Enhance your practice and subject knowledge as a primary or secondary school teacher of Computing.

11,186 enrolled on this course

Teaching Computing - Develop your classroom practice with STEM Learning
  • Duration

    6 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours

How can Computing be taught in a way that engages young people and is relevant to the world they live in? The Computing curriculum in England encompasses computer science skills, digital literacy, digital citizenship and digital scholarship. This course offers subject knowledge, skills and advice on planning, teaching, assessment and policy.

Originally created by UEA with sponsorship from Computing at School (CAS) and BT, the National STEM Learning Centre hosts this course enabling you to learn from expert CAS Master Teachers and reflect on your own classroom practice to develop your teaching.

Skip to 0 minutes and 10 seconds When digital devices are everywhere and internet access is widespread… When governments around the world are recognising the importance of computing and adding the subject to the school curriculum… how can it be taught in a way that engages young people and is relevant to the world they live in? On the Teaching Computing online course from the National STEM Learning Centre, you’ll explore how students in primary and secondary education learn computing, looking at ways to introduce computing concepts, plan lessons and assess progress. In particular you will look at how computer programming can be made accessible to children of all ages and abilities. You’ll consider safe and effective use of the internet as well as digital literacy including digital citizenship.

Skip to 0 minutes and 56 seconds Presented by Helena Gillespie, lecturer at the University of East Anglia and a former primary teacher, this course offers you an overview of the English National Curriculum for Computing. It asks how young people interact with digital devices and how to effectively teach all aspects of computing. You’ll be part of a large community of learners sharing their experiences and understanding, learning from Simon Humphreys, the National Coordinator for Computing at School about the background to the computing curriculum. You’ll hear, too, from other industry and education experts to understand the context for the subject of computing. If you are teaching or leading computing in your school, join us on the Teaching Computing course.

Skip to 1 minute and 39 seconds Take part, and develop your subject knowledge and your confidence when teaching computing.

What topics will you cover?

Week 1: Introduction to the computing curriculum

  • The computing curriculum
  • Talking about computing

Week 2: Learning and teaching in computing

  • What happens in computing lessons?
  • Pupil learning in action
  • Teaching computing in action
  • What have you got planned?

Week 3: Subject knowledge

  • Subject knowledge - computer science
  • Subject knowledge - digital literacy and ICT

Week 4: Assessing pupil learning

  • The practical issues of assessment
  • Grading pupil work
  • Expectations of computing

Week 5: Digital citizenship & scholarship

  • The internet
  • Digital Citizens and Scholars
  • E-safety

Week 6: Next steps in teaching computing

  • Subject leadership and whole school issues in computing
  • Peer review activity

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Compare the different strands of the computing curriculum, and understand the differences
  • Design lessons based on learning objectives linked to the computing curriculum
  • Explore subject knowledge and identify your own strengths
  • Lead teaching within your department, based on good practice from experienced subject teaching experts.
  • Reflect on the program of study in your school, to ensure suitable breadth, depth and challenge for all
  • Improve the competence and confidence of your students, and yourself

Who is the course for?

This course is for primary and secondary school teachers teaching or leading the Computing subject. It will be especially useful for those teaching Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 (9 - 13 years old) and is aimed at both subject specialists and primary teaching non-specialists. If you are not teaching the English Computing curriculum, you may also find the course content useful to adapt for your curriculum.

Who will you learn with?

STEM Computing and Technology Specialist at STEM Learning. Ex-ICT consultant, head of department, and experienced teacher of science and ICT for more than ten years. Dave holds a MSc in eLearning.

Who developed the course?

National STEM Learning Centre

The National STEM Learning Centre provides world-class professional development activities and resources to support the teaching of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.

UEA (University of East Anglia)

The University of East Anglia is an internationally renowned university providing top quality academic, social and cultural facilities to over 15,000 students from over 100 countries around the globe.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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