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Get Started Teaching Computing in Primary Schools

Preparing to teach 5 - 11 year olds

Ben Hall

During this course, you will investigate the rationale for teaching computing to primary school pupils, looking at how computing has shaped the world we live in and how computers influence all of our lives. You will examine the breadth of computing using activities from The Computing Curriculum, and in doing so, you will develop your subject knowledge in the main strands of The Computing Curriculum. As you progress through this course, you will reflect on your own teaching experience to ensure that your computing teaching includes effective differentiation and assessment, and is inclusive.

What you'll learn

Over the next four weeks, you will:

Identify the reasons for teaching computing to pupils of primary school age (aged 5 to 11)
Explain the contents of key curriculum strands within computing
Modify a computing lesson to include differentiation and assessment, and make it inclusive for all of your learners
Produce a personal action plan to inform your next steps in learning

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What's inside

Learning objectives

Identify the reasons for teaching computing to pupils of primary school age (aged 5 to 11)
Explain the contents of key curriculum strands within computing

Modify a computing lesson to include differentiation and assessment, and make it inclusive for all of your learners
Produce a personal action plan to inform your next steps in learning

Identify the reasons for teaching computing to pupils of primary school age (aged 5 to 11)
Explain the contents of key curriculum strands within computing
Modify a computing lesson to include differentiation and assessment, and make it inclusive for all of your learners
Produce a personal action plan to inform your next steps in learning

Syllabus

Week 1

What is a computer?

Why teach computing?

Computing in the curriculum

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops core computational thinking skills, which are the foundation for future learning in computing and other STEM disciplines

Taught by Ben Hall, a highly respected educator in the field of computing education

Provides practical strategies for effectively teaching computing to primary school pupils, ensuring their engagement and understanding

Covers key concepts, such as computer systems, programming, data and information, and safety and security, providing a comprehensive overview of computing for primary school teachers

Emphasizes the importance of differentiation and inclusion, ensuring that all learners can succeed in computing

Suitable for primary school teachers with varying levels of computing knowledge, providing both foundational concepts and practical teaching strategies

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Reviews summary

Essential computing pedagogy for primary teachers

According to learners, this course offers a largely positive and highly practical introduction to teaching computing in primary schools. Students particularly praise its ability to build teacher confidence, especially for those with limited prior computing knowledge. The course provides a clear breakdown of curriculum strands, offering actionable strategies for the classroom. Reviewers found the discussions on differentiation, assessment, and inclusion to be very insightful. While it provides a strong theoretical foundation, some noted a need for additional, more specific hands-on tool mastery beyond the course content, particularly for programming tools like Scratch. Overall, it's considered an excellent foundation for non-specialist primary teachers.

Ideal for beginners, potentially slow for experienced users.

"For someone with a basic understanding of computing or experience teaching older children, some parts felt a bit slow..."

"I can see how it would be incredibly beneficial for absolute beginners in primary computing."

"It's perfect for non-specialist teachers wanting to understand the curriculum and gain practical strategies."

Excellent coverage of teaching methodologies.

"The pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) section was particularly insightful, helping me bridge the gap..."

"I found the discussions on differentiation very useful."

"The inclusion and assessment sections were decent. It covered effective differentiation and assessment, and inclusivity."

"The pedagogical approaches are well-explained."

Provides practical, curriculum-aligned activities and strategies.

"The activities suggested are practical and easily adaptable for my 5-7 year olds."

"It covers the curriculum strands well and provides a good overview of the 'why' and 'how'."

"The activities are easily digestible and directly applicable."

"It clarified many aspects of the UK Computing Curriculum that I found confusing."

Significantly enhances confidence in teaching computing.

"Absolutely brilliant! As a primary teacher with limited computing background, this course has given me so much confidence."

"I felt a significant boost in my subject knowledge."

"This course is a must for anyone starting out in primary computing."

Requires supplementary practice for specific software.

"For actual hands-on programming with tools like Scratch, I needed to seek additional resources."

"Some of the programming sections were too brief. I was hoping for more 'show and tell' rather than just 'tell'."

"While it builds confidence, it doesn't dive deep into practical applications of specific software tools."

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 Get Started Teaching Computing in Primary Schools: Preparing to teach 5 - 11 year olds with these activities:

Read 'Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software'

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Gain insights into the inner workings of computers and the fundamental principles of programming by reading this highly acclaimed book.

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Obtain a copy of the book
Read the book thoroughly
Take notes and highlight key concepts
Discuss the book with others or write a summary

Review fundamental concepts of computer science

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Strengthen your foundation by reviewing core concepts of computer science, such as data types, variables, and control structures, before starting the course.

Browse courses on Computer Science Fundamentals

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Identify areas where your knowledge may be lacking
Consult textbooks, online resources, or previous course materials
Practice solving simple programming problems

Follow online tutorials on key computing concepts

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Supplement your learning by exploring online tutorials that provide in-depth explanations and demonstrations of key computing concepts.

Browse courses on Computing Concepts

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Identify areas where you need additional support
Search for reputable online tutorials on those topics
Follow the tutorials step-by-step
Complete the exercises and quizzes provided in the tutorials

Five other activities

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Engage in discussions with classmates

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Connect with your classmates and exchange ideas, ask questions, and provide support through online forums or discussion boards.

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Join the course discussion forum
Read through existing discussions and threads
Post questions or comments to engage with classmates
Respond to others' posts and share your perspectives

Practice coding challenges

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Reinforce your understanding of programming concepts by solving coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank.

Browse courses on Programming

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Choose a coding platform
Select a challenge that aligns with your skill level
Attempt to solve the challenge
Review your solution and identify areas for improvement

Create a visual representation of a computing concept

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Deepen your understanding of a computing concept by creating a visual representation, such as a diagram, infographic, or animation.

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Choose a concept that you want to visualize
Select a suitable visual format
Use clear and concise language and visuals
Share your creation with others for feedback

Contribute to an open-source project related to computing

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Enhance your practical skills and gain valuable real-world experience by contributing to an open-source project that aligns with computing concepts covered in the course.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Find a suitable open-source project
Review the project's documentation and codebase
Identify an area where you can make a meaningful contribution
Submit a pull request with your changes

Volunteer at a local coding club or mentor students in computing

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Share your knowledge and passion for computing by volunteering your time to support others in their learning journey.

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Identify local organizations or schools that offer coding clubs or mentoring programs
Contact the organization and express your interest in volunteering
Attend volunteer training or orientation
Work with students or participants to support their learning and development

Career center

Learners who complete Get Started Teaching Computing in Primary Schools: Preparing to teach 5 - 11 year olds will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Computer Science Teacher

As a Computer Science Teacher, you get to lead classes and teach students from ages 5 to 11 the basics of computing. One can use your deep subject knowledge of computing to teach the different strands of The Computing Curriculum. Your work can make a big difference in the lives of young people as you help them develop the skills they need to succeed in the future.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Science Teacher

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer role requires you to apply your expertise in programming, data and information, and creating media to create and maintain software programs. This course may be useful for you as it helps build a foundation in key concepts within computing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Web Developer

Web Developers utilize their knowledge of computing systems and networks, programming, data and information, and creating media to design and develop websites.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Computer Systems Analyst

As a Computer Systems Analyst, you will use your knowledge of computing systems and networks, programming, data and information to analyze and design computer systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Systems Analyst

Computer Programmer

A Computer Programmer works on the coding and programming aspects of computer software.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Programmer

Data Analyst

Data Analysts utilize their knowledge of data and information to analyze and interpret data, which can be helpful in making informed decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Database Administrator

Database Administrators use their knowledge of data and information to maintain and manage databases.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts use their knowledge of safety and security to protect computer systems and networks from cyberattacks.

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Network Administrator

Network Administrators utilize their knowledge of computing systems and networks to maintain and manage computer networks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Administrator

Systems Administrator

Systems Administrators use their knowledge of computing systems and networks to maintain and manage computer systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Administrator

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create and maintain technical documentation, such as user manuals and white papers. This course may be useful for you as it can help build a foundation in writing clear and concise documentation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

UX Designer

UX Designers use their knowledge of creating media, safety and security, and effective use of tools to design and develop user interfaces for websites and software applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Video Game Designer

Video Game Designers utilize their knowledge of programming, data and information, creating media, and effective use of tools to design and develop video games.

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Webmaster

Webmasters utilize their knowledge of computing systems and networks, programming, data and information, and creating media to manage and maintain websites.

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Robotics Engineer

Robotics Engineers utilize their knowledge of programming, data and information, and creating media to design and develop robots.

See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Engineer

Reading list

We've selected 14 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 Get Started Teaching Computing in Primary Schools: Preparing to teach 5 - 11 year olds.

Computer Science Illuminated

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Provides a comprehensive overview of computer science. It covers a range of topics, including computer architecture, data structures, algorithms, and programming languages. It useful reference for teachers who want to develop their understanding of computer science.

Get Started Teaching Computing in Primary Schools

Preparing to teach 5 - 11 year olds

What you'll learn

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Essential computing pedagogy for primary teachers

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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