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Case study:
Co-Think

Co-think is a three-year Erasmus+ KA2 project exploring inclusive practices in teaching computational thinking to primary school children. As part of the project Danish, Swedish, Finnish, British and Dutch children take part in simultaneous learnathons and their teachers share practice and co-deliver computer science lessons across the five countries.

Co-Think
Co-Think
https://www.co-think.eu/

What did we do?

So far we’ve had several exchanges, visiting each other’s schools and education centres, as well as our first international learnathon. Pupils and teachers from all the partner countries are invited to complete a challenge based on ideas explored during exchange visits. The children collaborate with their foreign peers through an online blog, giving praise and feedback and discussing their understanding of computational thinking concepts.

In the first Learnathon the children choreographed dance routines using code of their own devising, before passing it on to a partner country to interpret, who then filmed and shared the results. Through this process, children learned about the importance of specificity and clarity in algorithms while the practical, collaborative nature of the challenge meant that all children felt included.

We have also accompanied teachers on a Netherlands visit to learn more about how technology is used in Dutch schools, including programming an educational robot who could watch, speak, listen and even dance Gangnam style! A visit to Tampere revealed that Finnish schools focus on problem solving, developing logical skills and digital competence within what they call ‘transversal competencies’ as part of every subject. They have adopted a blend of teaching computational thinking through both a cross-curricular and a single subject approach linking specifically to maths.

What difference is it making?

In the first learnathon it was particularly exciting to see a high level of engagement from girls in an activity that combined two subjects which, according to the 2017 girlguiding survey, are perceived as the least female orientated: PE and computer science. It is the aim of the Co-think project to help promote the inclusion of underrepresented groups in computer science and to show students that the cultural expectations they’ve grown up with don’t have to limit their choices in this exciting subject.

Find out more

Read blogposts about Co-Think:

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Upcoming CPD

Maths and digital technology forum for primary teachers
Maths and digital technology forum for primary teachers

The maths forum provides an opportunity for maths subject leaders to share their expertise and investigate new opportunities for digital technologies to support maths teaching and learning in class and online at home. The forum combines discussion with colleagues about school-wide progress in mathematics, with hands-on activities led by a CLC teacher, demonstrating how technology can be used to support maths. Activities will include programming in Scratch 3, which offers a practical way to illustrate and explore key mathematical concepts such as shape, space, position and direction.

03/11/21,
09:30
- 11:30
KS1, KS2
Subject leaders, Teachers...
More info >
Using technology to enhance assessment and feedback in primary schools
Using technology to enhance assessment and feedback in primary schools

Discover how digital technology can change the way we assess pupils’ work. We will demonstrate how teachers can use technology to monitor, evidence and respond to pupils’ progress in school and learning online remotely, and how pupils can use technology to present and reflect on their learning. We will outline a range of approaches to help assess and evidence learning across the curriculum.

16/11/21,
09:30
- 11:30
KS1, KS2
Computing subject leaders, Headteachers...
More info >

Upcoming Special projects

The News Project
25/11/21,
09:30
- 14:25
KS2

Special project in collaboration with First News Education

For a third year, building on two successful previous projects, we are once again partnering with the children’s newspaper First News, fellow member of the national Making Sense of Media and News Literacy networks. This special project with a literacy, PSHE and citizenship, as well as computing focus, highlights our specialist interest in this important aspect of digital and critical literacy.

The News Project will enable participating classes from year 5 to immerse themselves in news and current affairs using First News and the Bett award-winning First News iHUB, which will be provided free of charge during the school-based part of the project over a six week period. Under the guidance of their teacher, pupils will be supported in their development as a community of fully informed news readers. Classes will test their new critical skills and knowledge in the culminating virtual celebration event which will include a news competition and team-based critical literacy and editorial activities. After the event, schools will be able to use the resources from the day in their school.

The project will launch with an introductory CPD session for teachers to set the context, demonstrate resources and to plan for the school-based activities. 

Initial CPD session - Thursday 21st October 4pm-5.00pm. 

Project work undertaken in school - October and November.

Special event - Thursday 25th November 9.30am-2.45pm.

The Garden Museum
21/02/22,
-
KS1

The CLC is once again partnering with the Garden Museum to offer a partnership project for KS1 pupils (primarily suited to Yr2). Located next to Lambeth Palace on the bank of the Thames, the museum has an inspiring collection that provides the ideal stimulus for young learners to explore the world around them.

Pupils will use technology alongside the museum’s collection to explore the wonderful world of seeds.

  • How are they planted?
  • How do they spread?
  • What is inside them?

 The Garden Museum has a large collection of seeds and tools that pupils will engage with.

These half-day sessions will take place at the Garden Museum.

There is a limited number of dates available, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

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