authority Trainers, Secondary school cluster representatives are particularly encouraged to sign up.

Come and help us re-launch the CAS Sunderland hub! Share your experiences of one year of teaching the new curriculum. collaborate with a peer network!

Light Refreshments available

Programme
16.00 - 16.05 Introduction and Welcome - What is CAS? Why you should join us?
16.05 - 16.15 - Round table networking - who we are, what CPD do you want?
16.15 - 16.45– Workshop One: Success with GCSE computing - OCR focus
1645 – 17.15 - Workshop Two: Assessment in KS2/3
17.15 - 18.00 - Feedback, AOB, networking and close

The event is for primary and secondary colleagues in and around the Durham area. The meeting is a chance to share practice relating to the implementation of the new computing curriculum.

If you would like to sign up to share good practice then please contact Hub Leader Paul Williams on paul.williams@computingatschool.org.uk with details of what you would like to share, whether your audience is primary/secondary or mixed and how much time you will need.

The first Hub meeting of the school year will be held at Newcastle University. The BuildIT team from North Tyneside will provide hands-on physical computing using the raspberry pi computer. The University will run a hands-on session on CrumbleBots – simple, inexpensive, yet feature-rich robots appropriate to KS2 and KS3. We will also discuss plans for BBC micro:bit training.

We would very much welcome colleagues sharing what they have been doing in their classrooms across the region. If you would like to share your work please contact Mike Carter mike@tyncan.com

A full agenda will be posted shortly.

Morning - suitable for KS1 to KS3
- introducing the concept of algorithms
- designing basic algorithms
- using iterationand selection in algorithms

Afternoon - suitable for KS3 to KS5
- using iteration and selection in a drag-and-drop environment (Scratch)
- using iteration and selection in a text-based environment (Python)
- debugging programs (logic and syntax errors)

You can book for a half day or whole day.

This is part of a series of sessions for the academic year 2015-16 delivered by Sunderland CAS Master Teachers that have need developed in response to a training needs survey completed by 30+ local teachers. Discounts are available for booking multiple sessions from the series.

With various challenges and changes affecting the provision that schools offer at KS4 and KS5 we've managed to acquire OCR expert Rob Leeman's time for a few hours. Rob is one of the key people behind OCR's Computing qualifications and is active on social media supporting teachers as well as his work behind the scenes.

There will be a chance to find out about the best ways to deliver and assess the current GCSE specification, a look ahead to next year's redeveloped specification and discussion of the current A Level offering.

There will also be a chance to catch up with other teachers from the area and share triumphs, challenges and inspiration.

A quick-fire round-up from some of the region's top STEM support organisations.

Teachers and STEM Ambassadors are invited to come along and grab a coffee (and probably some cake too!) The event aims to re-energise STEM in schools by providing up-to-date information and guidance from a whole host of regional STEM organisations, University Outreach, professional associations, and school enrichment organisers.

You will also get the opportuinity to network with teachers and STEM professionals who volunteer to support schools through the National STEM Ambassadors programme.

Speakers from STEMNet, RAEng, Newcastle University, CAS North East, Code Club, SOLAR, Engineering Development Trus, Institute of Physics.

Using arrays and multi-dimensional arrays in block-based and text-based programming environments (App Inventor / Python).

This is part of a series of sessions for the academic year 2015-16 delivered by Sunderland CAS Master Teachers that have need developed in response to a training needs survey completed by 30+ local teachers. Discounts are available for booking multiple sessions from the series.

This conference is ideal for any teachers working in special schools who are looking to adapt the computing curriculum for their pupils in creative ways and to support life skills, literacy and numeracy. Teachers working in mainstream settings with students with special needs will also find it of benefit. The conference starts with a thought-provoking keynote from Ian Bean on why we are teaching computing to our students, followed by a number of practical, hands-on workshops to help you improve your understanding and skills. Over lunch there will be exhibitions from companies demonstrating a range of technology to support the curriculum.

This course has an additional evening session the night before the conference starts, on assessment in SEN Computing. Dinner and accommodation is included as part of the fee. To attend the evening session, please ensure that you have booked onto https://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/cpd/e7dccd1e-e215-4154-8374-8d3a3d0beccd/send-computing-conference-evening/.

There are bursaries available to attendees from the maintained sector that will cover most of the cost of the registration fee. See the conference registration page.

Patsy Walsh of St Cuthbert's High School has organised another day of free CPD for primary schools. The day is on physical computing for primary (mainly Key Stage 2).

In the morning, Chris Wilde of North Tyneside CLC and Build IT will run a workshop on programming Picoboard sensors and motors. In the afternoon Nick Cook of Newcastle University will run a workshop on programming Crumble controllers and the CrumbleBot (an inexpensive yet powerful and extensible robot aimed at primary age children).

The day will be hosted at The Reece Centre, St Cuthbert's High School, Newcastle, and includes lunch and refreshements.

There are about 10 places available on a first come, first served basis.

Email Patsy Walsh <Patsy.Walsh@scchs.org.uk> to book a place.

For this terms CAS Hub we have arranged for Nick Cook of CAS North East and Newcastle University to lead a session on Physical computing with Crumble - light shows and robotics in Primary

This is a hands-on session using the Crumble - an easy-to-use, inexpensive yet powerful electronic controller aimed at primary schools. The Crumble has 4 input and output ports and can drive motors. It is programmed using its own Scratch-like block programming language. It can be used for many engaging projects that provide the immediacy of physical computing and can cover many aspects of the computing curriculum - including programming, sequencing, repetition, controlling and simulating physical/real world systems, and input/output. It is also tried and tested in primary classrooms and a lot of fun!

This is the launch of the Northumberland (South) CAS Hub. We will be covering physical computing with the Crumble Controller, establishing what CAS NE can offer and discussing the needs of Primary and Secondary teachers in Northumberland. Jeanette Patterson and Nick Cook of CAS North East will be attending.

A Raspberry Pi is a small, cheap, general purpose computer. It's deisgned to be affordable and to encourage people young and old to engage with and learn more about computer technology. You can build a robot with it, a webserver, a burglar alarm or pretty much anything you care to think of.

The main purpose of this event is to allow Raspberry Pi users (whether you are a beginner or a pro) an opportunity to get together and to show, tell, ask and experiment. If you have something Raspberry Pi related to show off, something to talk about or discuss with the community or something you want to get help with or learn how to do then come along.

There will be space to set up your project if you want to show it off, as well as some Raspberry Pis and associated components set-up for you to experiment with and experience programming and hacking with the support of others.

If you are a beginner, feel free to bring your own Pi along and find someone who can help you learn how to use it or solve a problem your are having.

If the day is a success we can meet every month to carry on showing, telling and asking!

Reading from and writing to files and databases.

This is part of a series of sessions for the academic year 2015-16 delivered by Sunderland CAS Master Teachers that have need developed in response to a training needs survey completed by 30+ local teachers. Discounts are available for booking multiple sessions from the series.

The event is for primary and secondary colleagues in and around the Durham area. The meeting is a chance to share practice relating to the implementation of the new computing curriculum.

If you would like to sign up to share good practice then please contact Hub Leader Paul Williams on paul.williams@computingatschool.org.uk with details of what you would like to share, whether your audience is primary/secondary or mixed and how much time you will need.

Agenda:

- Tim Brady from Edexcel on the New GCSE Computing Specification
- Nick Cook from Newcastle University - Hands on with the BBC Micro:bit
- Paul Williams from St Bede's Catholic School - A gentle introduction to Javascript

This is a hands-on workshop to familiarise Key Stage 3 computing teachers with the https://www.microbit.co.uk/" title="micro:bit">BBC micro:bit

We will work together on programming the micro:bit by:
- following the quick start guide
- experimenting with connecting input and output devices to the micro:bit

If you cannot make this workshop or it is full, we are running the following similar workshops with various partners across the region:
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-durham-hub-spring-term-meeting-tickets-18732449260" title="peterlee">1 February (16:30-18:30) at CAS Durham Hub, Dene Community School, Peterlee
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-east-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-newcastle-tickets-20943818525" title="newcastle">9 February (16:30-18:00) at School of Computing Science, Newcastle University
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastinspire2learn-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-middlesborough-tickets-21045259939" title="middlesborough">22 February (16:00-17:30) at Inspire2Learn, Middlesborough
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastnorth-tyneside-clc-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-cullercoats-tickets-21046077384" title="cullercoats">29 February (16:00-17:30) at North Tyneside CLC, Cullercoats
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastopenzone-clc-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-south-shields-tickets-21046266951" title="south shields">3 March (16:00-17:30) at Openzone CLC, South Shields
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-east-and-northumberland-hub-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-morpeth-tickets-21046341173" title="northumberland">4 March (13:30-15:00) at CAS Northumberland Hub, Morpeth Chantry Middle School
- 16 March (16:30-18:30) at CAS Teesside Hub, venue TBC

The workshops are led by Nick Cook of CAS North East and Newcastle University.

An opportunity for teachers to network and standardise controlled assessment.

Morning - suitable for KS1 to KS3
- basic computer architecture
- input / output / storage devices

Afternoon - suitable for KS3 to KS5
- storage technologies
- CPU processing speed
- RAM / ROM / CACHE / ALU / CU memory
- fetch execute cycle

You can book for a half day or whole day.

This is part of a series of sessions for the academic year 2015-16 delivered by Sunderland CAS Master Teachers that have need developed in response to a training needs survey completed by 30+ local teachers. Discounts are available for booking multiple sessions from the series.

This is a hands-on workshop to familiarise Key Stage 3 computing teachers with the https://www.microbit.co.uk/" title="micro:bit">BBC micro:bit

We will work together on programming the micro:bit by:
- following the quick start guide
- experimenting with connecting input and output devices to the micro:bit

If you cannot make this workshop or it is full, we are running the following similar workshops with various partners across the region:
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-durham-hub-spring-term-meeting-tickets-18732449260" title="peterlee">1 February (16:30-18:30) at CAS Durham Hub, Dene Community School, Peterlee
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-east-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-newcastle-tickets-20943818525" title="newcastle">9 February (16:30-18:00) at School of Computing Science, Newcastle University
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastinspire2learn-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-middlesborough-tickets-21045259939" title="middlesborough">22 February (16:00-17:30) at Inspire2Learn, Middlesborough
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastnorth-tyneside-clc-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-cullercoats-tickets-21046077384" title="cullercoats">29 February (16:00-17:30) at North Tyneside CLC, Cullercoats
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastopenzone-clc-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-south-shields-tickets-21046266951" title="south shields">3 March (16:00-17:30) at Openzone CLC, South Shields
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-east-and-northumberland-hub-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-morpeth-tickets-21046341173" title="northumberland">4 March (13:30-15:00) at CAS Northumberland Hub, Morpeth Chantry Middle School
- 16 March (16:30-18:30) at CAS Teesside Hub, venue TBC

The workshops are led by Nick Cook of CAS North East and Newcastle University.

This is a hands-on workshop to familiarise Key Stage 3 computing teachers with the https://www.microbit.co.uk/" title="micro:bit">BBC micro:bit

We will work together on programming the micro:bit by:
- following the quick start guide
- experimenting with connecting input and output devices to the micro:bit

If you cannot make this workshop or it is full, we are running the following similar workshops with various partners across the region:
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-durham-hub-spring-term-meeting-tickets-18732449260" title="peterlee">1 February (16:30-18:30) at CAS Durham Hub, Dene Community School, Peterlee
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-east-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-newcastle-tickets-20943818525" title="newcastle">9 February (16:30-18:00) at School of Computing Science, Newcastle University
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastinspire2learn-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-middlesborough-tickets-21045259939" title="middlesborough">22 February (16:00-17:30) at Inspire2Learn, Middlesborough
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastnorth-tyneside-clc-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-cullercoats-tickets-21046077384" title="cullercoats">29 February (16:00-17:30) at North Tyneside CLC, Cullercoats
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastopenzone-clc-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-south-shields-tickets-21046266951" title="south shields">3 March (16:00-17:30) at Openzone CLC, South Shields
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-east-and-northumberland-hub-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-morpeth-tickets-21046341173" title="northumberland">4 March (13:30-15:00) at CAS Northumberland Hub, Morpeth Chantry Middle School
- http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-teesside-hub-meeting-tickets-21110093859" title="stockton">16 March (16:00-18:00) at CAS Teesside Hub, Ian Ramsey CE Academy, Stockton

The workshops are led by Nick Cook of CAS North East and Newcastle University.

This is a hands-on workshop to familiarise Key Stage 3 computing teachers with the https://www.microbit.co.uk/" title="micro:bit">BBC micro:bit

We will work together on programming the micro:bit by:
- following the quick start guide
- experimenting with connecting input and output devices to the micro:bit

If you cannot make this workshop or it is full, we are running the following similar workshops with various partners across the region:
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-durham-hub-spring-term-meeting-tickets-18732449260" title="peterlee">1 February (16:30-18:30) at CAS Durham Hub, Dene Community School, Peterlee
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-east-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-newcastle-tickets-20943818525" title="newcastle">9 February (16:30-18:00) at School of Computing Science, Newcastle University
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastinspire2learn-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-middlesborough-tickets-21045259939" title="middlesborough">22 February (16:00-17:30) at Inspire2Learn, Middlesborough
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastnorth-tyneside-clc-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-cullercoats-tickets-21046077384" title="cullercoats">29 February (16:00-17:30) at North Tyneside CLC, Cullercoats
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastopenzone-clc-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-south-shields-tickets-21046266951" title="south shields">3 March (16:00-17:30) at Openzone CLC, South Shields
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-east-and-northumberland-hub-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-morpeth-tickets-21046341173" title="northumberland">4 March (13:30-15:00) at CAS Northumberland Hub, Morpeth Chantry Middle School
- http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-teesside-hub-meeting-tickets-21110093859" title="stockton">16 March (16:00-18:00) at CAS Teesside Hub, Ian Ramsey CE Academy, Stockton

The workshops are led by Nick Cook of CAS North East and Newcastle University.

Data representation in computers (binary), binary calculations and using logic gates to control the flow of data.

This is part of a series of sessions for the academic year 2015-16 delivered by Sunderland CAS Master Teachers that have need developed in response to a training needs survey completed by 30+ local teachers. Discounts are available for booking multiple sessions from the series.

This is a hands-on workshop to familiarise Key Stage 3 computing teachers with the https://www.microbit.co.uk/" title="micro:bit">BBC micro:bit

We will work together on programming the micro:bit by:
- following the quick start guide
- experimenting with connecting input and output devices to the micro:bit

If you cannot make this workshop or it is full, we are running the following similar workshops with various partners across the region:
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-durham-hub-spring-term-meeting-tickets-18732449260" title="peterlee">1 February (16:30-18:30) at CAS Durham Hub, Dene Community School, Peterlee
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-east-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-newcastle-tickets-20943818525" title="newcastle">9 February (16:30-18:00) at School of Computing Science, Newcastle University
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastinspire2learn-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-middlesborough-tickets-21045259939" title="middlesborough">22 February (16:00-17:30) at Inspire2Learn, Middlesborough
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastnorth-tyneside-clc-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-cullercoats-tickets-21046077384" title="cullercoats">29 February (16:00-17:30) at North Tyneside CLC, Cullercoats
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastopenzone-clc-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-south-shields-tickets-21046266951" title="south shields">3 March (16:00-17:30) at Openzone CLC, South Shields
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-east-and-northumberland-hub-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-morpeth-tickets-21046341173" title="northumberland">4 March (13:30-15:00) at CAS Northumberland Hub, Morpeth Chantry Middle School
- http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-teesside-hub-meeting-tickets-21110093859" title="stockton">16 March (16:00-18:00) at CAS Teesside Hub, Ian Ramsey CE Academy, Stockton

The workshops are led by Nick Cook of CAS North East and Newcastle University.

Meet representatives from creative industries and learn from the experts. Take part in drop in sessions, workshops, and chat about tech start-ups and gaming. Sessions include: Virtual Reality talks and demonstrations, how to design 3D characters using Wacom Cintiq’s with ZBrush, programming robots with Newcastle University and CAS North East, engineering with Sevcon, and programming with Accenture.

Age range: 10 to 25 plus parents! Register for this free event via the booking link.

The Google funded CAS Tenderfoot project will provide high quality and curriculum rich CPD for key stage 3 teachers.

This session is one of the introductory sessions being offered at CAS Regional Centres around the country in February and March 2016. It will focus on:

- the rationale and pedagogy of computer programming;
- the relevance and promotion of computational thinking skills; and
- the teaching of algorithms and graphs in the classroom.

Participants will receive teaching ideas and resources. The workshop is particularly useful for teachers who will go on to train other key stage 3 teachers in their own schools or elsewhere.

John Woollard will present the session. John is a teacher trainer and resource developer with a broad experience of teaching and training in primary, secondary and university level computing and computer science.
Recent activities include the CAS Barefoot project, developing commercial teaching resources, training new teachers in primary and secondary computing and supporting researchers in classroom-based studies. John is a member of Computing At School and the University of Southampton Education School.

This is the one of four identical Tenderfoot sessions on 8 and 9 March in Newcastle and Eaglescliffe (Stockton). You only need to attend one of them.

The Google funded CAS Tenderfoot project will provide high quality and curriculum rich CPD for key stage 3 teachers.

This session is one of the introductory sessions being offered at CAS Regional Centres around the country in February and March 2016. It will focus on:

- the rationale and pedagogy of computer programming;
- the relevance and promotion of computational thinking skills; and
- the teaching of algorithms and graphs in the classroom.

Participants will receive teaching ideas and resources. The workshop is particularly useful for teachers who will go on to train other key stage 3 teachers in their own schools or elsewhere.

John Woollard will present the session. John is a teacher trainer and resource developer with a broad experience of teaching and training in primary, secondary and university level computing and computer science.
Recent activities include the CAS Barefoot project, developing commercial teaching resources, training new teachers in primary and secondary computing and supporting researchers in classroom-based studies. John is a member of Computing At School and the University of Southampton Education School.

This is the one of four identical Tenderfoot sessions on 8 and 9 March in Newcastle and Eaglescliffe (Stockton). You only need to attend one of them.

The Google funded CAS Tenderfoot project will provide high quality and curriculum rich CPD for key stage 3 teachers.

This session is one of the introductory sessions being offered at CAS Regional Centres around the country in February and March 2016. It will focus on:

- the rationale and pedagogy of computer programming;
- the relevance and promotion of computational thinking skills; and
- the teaching of algorithms and graphs in the classroom.

Participants will receive teaching ideas and resources. The workshop is particularly useful for teachers who will go on to train other key stage 3 teachers in their own schools or elsewhere.

John Woollard will present the session. John is a teacher trainer and resource developer with a broad experience of teaching and training in primary, secondary and university level computing and computer science.
Recent activities include the CAS Barefoot project, developing commercial teaching resources, training new teachers in primary and secondary computing and supporting researchers in classroom-based studies. John is a member of Computing At School and the University of Southampton Education School.

This is the one of four identical Tenderfoot sessions on 8 and 9 March in Newcastle and Eaglescliffe (Stockton). You only need to attend one of them.

The Google funded CAS Tenderfoot project will provide high quality and curriculum rich CPD for key stage 3 teachers.

This session is one of the introductory sessions being offered at CAS Regional Centres around the country in February and March 2016. It will focus on:

- the rationale and pedagogy of computer programming;
- the relevance and promotion of computational thinking skills; and
- the teaching of algorithms and graphs in the classroom.

Participants will receive teaching ideas and resources. The workshop is particularly useful for teachers who will go on to train other key stage 3 teachers in their own schools or elsewhere.

John Woollard will present the session. John is a teacher trainer and resource developer with a broad experience of teaching and training in primary, secondary and university level computing and computer science.
Recent activities include the CAS Barefoot project, developing commercial teaching resources, training new teachers in primary and secondary computing and supporting researchers in classroom-based studies. John is a member of Computing At School and the University of Southampton Education School.

This is the one of four identical Tenderfoot sessions on 8 and 9 March in Newcastle and Eaglescliffe (Stockton). You only need to attend one of them.

OCR GCSE Controlled Assessment Standardisation meeting organised by Amanda Stewart with Paul Williams, CAS Master Teacher, chairing.

If you would like to attend the event please email Amanda Stewart: Amanda.Stewart@durham.gov.uk as soon as possible.

Also let Amanda know which tasks you are doing as people will be grouped by task.

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. The course comprises 4 2-hour twilight sessions.

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

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 course is delivered by Mark Clarkson, a currently practising teacher and CAS Master Teacher.

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

The four sessions are 16:30-18:30 on the following dates: 10 March, 17 March, 24 March and 13 or 21 April.

With the imminent dispatch of the BBC Micro:bit, Nick Cook is bringing his North East Micro:bit roadshow to Teesside. There will be practical activities and hands on the real devices, looking at how to make use of them in the classroom to help students with computational thinking, problem solving and use of practical hardware to bring programming to life.

There will also be some time to look at other ideas, hardware, trials and tribulations involved with getting KS2-3 students excited about computer science!

If you cannot make this hub meeting, there are other upcoming micro:bit familiarisation events across the region:
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastnorth-tyneside-clc-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-cullercoats-tickets-21046077384" title="cullercoats">29 February (16:00-17:30) at North Tyneside CLC, Cullercoats
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-eastopenzone-clc-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-south-shields-tickets-21046266951" title="south shields">3 March (16:00-17:30) at Openzone CLC, South Shields
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cas-north-east-and-northumberland-hub-bbc-microbit-familiarisation-workshop-morpeth-tickets-21046341173" title="northumberland">4 March (13:30-15:00) at CAS Northumberland Hub, Morpeth Chantry Middle School

This event will give computing teachers, heads of department and senior leaders the chance to gather information in order to make an informed decision on which exam board to choose for the new GCSE Computing specification starting in September 2016. The event will have representatives from all four exam boards (OCR, AQA, Edexcel, and WJEC) who have all had their specifications accredited. Each exam board will provide an overview of what their qualification will involve. This will be carried out in the form of a carousel so that attendees can gain information from all exam boards. There will then be a Q & A session at the end with all four exam boards

15:15 Registration and Refreshments
15:45-17:45 Carousel of exam board information sessions
17:45-18:00 Q & A session

The event is the launch of the new CAS South Tyneside Hub.

Sonic Pi is the live coding Synth for Everyone. To quote from the Web site (http://sonic-pi.net/) it is:
Simple enough for computing and music lessons.
Powerful enough for professional musicians.
Free to download with a friendly tutorial.

It is a great way to introduce text based programming in a really engaging environment, with students coding their own music. It is available on Raspberry Pi, Windows and Mac.

Sam Aaron (https://twitter.com/samaaron), the creator of Sonic Pi, is doing workshops for Gosforth Junior High school students during the day on 11 April. Sam and Gosforth Junior High have also generously offered to put on an after school workshop for local teachers.

Attendance is highly recommended! Sam is a very enthusiastic and engaging presenter (he also happens to have done his PhD in Computing Science at Newcastle University!).

An opportunity to standardise controlled assessments and network with other teachers.

Learn why JavaScript is used in millions of Web pages to improve the design, validate forms, detect browsers, create cookies, and much more.
Understand why JavaScript is the most popular scripting language on the Internet, and works in all major browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Firefox, & Chrome.
Use an accessible language that is easy to teach, and can be used in KS3 or for OCR GCSE Controlled Assessment tasks.
No prior programming experience is required and all equipment and oftware is provided for you as well as refreshments.

About the Trainer:
Paul Williams, CAS Master Teacher, and Co-ordinator of Computer Science at St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, has over 5 years experience of teaching Computing topics to students from KS3, 4 and 5, as well as 6 years experience in industry in roles as diverse as Network Engineering to Software Development.
He has particular interest in making some of the more abstract areas of Computer Science come to life through practical and hands on lessons.

In order to effectively prepare students for GCSE or A Level Computer Science it is necessary to have a good working knowledge of relational databases - how they work and how to manipulate them, using MySQL.

With the current OCR GCSE Computing controlled assessment in mind, but also the wider context in which databases need to be understood, we will explore how to create, populate and interrogate databases at the command line as well as exploring the technical setup behind the scenes.

The course is delivered by Mark Clarkson, a currently practising teacher and CAS Master Teacher.

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

The course comprises two 2-hour sessions (16:30-18:30):
- 19 April: what is a relational database?, Using a GUI to understand the basics, gentle introduction to MySQL
- 26 April: using scripts to create databases and tables, populating tables, creating relational databases, using MySQL database queries

The session will look at how to incorporate Google tools in the classroom to assess and provide feedback for students. The session will also look at how Meadowdale Academy has begun to use I am learning to also provide students with access to learning materials outside of school.

Contact Jordan Graham (jordon.graham@northumberland.gov.uk) for information.

Explore the many important features of a real CPU and illustrate these in an accessible way, for KS3, KS4 and KS5 Computing lessons.
Have a practical hands on session with the inner workings of a CPU and learn how this complex hardware is used to complete any task possible on a computer.
No prior programming experience is required and all equipment and software is provided for you as well as refreshments.
If payment by invoice or cheque is preferable click "Show other payment options" above. Contact details are below.

About the Trainer:
Paul Williams, CAS Master Teacher, and Co-ordinator of Computer Science at St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, has over 5 years experience of teaching Computing topics to students from KS3, 4 and 5, as well as 6 years experience in industry in roles as diverse as Network Engineering to Software Development.
He has particular interest in making some of the more abstract areas of Computer Science come to life through practical and hands on lessons.

This 4 week course is aimed at teachers who already have a basic working knowledge of programming with Python and want to focus on some of the trickier techniques that may be required for KS4 controlled assessment (CA) and non-examined assessment (NEA), 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 programming languages.

The course is delivered by Mark Clarkson, a currently practising teacher and CAS Master Teacher.

Some prior programming experience is required - a working knowledge of inputs, outputs, selection statements (e.g. 'if') and loops. An introductory course is running from March to April.

The course will cover: regular expressions, lists and arrays, file handling, and preparation for controlled assessment/NEA.

All equipment and software is provided for you as well as tea/coffee and biscuits.

The four sessions are 16:30-18:30 on the following dates: 28 April, 5 May, 12 May and 19 May.

Give students the best opportunity possible when completing GCSE Computing Exams by using resources and techniques to give students a head start. Take away examples of commonly used question styles in GCSE Computing and develop skill in exam preparation.

Learn how to used complex data structures to solve a variety of problems, as well as picking up techniques to help explain these complex structures simply and easily. Suitable for Higher Level GCSE Computing and AS/A Level Computing teachers.
Covers: introduction to data structures in Python, Mutable Vs. Immutable data types, lists, tuples, dictionaries, sets, stacks and queues

Picademy (https://www.raspberrypi.org/picademy/) is coming to Newcastle City Library - two days of free computing CPD for Teachers, Educators, HLTAs and Librarians funded by Google.
Newcastle dates are:

• 18 and 19 May
• 26 and 27 May
• 3 and 4 June
• 27 and 28 June

AQA and OCR exam boards will speak to local teachers and let you know what is involved in the new specifications. This meeting will be a good opportunity for NE teachers to find out exactly what is expected for the new GCSE.

Instruction sets in the CPU and using the Little Man Computer.

This is part of a series of sessions for the academic year 2015-16 delivered by Sunderland CAS Master Teachers that have need developed in response to a training needs survey completed by 30+ local teachers. Discounts are available for booking multiple sessions from the series.

At this hub meeting we will look at how images are represented with hands-on unplugged and programming activities that cover the creation of simple bitmap images through to photoshop-like manipulations using a spreadsheet representation and programmatically in Python. The tools and activities involved provide engaging ways to cover data representation and data abstraction. They also provide insights into the seemingly complex applications that students use every day to manipulate photo and show how students can easily program (as opposed to apply) their own photo filters.

We are also very happy to include other contributions to the hub - just contact us at cas.northeast@newcastle.ac.uk if you have ideas to share or items you wish to discuss at the hub.

The http://community.computingatschool.org.uk/resources/4382">Quantum project seeks to support computing teachers by providing a body of high-quality assessment items, hosted in an online platform. But however good the platform is, the project will stand or fall by the quality of the assessment items that it contains. As input to the development of assessment items, the project is running a series of workshops to:

• Identify the “key constructs” in the Computing Science National Curriculum specification - the things we want students to learn.
• Develop a range of valid, probing questions, or “assessment items”, to enable effective formative and continuous assessment.

• 18 May - Cambridge
• 24 May - York
• 25 May - Durham
• 10 June - London
• 17 June - Birmingham

Picademy (https://www.raspberrypi.org/picademy/) is coming to Newcastle City Library - two days of free computing CPD for Teachers, Educators, HLTAs and Librarians funded by Google.
Newcastle dates are:

• 18 and 19 May
• 26 and 27 May
• 3 and 4 June
• 27 and 28 June

Picademy (https://www.raspberrypi.org/picademy/) is coming to Newcastle City Library - two days of free computing CPD for Teachers, Educators, HLTAs and Librarians funded by Google.
Newcastle dates are:

• 18 and 19 May
• 26 and 27 May
• 3 and 4 June
• 27 and 28 June

This two day CPD course is aimed at Computer Science teachers. This comprehensive course teaches computational thinking and programming concepts suitable for GCSE Computer Science or for simply introducing programming to your classroom. thinking in the classroom even if they have never done anything similar before. There are no course pre-requisites apart from the ability to use a computer.
No prior knowledge of programming is assumed, in a friendly supportive class, this course will gently introduce you to the concepts, skills and techniques required to be a programmer and to teach programming. The course also includes tips on delivering programming courses, differential learning, peer evaluation techniques and ideas for projects. The course includes “how to write a controlled assessment sized project”, list handling, file handling, regular expressions, libraries and more.
This is very much a hands on course suitable for teachers who have never written a line of code before and also for teachers who have already been teaching python for a year or three! Course attendees will leave the course ready to confidently start teaching Python in the classroom straight away. You will have a plan for teaching Python to GCSE students and have a wealth of knowledge, skills and resources to back up your teaching and support your learners; including around 80 programs written in Python. This course is suitable for all current exam boards.
The course is delivered by David Batty, who has 25 years of classroom experience teaching computing, and has been a programmer for 35 years. David delivers courses for the AQA, Westminster Briefing, Code College and other organisations as required. He is the UK's busiest IT teacher trainer having delivered over 100 in-school programming courses to teachers in the past year alone.

This conference covers computing in the primary and secondary curriculum. Workshops will be delivered by national and regional experts in teaching computing. See the conference home page (http://casne.ncl.ac.uk/events/2016/conference/) for programme details and registration information.

Create high quality functional programs that demonstrate key Computer Science theory in a practical and hands-on way. Create reusable multipurpose programs that demonstrate high levels of efficiency and can be used in GCSE and AS/A Level lessons.
Topics covered include: defining functions, list comprehensions, recursive functions, higher-order functions.

Picademy (https://www.raspberrypi.org/picademy/) is coming to Newcastle City Library - two days of free computing CPD for Teachers, Educators, HLTAs and Librarians funded by Google.
Newcastle dates are:

• 18 and 19 May
• 26 and 27 May
• 3 and 4 June
• 27 and 28 June

Devices used in networking, data transmission over networks and internet protocols.

This is part of a series of sessions for the academic year 2015-16 delivered by Sunderland CAS Master Teachers that have need developed in response to a training needs survey completed by 30+ local teachers. Discounts are available for booking multiple sessions from the series.

An opportunity to get together and discuss the challenges and opportunities currently facing schools with the delivery of Computer Science from KS3 to KS5. Whatever your background, whether you're planning for, delivering or starting to panic about any aspect of computer science at any level then this is your opportunity to get share your fear, ideas and experiences.
There will be an opportunity to discuss the delivery and assessment of computer science topics - so please feel free to bring your own stories, ideas and enthusiasm!
The meeting will include workshops on: Micro:Bits - Making things happen, and The Knights Tour - a CS4fn resource looking at abstraction, decomposition and generalisation.

This event is for primary and secondary colleagues in and around the Durham area. The meeting is a chance to share practice relating to the implementation of the new computing curriculum.
If you would like to sign up to share good practice then please contact Hub Leader Paul Williams on paul.williams@computingatschool.org.uk with details of what you would like to share, whether your audience is primary/secondary or mixed and how much time you will need. Agenda:
1. CAS Planning Forum - Sharing good practice and ideas for Computing in 2016/17.
2. Using Flowgrorithms - Paul Williams, St Bede's Catholic School
3. Media computation for data representation and data abstraction - Nick Cook, Newcastle University

The aim of this session is to provide some basic tutorials for teachers who have no prior knowledge of the python programming language. The session utilises web based resources from the BBC micro:bit website and other sources. Sarah Zaman (CAS NW Regional Co-ordinator) is delivering this event.

In this session you will cover...
Scratch - This is a simple coding language and an excellent way of getting to grips with the basic concepts of programming.
Kodu - A highly interactive way of programming 3D graphics using very simple concepts that are quickly built up to create something great.
Sonic Pi - Learn how to make music with code!
PyGame - This library for Python offers easy and engaging ways of making games. We will work in pairs to programme a simple asteroids game and understand how smaller pieces of code become complex programmes.
Multi-discipline Computer Science - Discussion and skills review session thinking about how subjects like maths and physics apply to coding and how coding can affect other, more rudimentary disciplines, like literacy and numeracy with demos of ways you can implement into lessons.

eDay5 is packed full of activities for you to explore, create and engage with makers, take part in workshops and hands on activities. Our programme already includes: Makerspace, Raspberry Pi hacks Minecraft, VR, drones, robotics, amateur radio and that’s just for starters.

All ages welcome.

This term we have Victoria Sauron, the North East Regional Coordinator for Code Club Uk visiting us, to show what resources and support are available, and explain how to set up a programming afterschool club in your establishment. Our hub is also a great chance to network, and to share ideas relating to the computing curriculum.

In this session you will cover...
Scratch - This is a simple coding language and an excellent way of getting to grips with the basic concepts of programming.
Kodu - A highly interactive way of programming 3D graphics using very simple concepts that are quickly built up to create something great.
Sonic Pi - Learn how to make music with code!
PyGame - This library for Python offers easy and engaging ways of making games. We will work in pairs to programme a simple asteroids game and understand how smaller pieces of code become complex programmes.
Multi-discipline Computer Science - Discussion and skills review session thinking about how subjects like maths and physics apply to coding and how coding can affect other, more rudimentary disciplines, like literacy and numeracy with demos of ways you can implement into lessons.

At this first CAS Tyneside hub meeting of the 2016/17 school year Peter Johnson will demonstrate the Ohbot robot and its use in the classroom. The Ohbot is a robot head that is constructed and programmed by children. It has seven motors to provide a range of realistic movement. It includes text-to-speech and face recognition technology and can be extended with additional sensors.

Additional sessions at the hub meeting are to be announced. If you have any ideas for sessions or work at your school you would like to show, please contact CAS North East (casnortheast@computingatschool.org.uk) or Mike Carter (m.carterlea@gmail.com) .

In this session you will cover...
Intro to Python & Raspberry Pi (basic concepts) - Python is a relatively simple but complete programming language. Your mentor will guide you through a quick introduction to its basic patterns using a Raspberry Pi. This coding language can be found almost everywhere, from commercial games through to satellites and telemetry code on space rockets!
Microbit with Raspberry Pi - Curated by the BBC for the purposes of education, the Microbit is a new piece of hardware which you’ll work with to discover its uses. Together with your new Python skills, you’ll create simple games and message displays using LEDs.
Intro to Electronics - Discussion and skills review with demonstrations of ways to create interactive projects with the Raspberry Pi using sensor devices that are perfect for the classroom.

In this session you will cover...
Scratch - This is a simple coding language and an excellent way of getting to grips with the basic concepts of programming.
Kodu - A highly interactive way of programming 3D graphics using very simple concepts that are quickly built up to create something great.
Sonic Pi - Learn how to make music with code!
PyGame - This library for Python offers easy and engaging ways of making games. We will work in pairs to programme a simple asteroids game and understand how smaller pieces of code become complex programmes.
Multi-discipline Computer Science - Discussion and skills review session thinking about how subjects like maths and physics apply to coding and how coding can affect other, more rudimentary disciplines, like literacy and numeracy with demos of ways you can implement into lessons.

The agenda for the hub meeting includes a practical workshop using MicroPython as an IDE to program Microbits - giving students the opportunity to use physical inputs and outputs without all the setup of Arduinos and Pis. It's being run by Simon Roberts and we will have plenty of Microbits for you to use on the day, you don't need to bring your own (though you can!).

For the second half we will be having a discussion about the 9-1 GCSEs now that we've started to deliver them. Thoughts on how to deliver the theory, the challenges presented with NEA, the importance of exam technique - and I'm hoping we'll be able to produce some resources we can all use as a result.

This hub meeting will include a choice of workshops on Kodu from the beginning (suitable for KS2, led by Julie Edwards) and Sonic Pi (suitable for KS3, led by Jordan Graham - Master Teacher)

New to Animation? Whether you plan to enter Animation ‘17 or you're just interested in trying something new with your class this practical session will explore how to plan, create, edit and screen your students work. Animation is a perfect way to embed the use of technology right across the curriculum.

CAS Tenderfoot CPD workshop on data representation:
- It’s all done by numbers
- Playing with pictures
- Character codes and compression
- Painting by Numbers
- Computational Graphics

See https://www.computingatschool.org.uk/tenderfoot/ for information about the Tenderfoot project and topics covered.

Tenderfoot training is primarily aimed at secondary teachers. However, it can also be useful for Key Stage 2 teachers both to see the progression in the subject and for resources and ideas that can be adapted to primary.

The training day is free for CAS Master Teachers and teachers from CAS Lead Schools. Other teachers who wish to book on the course should contact: cas.northeast@newcastle.ac.uk for the password to register and for arrangements to pay the £75 fee.

In this session you will cover...
Intro to Python & Raspberry Pi (basic concepts) - Python is a relatively simple but complete programming language. Your mentor will guide you through a quick introduction to its basic patterns using a Raspberry Pi. This coding language can be found almost everywhere, from commercial games through to satellites and telemetry code on space rockets!
Microbit with Raspberry Pi - Curated by the BBC for the purposes of education, the Microbit is a new piece of hardware which you’ll work with to discover its uses. Together with your new Python skills, you’ll create simple games and message displays using LEDs.
Intro to Electronics - Discussion and skills review with demonstrations of ways to create interactive projects with the Raspberry Pi using sensor devices that are perfect for the classroom.

The Royal Society is gathering evidence to inform a new programme of support for teachers delivering computing education across UK schools and colleges. This aims to make high quality computing education a reality in the classroom.

To inform this work, The Royal Society has commissioned Pye Tait Consulting to gather information and views from teachers via an online survey. Case studies are also being developed and a series of workshops scheduled.

The survey links are:

Primary: https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=147738465995

Secondary: https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=147738478435

Further information about the project is on the Royal Society's website: https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/computing-education/

Additional information, including registering interest in being involved in the focus group workshop on 29 November at Newcastle University is available at: http://www.pyetait.com/computingeducation

Note: places on the workshop will be limited.

CAS Tenderfoot CPD workshop on developing computational thinking and an understanding of data structures:
- The Big Picture and A Perfect Shuffle
- Data Structures Matter
- Many Problems One Solution
- Toy Problems for the Real World
- Oracle of Bacon and The Beauty of Trees

See https://www.computingatschool.org.uk/tenderfoot/ for information about the Tenderfoot project and topics covered.

Tenderfoot training is primarily aimed at secondary teachers. However, it can also be useful for Key Stage 2 teachers both to see the progression in the subject and for resources and ideas that can be adapted to primary.

The training day is free for CAS Master Teachers and teachers from CAS Lead Schools. Other teachers who wish to book on the course should contact: cas.northeast@newcastle.ac.uk for the password to register and for arrangements to pay the £75 fee.

In this session you will cover...
Scratch - This is a simple coding language and an excellent way of getting to grips with the basic concepts of programming.
Kodu - A highly interactive way of programming 3D graphics using very simple concepts that are quickly built up to create something great.
Sonic Pi - Learn how to make music with code!
PyGame - This library for Python offers easy and engaging ways of making games. We will work in pairs to programme a simple asteroids game and understand how smaller pieces of code become complex programmes.
Multi-discipline Computer Science - Discussion and skills review session thinking about how subjects like maths and physics apply to coding and how coding can affect other, more rudimentary disciplines, like literacy and numeracy with demos of ways you can implement into lessons.

An opportunity to do some informal cross-moderation of GCSE controlled assessment.

Theoretical computer science and finite state machines

16:15 Registration and Refreshments
16:30 Computing updates - John lamb
16:45 Little Man Computer for KS3(John Lamb) / Using the microbit (Ben Hughes)
17:30 Sessions from Paul Wiliams/Lynne Dagg topic TBC
18:30 End of session + networking

Physical computing using the Raspberry Pi and a whistle stop tour of Primary computing.

School Improvement Advisor and CAS Master Teacher, Chris Wilde will demonstrate how the Raspberry Pi can be used for Physical Computing (mainly KS3). Also, Regional Coordinator for CAS Manchester & Master Teacher, Sarah Zaman will be running a hands on primary computing workshop.

The agenda below is flexible. There is plenty of time for people to share idea, show and tell etc. Contact one of the organisers if there is something you wish to share.

Time Topic
16:30 Registration and Refreshments
16:40 mBlock - Scratch and text programming for makeblock (and arduino) robotics and sensors - for primary and secondary
18:00 Discussion about commercial providers, where people are with delivery of the curriculum, sharing ideas
18:30 Close

A look at some of the more mathematical aspects of the A level Computer Science.

Are you a teacher of a STEM subject who would like to bring your lessons to life using real life examples?
Are you an ambassador who wants to find out how what you can offer fits in to what schools want?
This event will give you the opportunity to meet and network with both teachers and STEM ambassadors in your local area to generate ideas to inspire pupils in world of STEM! It will provide the chance for STEM Ambassadors to find out what support teachers would value, and for teachers to discover what STEM Ambassadors might be able to offer, in terms of curriculum, extra-curricular and careers support.

Two unplugged CPD sessions focusing on the hard bits of computer programming - decomposition, abstraction, generalisation and data structures.

Thursday 2nd March:
- The Big Picture
- Data Structures Matter
Thursday 9th March:
- Many Problems, One Solution
- Toy Problems for the Real World
- The Oracle of Bacon

This event is for those teachers of GCSE Computing/Computer Science who wish to carry out some moderation/standardisation with other teachers. The session will be informal but a good chance to network with peers and look at the standards required for controlled assessment tasks.

Going Beyond Simple Algorithms

An unplugged CPD session focusing on the decomposition, abstraction and generalisation, and revealing why data structures (lists, graphs and trees) simplify algorithms.

This event comprises two twilight sessions. The first session is on 16 March (16:30-18:30) and the second session is on 30 March (16:30-18:30). The costs is £50 plus eventbrite booking fee for the two sessions. The event is free to to CAS Master Teachers and teachers from CAS Lead Schools.

See https://www.computingatschool.org.uk/custom_pages/56-tenderfoot for further information about CAS Tenderfoot.

A free Future Lean online course on cyber security. Explore the latest research into cyber security and get practical advice on issues including privacy online, payment safety and security at home. The course runs for 3 weeks, 3 hours per week and is open to all.

Code Club meetups are a relaxed and informal way to find out more about what we do and how you can get involved. With over 5,000 clubs around the UK, Code Clubs are now inspiring over 75,000 children to create their own games, animations, tools and websites with code. Join us and help inspire the next generation of coders!

This session covers data structures for the A level: Stacks, Queues, Graphs, Trees and Dijkstra's algorithm

Join us at this free networking event and take a look at GCSE (9-1) Computer Science qualifications.Whilst this event will focus primarily on GCSE 9-1 Computer Science delivery, there will also be an opportunity to raise questions about our other GQ specifications including Entry Level, AS Level and A Level.

This unit covers how the machine works, and how it is built from electronic components that perform a few simple operations. The specific outcomes for teachers from this unit, are to:
- Become familiar with Boolean logic and machine architecture.
- Be able to express combinational logic circuits as truth tables.
- Make connections with exemplar circuits in processors (adders).
- Investigate exercises exploring / coding bitwise operations.
- Become familiar with the fetch execute cycle, Von Neumann bottleneck and the potential of parallel
processing.

It is part of the CAS Tenderfoot (https://www.computingatschool.org.uk/custom_pages/56-tenderfoot) CPD Programme. Primarily aimed at KS3 and above teachers, it can also be of interest at KS2.

This unit is designed to introduce teachers to core ideas about agent based modelling and give them practical experience of modifying existing models. The core challenges are supplemented with a range kinaesthetic activities to build awareness of decentralised systems. By the end of the session, attendees will have been exposed to two well known modelling tools, one block based (StarLogoTNG/Nova) and one text based (NetLogo).

The specific outcomes for teachers from this unit, are to:
- Be able to distinguish between different types of models.
- Become familiar with the basic concepts involved in agent based modelling.
- Identify connections with other subject disciplines.
- investigate exercises illustrating ‘emergence’.
- Be familiar with a framework and pedagogy involved in getting to grips with modelling.

It is part of the CAS Tenderfoot (https://www.computingatschool.org.uk/custom_pages/56-tenderfoot) CPD Programme. Primarily aimed at KS3 and above teachers, it can also be of interest at KS2.

To honour the pioneering work of Karen Spärck Jones the BCS holds a distinguished lecture in her name each year, celebrating a prominent female computing researcher.

Newcastle University School of Computing Science Athena SWAN committee and BCS Women invite you to join us for a screening of this year's lecture: Creating Robots that Care and to network over a drink.

Prof Maja Matarić will deliver the lecture on her work on socially-assistive robotics (SAR), a new field of intelligent robotics that focuses on the development of machines capable of assisting users through social rather than physical interaction. SAR is a growing multifaceted research area at the intersection of engineering, health sciences, neuroscience, social, developmental and cognitive sciences. It uses non-contact social interaction such as speech, gesture and body language to develop robots that are capable of monitoring, motivating and sustaining user activities as well as improving human learning, training and health outcomes

The lecture is for a wide general audience. All are welcome. You do not need to be associated with the University or a member of BCSWomen.

Agenda
5:30 - 5:55 pm - Arrival, Networking drinks
6:00 - 7:30pm - Creating Robots that Care Lecture – Dr Maja Matarić
8:00pm Finish

CAS Research is a group of people who share an interest in research in computer science education. We particularly want to support teachers carrying out or engaging with research and those starting PhDs in this area.

Agenda to follow but the meeting will take the form of research presentations in the morning and discussion on a research topic in the afternoon. This will be a good opportunity for any teachers or postgraduate students involved in research and would like to talk about it do let us know!

Code Club is a network of free, volunteer-led, after school computing clubs for 9-11 year olds. We are part of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a charity which works to put the power of digital making into the hands of people all over the world.

Our meetups are fun, friendly and informal gatherings for teachers, community leaders, volunteers and anyone interested in finding out more about what we do.

If you are already running or hosting a club then come along and say hello; this is a chance to meet people involved in other clubs so we can share resources and help each other.

Or if you'd like to get involved in running a Code Club then come along and find out more.

Our coordinator for the area, Anna Pearson, will be on hand to answer any questions you have about starting or running a club.

There will be snacks and drinks too!

If you have any questions in advance of the event, please get in touch via yhne@codeclub.org.uk or @codeclubne on Twitter.

Code Club builds a community of volunteers who share their passion for digital making with children and teachers across the UK. They offer training and resources for primary school teachers of the new computing curriculum and we are delighted to announce that they will be hosing one of their very popular CPD events in South Tyneside.

This session explores networks and the internet. We look at the Web in more detail, including how to code using HTML, and how search engines work. Have a look at the video below to find out a bit more.

See https://www.smore.com/bhg9n for other CPD at Openzone@The Word.

A chance to look at A level project ideas to help students develop their practical skills and computational thinking.

Workshops include a look at Object Oriented Programming (OOP) using Greenfoot, Computational Thinking & Assessment and also some discussion for how to prepare for the dreaded 9-1 NEA and the resource bank issue.

16:30 Registration and Refreshments
16:40 Workshop: Object Oriented Programming with Greenfoot (Mark Clarkson)
16:40 Workshop: Computational Thinking & Assessment (Simon Roberts)
17:30 Break
17:40 Discussion: GCSE Computer Science NEA - Planning, Preparation and the dreaded Resource Bank
18:25 Feedback Survey and Close

This hub meeting will provide introductions to ScratchMaths, a project from UCL on primary maths and computing using Scratch, and modelling and simulation from using StarLogo.

Programme
Time Topic
16:45 Registration, refreshments and networking
17:00 ScratchMaths - primary maths and computing using Scratch, a project from UCL with excellent KS2 curriculum resources
18:00 StarLogo - modelling and simulation software suitable for KS2 through to A Level. StarLogo allows students to model and explore complex systems. Developed by the people who created Scratch, it is accessible yet enables the development and monitoring of sophisticated models and simulations such as predator/prey ecosystems, pandemics and emergent behaviour exhibited by insect populations.

This session introduces the next CAS Tenderfoot Unit focussing on the connection between the 0s and 1s of binary and how the computer does things. An intro video: https://goo.gl/g0UYS9 explains the unit. We will cover logic circuits, truth tables and boolean logic, machine architecture and the fetch-decode-execute cycle.

This conference covers computing in the primary and secondary curriculum. Workshops will be delivered by national and regional experts in teaching computing. See the conference home page (http://casne.ncl.ac.uk/events/2017/conference/) for programme details and registration information.

This hub meeting will feature sessions on the OCR NEA, Digital Schoolhouse (primary/secondary transition), Flowgorithm and ScratchMaths (primary computing and maths). The schedule is:

16:00 Registration and Refreshments
16:30 Introduction and updates from John lamb
16:45 KS4 - Presentation from OCR on tackling the NEA, KS1/2 - Digital schoolhouse (Mark Lloyd)
17:45 KS3/4 - Flowgorithm (John lamb). KS2/3 - Scratch Maths(Nick Cook)
18:30 Networking + Further questions

This course will be delivered by a trainer from OCR.

The course aims to:
- Give guidance on the structure, delivery and assessment of the specification
- Explain the administration procedures
- Consider ideas and approaches for the teaching for Component
- Improve delivery and assessment of the controlled assessment units.

The cost of the course is £65 per delegate, including refreshments and a resource pack. Note - the cost of the course may decrease depending on the number of delegates.

Please contact Angela Tinmouth, ATinmouth@harton-tc.co.uk to book your place!

The purpose of the project is to offer specialist expertise in the process of linear assessment for Computer Science departments embarking on the KS4 linear framework. The sessions provided will offer inside examiner knowledge based advice and training on how to deliver sessions on Computing in schools, and how best to build the skills of KS4 students to pass 2 exams at the end of the linear assessment process. There are 6 sessions in this training programme.

Session 1 – Wed 20th Sep – 4pm – 6.30pm Exam speak
Session 2 – Wed 1st Nov – 4pm – 6.30pm Essay based questions
Session 3 – Wed 29th Nov – 4pm – 6.30pm The hard stuff
Session 4 – Wed 24th Jan – 4pm – 6.30pm RE-CAP feedback from computing observations & best practice
Session 5 – Wed 7th Mar – 4pm – 6.30pm Making it STICK - Revision
Session 6 - Wed 11th Jul – 4pm – 6.30pm RESULTS

This is a chance to get together with fellow teachers and discuss approaches to delivery and assessment of the NEA.
Programme:
16:00 Registration and Refreshments
16:10 Control of the NEA
16:35 Methods of Delivery and Choices of NEA
17:10 Assessment
17:55 Feedback Survey and Close

This meeting is aimed at teachers and subject leaders to provide an opportunity to discuss and share thoughts about the current provision for KS4 students in computer science and IT/ICT. We will also dedicate some time to discussing the current situation with KS4 computer science NEA. We will look at the rules over the resource bank, how best to prepare students, how to manage the delivery and assessment period and the JCQ guidelines.

eDay hackspace/maker space event is back and it's all happening Saturday 7th October 2017
eDay is back for our 6th year! Packed full of activities for you to explore, create and engage with makers, take part in workshops and hands on activities. This event has something for everyone. Our programme already includes: Makerspace, Raspberry Pi hacks, animation, Minecraft, MicrosoftMR, Robotics, Oculus,Quadcopter racing and much more! Free for all ages.

“Digital Making” is about the overlap between physical ‘maker’ activities – crafts, cardboard engineering, tinkering – and computer programming. The rapid growth of cheap and easy to use computing platforms (Raspberry Pi, Micro:Bit, Arduino) means that anyone can create interesting and engaging digital activities and projects that are relevant to both the education and arts markets.
This Skills Day aims to give everyone (complete beginners and digital natives welcome) a basic understanding of what digital making is, what projects you could create with some basic skills and what else is out there.

You may not have programmed so much as a video recorder, or you might have done some coding at university – but you’re probably new or fairly new to working with lights, motors, sensors and networking. No programming or electronics knowledge is assumed, and we’ll provide all materials.

Artists, teachers, librarians, makers, Scout leaders and workshop providers will find digital making skills useful. These skills are particularly relevant if you work with young people, but digital making is also engaging for families and adults as well as the general public.

Hold tight – we’re planning to open our doors for a little Raspberry Jam, here in our lab on the Northumbria University City Campus. We’ll have oodles of Pis, Arduinos and Micro:Bits to explore, our past installations from Maker Faire UK, workshops, and more. The word ‘bunting’ has just been mentioned in the office, so we may even have some of that. There’ll be Python and Scratch, lots of flashing LEDs, servos, robots, and plenty of opportunity to find out what all these things are if you’ve no clue yet.

Durham CAS Hub Autumn 2017 meeting

PROGRAMME
Time Topic
16:00 Registration and Refreshments
16:10 Primary Computing - Martin Bailey
16.10 OCR NEA general discussion and required evidence - Jim Green
16.55 Microbits for KS2 & 3 - Ben Garside
17.30 Feedback Survey and Close

This is one of OCR's free networking event for the North East on their Computer Science and ICT IT qualifications. They will provide an overview of OCR's specifications and are a great chance for you to meet with your peers, speak with one of their subject specialists about their Computer Science and ICT qualifications, and to share tips and thoughts on best practice in the classroom. They include ideas to take back to the classroom. Key topics:
- GCSE Computer Science: Marking and assessing the J276 NEA – looking forward to 31 March 2018
- A Level Computer Science: Reviewing the Programming Project/Exemplar Work – What made a successful project?
- Vocational Qualifications in IT: what is on offer from OCR at Level 2 and Level 3 with no GCSE and GCE ICT post 2018?
- Sharing teaching experiences and best practice from within the centres

These events provide the perfect opportunity for us to discuss how working together we can make a difference to closing the digital skills gap and equipping the next generation with the right skills for a career in STEM.
This month we're partnering with STEM Ambassador Hub North East so we'll have some of their STEM Ambassadors along to share their experience of working with and supporting schools. They can help you develop ideas for teaching STEM in your own school and the STEM Learning team will be there to help you get the most out of their fantastic resources!
What can I expect? - An informal evening with talks and discussions from STEM Learning, STEM Ambassadors and Teachers.
It will also be a chance for schools to hear more about the funding we have available for schools in Tyne & Wear and Northumberland and how your school can access up to £2000!

Hub meeting including sessions on flowgorithm and cyber security.

PROGRAMME
Time Topic
16:30 Registration and Refreshments
16:40 Flowgorithm - an overview from Nick Cook on the use of flowgorithm to explore program logic and generate program code.
17:15 Cyber security session led by Lynne Dagg and her team from Sunderland University including engaging classroom activities.
18:15 Wrap up

This hub will include a hands-on introduction to the ScratchMaths project. ScratchMaths is a two-year computing and mathematics-based curriculum for Key Stage 2 pupils (Years 5 and 6). Its aim is to enable pupils to engage with and explore important mathematical ideas through learning to program using the free online programming environment Scratch. The idea is that Maths is difficult in part because of the language in which it is expressed. Can we find a different language – and set of ideas and approaches - that is more open, more accessible and more learnable. And can we find it without sacrificing what makes mathematics work? The tentative answer is ‘yes’ – the language of programming might – if designed right – be just such a language. The ScratchMaths curriculum has been designed and trialled by a team based at the UCL Knowledge Lab in London, England in conjunction with primary teachers and is currently being used in over 50 schools across England.

Workshops, discussions and networking for computer science teachers

PROGRAMME
Time Topic
16:30 Registration and Refreshments
16:40 Workshop - Decomposition for complex problems
17:25 Break
17:35 TBD
18:20 AOB

Tech for Life offer unique, industry-led CPD courses specifically designed for teachers who want to get to grips with the basics of code, computing and electronics.
This session will take you through everything you need to know about using BBC MicroBit in the classroom. Get to grips with the basics of coding, and discover just some of the possibilities that the MicroBit offers. With block and text-based coding, there's something for all abilities.
The MicroBit projects can be used across the whole of the curriculum so it's a great tool to integrate digital in your lessons.
Tech for Life also offer whole-school training for £500 (exVAT).

This session aims to give volunteers who are new to coding all the information they need to start running a Code Club. There is nothing to prepare or download in advance.

The training will cover:
- What is Code Club?
- What is coding and how do we give instructions to computers
- Introduction to Scratch
- Understand how to start a Code Club

Who is the training for? This training session is aimed at anyone who is new to coding and would like to learn more about running a Code Club

Tea, coffee, and snacks will be available,.? There will also be the opportunity to share ideas and ask questions.

Please bring your own laptop.

Two twilights to help teachers with the skills required to tackle NEA-level projects at GCSE level using Python. These sessions assume a reasonable working knowledge of Python 3 including sequencing, selection and iteration. Session 1 is on 6th December, Session 2 is on 13th December These sessions are not about, and will not refer to, current, live NEA tasks.
Session 1 covers: Validation Routines, Regular Expressions, Using subroutines, Using 1D lists (time permitting)
Session 2 covers; Reading data from a file, Interrogating data, Writing to a file, Using 2D lists (time permitting)

16:30 Registration and Refreshments
16:40 Discussion on the NEA and alternative qualifications (KS4) or Programming with Robots -Mark Lloyd (KS2/3)
17:05 Cyber security -Lynne Dagg(KS3./4) or Python workshop - Ben Hudson(KS3/4)
18:25 Feedback Survey and Close

Python NE final meet-up of 2017 is a live workshop featuring the Great Elf Game. Our team will help you get up and running with Python and start putting your name on our live leaderboard. If you need any help in advance, please get in touch with our organisers
This event is aimed at anyone interested in programming Python and particular younger students (Y11-Y13). Teams will build part of a Christmas themed Elf game using Python and then use a server to to play the game the game they have helped code and compete against the other groups in the room.
Pizza will be provided free of charge by Pebble and Sharpe Recruitment. Don’t forget to sign up so we can order enough!

For our upcoming free festive Code Club meetup, we're coming to Sunderland and teaming up with RTC North. If you are a teacher, an educator, a Code Club host or volunteer, or someone interested in getting involved with Code Club, then this event is for you.
This meetup will be a fun, friendly, informal space where you can meet like-minded members of the Code Club community, talk all things Code Club, and hear the latest updates about how we are helping kids all over the North East to get coding.
If you’re new to Code Club or thinking about volunteering for us, this is also a great place to get started.
The event will include talks, demonstrations, and a chance to get hands-on with some digital making activities.
Our confirmed speakers and demos so far are:
- Anna Pearson: Regional Coordinator (Code Club UK/Raspberry Pi Foundation)
- Jonathan Sanderson: Digital Engagement and Making Specialist (NUSTEM)
- Karen Marshall: Apprentice, Education and Engagement Lead (Accenture)
- Lyndsey Britton: Founder Tech for Life

The talks are a great opportunity to learn more about the North East tech community and about how individuals and organisations are engaging with young people and bridging the digital skills gap.

This STEM Learning CPD, led by highly-experienced computer science teachers, will help you maximise the impact of the micro:bit on student learning. You will learn how to fully integrate the device into an engaging curriculum that provides opportunities for all. You will also find out which are the most useful tools and add-ons for the micro:bit, saving you money and time.

Participants will take away devices and additional components to repeat the activities back in the classroom.

Join us for our Raspberry Jam Big Birthday event! The sessions will include: Show and tell, Getting started with the Raspberry Pi and Raspberry Pi and micro:bit projects to try out.

It's our Spring Term hub meeting where everyone will get free CPD on using Paired Programming with your classes. Suitable for all key stages. We're looking for people to contribute to the Lightning Talks, so if you have something that you have used in the classroom that works well and are willing to share with us in the form of a short presentation (not more than 10 minutes) then we'd love to hear from you. Programme:
16:00 Registration, Refreshments and Welcome
16:10 Lighting Talks (Short presentations on ideas for the classroom) - Range of speakers
17:10 Making music with the Microbits - Chris Wlide
18:15 Durham CAS Hub Micro:bits for Primary - Ben Garside
18:25 Feedback Survey and Close

This free OCR networking opportunity is a great forum to discuss OCR’s Computer Science and IT qualifications with both an OCR Subject Advisor and fellow colleagues in your local area. These sessions are also a chance to discuss teaching and assessment, share best practice and build supportive networks with those around you in other schools and establishments.

Our meetups are a fun, friendly and relaxed gathering for educators, techies, teachers, community leaders, hosts, volunteers and anyone else interested in finding out more about Code Club... you're all very welcome! Whether you are new to or are already running or hosting a club then come along and say hello; this is a chance to meet people involved in other clubs so we can share resources and help each other. Anna, our coordinator for the area will be on hand to answer any questions you have about starting or running a club. Come grab a complimentary drink, snacks and join us! If you have any questions in advance of the event, please get in touch with Anna via yhne@codeclub.org.uk or @codeclubne on Twitter.

This year we celebrate 60 years of computing at Newcastle University - one of the oldest computing science departments in the UK.

On 13 April we open the School of Computing to the public for a day of hands-on activities and engaging talks.

Come and join us and take part in programming robotics, sending secret messages and tinkering with Raspberry Pis and Crumbles. Learn from experts about the genius of Alan Turing, what Big Data really means, how games are engineered and the magic of computing science!

The day runs from 10:30 to 15:00 with activities for children and adults of all ages. Just drop in at any time during the day and celebrate our 60th birthday at the new Urban Sciences Building at Science Central.

To help us plan the day, please complete the form at: https://forms.ncl.ac.uk/view.php?id=1557028

For teachers of computing in special schools and similar settings, or primary teachers looking to engage and include all learners. Practical workshops include:
- Engaging unplugged activities for SEND learners
- App smashing to smash down barriers to learning
- Physical computing alternatives to the Bee-Bot
- Creativity using the Crumble Controller
- Minecraft on the Raspberry Pi
- Assessment in Computing for SEND
Plus the results from the 2017 SEND Computing survey, sharing strategies and teaching resources.

At this Hub meeting Marty Edwards will lead a hands-on introduction to edublocks - a programming environment specifically designed for transition from block based programming similar to Scratch to Python. Nick Cook will lead a session on using Scratch to simulate real-world biological systems such as epidemics and predator-prey ecosystems. This is a relatively simple introduction to modelling and simulation that can be quite powerful in itself but also lead onto the use of more complex environments such as StarLogoNG and NetLogo. Both sessions should be of interest to KS2 and KS3 teachers.
PROGRAMME
Time Topic
16:30 Registration and Refreshments
16:40 Edublocks transition from Scratch to Python - Marty Edwards, Learn IT Compute IT
17:40 Using Scratch to simulate the real world - Nick Cook, CAS North East and Newcastle University
18:30 Cose

We're very excited to have Alan O'Donohue for this hub meeting who is going to run a session on paired programming aimed at KS2 and KS3 teaching but it is a concept that could be applied to other key stages. As with the last hub meeting, we're going to kick off with some short "lightning talks" on something computing related. We're looking for volunteers to give a talk and it can be on anything you think would be interesting, perhaps something you have done in the classroom or a project that you are working on. If you are interested please contact us.
PROGRAMME
Time Topic
15:45 Registration and Refreshments
16:00 Code.org with Ben / Whats next with Jim
16:20 Lightning Talk
16:30 Paired Programming with Alan O'Donohoe
17:55 Feedback Survey and Close