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Ben Hall

During this course, you'll examine a range of pedagogies suitable for teaching programming to primary school pupils, particularly block-based programming languages. You'll look at general pedagogical concepts like Bloom's verbs, semantic waves and cognitive load, as well as approaches specific to programming, such as Parson's Problems or designing lessons using levels of abstraction. You'll also have the opportunity to reflect on your own teaching practices, and how you could adapt your own lessons to make the most of these approaches.

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During this course, you'll examine a range of pedagogies suitable for teaching programming to primary school pupils, particularly block-based programming languages. You'll look at general pedagogical concepts like Bloom's verbs, semantic waves and cognitive load, as well as approaches specific to programming, such as Parson's Problems or designing lessons using levels of abstraction. You'll also have the opportunity to reflect on your own teaching practices, and how you could adapt your own lessons to make the most of these approaches.

What you'll learn

Over the following four weeks, you will:

  • Describe a range of pedagogical approaches, including unplugged approaches, 'Use-Modify-Create', and Parson's Problems
  • Explore the key programming concepts of sequence, variables, selection, and iteration, and how these can be taught
  • Model a learning sequence as a semantic wave
  • Synthesise different pedagogies into a lesson plan
  • Evaluate the use of these pedagogical approaches in your classroom

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Describe a range of pedagogical approaches, including unplugged approaches, 'use-modify-create', and parson's problems
  • Explore the key programming concepts of sequence, variables, selection, and iteration, and how these can be taught
  • Model a learning sequence as a semantic wave
  • Synthesise different pedagogies into a lesson plan
  • Evaluate the use of these pedagogical approaches in your classroom

Syllabus

You will cover:
Pedagogical content knowledge
Bloom's taxonomy and SOLO
Semantic waves
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Instructivist and constructivist learning theories
Continuum of scaffolding
Levels of abstraction
Programming concepts: sequence, repetition, variables, and selection
Using guided exploration and targeted tasks
Teaching programming using 'Use-Modify-Create'

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Guides educators through a wide range of teaching methods, including 'Use Modify Create' and Parson's Problems, which are tailored to primary school children
Delves into pedagogical concepts like Bloom's taxonomy, cognitive load, and semantic waves, empowering educators to enhance their teaching practices
Specifically targeted towards educators teaching programming to primary school students, catering to their unique needs and challenges
Provides practical guidance on how to teach key programming concepts such as sequence, iteration, and variables in an engaging and accessible manner
Empowers educators to evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching methods and make informed adjustments to optimize student outcomes

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Programming Pedagogy in Primary Schools: Developing Computing Teaching with these activities:
Review key programming concepts
Reinforce your understanding of the fundamental programming concepts that will be covered in this course.
Browse courses on Sequence
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  • Go over your notes from previous programming courses or online resources.
  • Complete practice problems or quizzes to test your knowledge.
Read 'The Art of Teaching Science' by Jack Hassard
Gain insights into effective teaching strategies and classroom management techniques that are applicable to teaching programming.
Show steps
  • Read the book, paying attention to chapters on lesson planning, student engagement, and assessment.
  • Reflect on how the book's principles can be applied to teaching programming.
Explore block-based programming environments
Familiarize yourself with the block-based programming environment you will be using in this course.
Browse courses on Block-Based Programming
Show steps
  • Choose a block-based programming environment (e.g., Scratch, Code.org).
  • Follow tutorials or online courses to learn the basics of the environment.
  • Create a few simple projects to practice using the environment.
Seven other activities
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Show all ten activities
Join a study group or online forum
Connect with other students taking the course to discuss concepts, share resources, and support each other.
Browse courses on Collaboration
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  • Identify or create a study group with classmates.
  • Join online forums or discussion boards related to the course.
  • Participate in discussions and ask questions to clarify concepts.
Prepare the background knowledge
Strengthen the essential knowledge to boost efficiency during the course.
Show steps
  • Review the basic concepts of Bloom's taxonomy and SOLO.
  • Reflect on your own teaching practices.
  • Identify the key programming concepts that you will be teaching.
Learn to create semantic waves
Consolidate your understanding of how semantic waves work.
Show steps
  • Find a programming concept that you want to teach.
  • Create a semantic wave for the concept.
  • Share your semantic wave with a colleague or friend.
Solve programming puzzles and challenges
Strengthen your problem-solving skills and apply your programming knowledge in practical scenarios.
Browse courses on Coding Challenges
Show steps
  • Find online resources or platforms that provide programming puzzles and challenges.
  • Attempt to solve the puzzles or challenges on your own.
  • Review solutions and explanations to enhance your understanding.
Develop lesson plans using педагогические подходы
Apply your understanding of педагогические подходы to create lesson plans that effectively teach programming concepts to primary school students.
Browse courses on Lesson Planning
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  • Choose a specific programming concept to teach.
  • Select and research педагогические подходы that align with the concept.
  • Design a lesson plan that incorporates these approaches.
  • Share your lesson plan with peers or instructors for feedback.
Design a blended lesson
Deepen your understanding of the different pedagogical approaches in programming lessons.
Show steps
  • Choose a topic that you want to teach.
  • Design a lesson plan that incorporates different pedagogical approaches.
  • Teach the lesson to a group of students
Contribute to open-source projects
Gain practical experience and contribute to the programming community by participating in open-source projects.
Browse courses on Open-Source Software
Show steps
  • Identify open-source projects that align with your interests.
  • Review the project's documentation and codebase.
  • Find a bug or feature that you can contribute to.
  • Create a pull request with your proposed changes.
  • Collaborate with the project maintainers to refine your contribution.

Career center

Learners who complete Programming Pedagogy in Primary Schools: Developing Computing Teaching will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Computer Science Teacher
Computer Science Teachers educate students about computers and computer science. They develop and implement lesson plans, evaluate student progress, and create a positive learning environment. This course can be beneficial for Computer Science Teachers as it provides strategies for teaching programming concepts to primary school pupils.
Instructional Coach
Instructional Coaches work with teachers to improve their teaching practices. They provide feedback and support to teachers, and help them develop and implement new teaching strategies. This course may be useful for Instructional Coaches who work with teachers who teach programming to primary school pupils.
Educational Technology Specialist
Educational Technology Specialists integrate technology into teaching and learning. They provide training and support to teachers on how to use technology in the classroom, and develop and implement educational technology programs. This course may be useful for Educational Technology Specialists who work with teachers to integrate programming into their teaching.
Teacher Educator
Teacher Educators prepare future teachers to teach in schools. They develop and teach courses on teaching methods, curriculum development, and educational assessment. This course can help Teacher Educators develop effective programming lessons and activities for their students.
Educational Consultant
Educational Consultants provide advice and support to schools and other educational institutions on a variety of educational issues. They may work with schools to develop and implement new programs, improve teaching practices, or evaluate student learning. This course may be useful for Educational Consultants who work with schools to improve their programming instruction.
Curriculum Developer
Curriculum Developers design and develop educational curriculum. They research and identify learning needs, develop learning objectives and activities, and create teaching materials. This course can provide Curriculum Developers with insights into effective programming pedagogy, which they can use to create engaging and effective curriculum materials.
Education Administrator
Education Administrators oversee the operation of schools and other educational institutions. They develop and implement policies and procedures, and manage the day-to-day operations of the school. This course may be useful for Education Administrators who oversee schools that teach programming to primary school pupils.
Instructional Designer
Instructional Designers create and develop educational materials and experiences. They analyze learning needs, design and develop courses and other learning materials, and evaluate the effectiveness of instructional programs. This course can help Instructional Designers develop effective programming lessons and activities for students.
Assessment Specialist
Assessment Specialists develop and implement assessments to measure student learning. They analyze data from assessments to identify areas where students need additional support, and develop and implement interventions to improve student learning. This course may be useful for Assessment Specialists who develop and implement assessments for programming instruction.
Program Manager
Program Managers plan, organize, and execute programs and projects. They develop budgets, timelines, and work plans, and oversee the implementation of programs. This course may be useful for Program Managers who manage programs that involve teaching programming to primary school pupils.
Educational Researcher
Educational Researchers conduct research on teaching and learning. They study how students learn, how teachers teach, and how educational policies and programs affect student outcomes. This course may be useful for Educational Researchers interested in studying the effectiveness of different programming pedagogies in primary schools.
Education Policy Analyst
Education Policy Analysts research and analyze education policies. They provide advice to policymakers on the development and implementation of education policies. This course may be useful for Education Policy Analysts who work on policies related to teaching programming in primary schools.
Learning Scientist
Learning Scientists conduct research on how people learn. They study the cognitive, social, and emotional processes involved in learning, and develop theories and models to explain how learning occurs. This course may be useful for Learning Scientists interested in studying the effectiveness of different programming pedagogies in primary schools.
Software Engineer
Software Engineers apply engineering concepts to the design, development, deployment, and maintenance of software applications and systems. This course may be useful as it provides a foundation in programming pedagogy, which is essential for developing and implementing effective software solutions.
Nonprofit Manager
Nonprofit Managers plan, organize, and execute programs and services for nonprofit organizations. They develop budgets, timelines, and work plans, and oversee the implementation of programs. This course may be useful for Nonprofit Managers who manage programs that involve teaching programming to primary school pupils.

Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Programming Pedagogy in Primary Schools: Developing Computing Teaching.
Provides a detailed explanation of Bloom's taxonomy, a widely used framework for classifying educational objectives into different levels of cognitive complexity. It can be useful for teachers who want to design lessons that are aligned with the learning objectives of their students.
Very useful for providing background on the concept of levels of abstraction and how it can be used in teaching computer science.
A seminal work on constructivism, very useful for providing background on the theory and its applications in education.
A Pulitzer Prize-winning exploration of the relationship between mathematics, music, and consciousness, a very useful reference for teachers and learners who are interested in the broader context of computer science.
Provides a gentle introduction to coding for beginners. It can be useful for teachers who want to teach their students the basics of coding in a fun and engaging way.

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