Second Training Session - Each Team has to Build Tallest Tower

Hi!

The video below is the introduction to the second training session!

The aim for me is to teach for 1 or 2 hours on a Saturday, once a month, to help develop the science and technology activities.

Have a look at the video and enjoy!

Prepare Your Children to Benefit from their Digital Lifestyle – Computing Skills in Primary Schools

Hi Guys,

I hope all is well.

I have researched some encouraging news about helping children to not be afraid of the new challenge in school - using digital lifestyle to their advantage. The students are challenged to create their digital lifestyle like a new app as well as use apps other people have made.  My research breaks down into 3 parts.

Part 1: I am to follow on with the sentence - 

Children can develop their computing skills by creating computer games and animations!

Have you………..

• Heard that digital (computing) skills are now taught in primary schools?
• Thought about helping your children to learn more about computing?

2 popular brands of coding (programming) known to local primary schools are - A) Codeclub and B) Scratch 

So why is coding even important or beneficial?

BBC News article (21 Jan 2015) - Nicky Morgan says many future jobs will depend on digital industries 

Technology giants such as Google and O2 are to support a £3.6m drive to teach computing skills in primary schools in England, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has announced.

What is interesting is that there is a predicted "culture change" where niche jobs may become more mainstream. At one time the discriminating term  "geeks" referred to people who learned how to code but what happens if google, facebook, O2 and other similar companies become the big employers of the future driving this change - starting with this £3.6 million incentive to primary schools?

Part 2: So how do we know the "digital revolution" is here?

Check this out scenario out!

"Hey mommy and daddy, can you help me with my algorithm homework!" See the link on the word algorithm for the bbc website description.

Just when you thought the way schools produced maths homework gave you headaches!

So don't worry - just point the students to the csunplugged  youtube channel to start with. Plus there are other channels on you tube. For parents and students - don't worry!!!

Part 3: Finally, don't worry the teachers are up their necks in it as well, plus they are to have "fun" too!  The teachers now have a near impossible task to teach how to phonetically pronounce "algorithm" and other related words so I know they have some big tasks ahead of them.

So to all the primary school  teachers - keep on going! We need you guys to be as successful as possible! Without your phonetics and maths training the students won't have a great chance to create a digital lifestyle - so you guys are doing really well! A really massive big up to you primary school teachers.

Take a look at the following video for the dreams and visions of famous people like Mark from facebook, Bill Gates and even Will.I.am!! 
(And yes it is an American video - google is one of the companies investing money in the UK for coding in primary schools so we don't get left behind!)

Hi and New Launch Date on 28th March 2015!

Hi everyone,

I hope all is well.

Apologies, apologies for the delay since my last posts!

Yes I am still around trying to share learning opportunities for primary school students!

It has been an intensive challenge to find a co-ordinator to help evolve and grow this project that is now evolving into a community group.

The Create and Discovery group has made several changes so as to remain relevant to students and the national curriculum. Some of the changes are that the times are now 1pm to 3pm (instead of 1.30pm to 4pm). Also some of the workshops involve the students working together to create and discover a combined vision during the program (such a a group art or drama production).

The start date Saturday 28th March at 1pm.

In addition I am to post weekly or twice weekly updates regarding what I have found available regarding the digital revolution in schools (yes it is taking place now!) I am to add the details in the following post tonight. In later posts I'm to include updates for what is to take place on the run up to and beyond 28th March.

So take a look at the poster below for further information about the Create and Discovery Group and the next launch date.

Have a great rest of the week!

Computing Projects Completed by Create and Discovery Community Group

Hi guys,

Hope everything is OK!

The follow links are examples of what has been produced by the community group by learning to apply their computing skills.

Note: Sorry, but flash player does not play on some tablet devices and smart phones, so if you get the chance then please look at the computer game and animations on a laptop, desktop, and mac books.

1. Shark attack game - press the green flag to start the game. Use the mouse pointer to move shark to "eat the fish" and see how many you can get in 30 seconds.

2. Joke telling time! - Dog and a comedy sketch.

3. Knight Sir Do - Good and Dragon Fire Belly animation. Dragon fire belly is hungry and wants some lunch!!!

4. Haunted house animation by Dionne (her own creative story)

5. Haunted house animation by Jodhveer (his own creative story)

6. Video clip of students creating their own computer animations or games.


Take a look and enjoy!

Poster for the Christmas Pre-Launch Date - 20th December 2014

Hi!

How are you, I hope all is well.

This is the poster for the pre-launch date for the Create and Discovery community group.

Have a look at this poster and take a look through the previous post for the hints and tips for this free prize draw, Christmas event.

This post is titled - "Updated BBC Bitesize Website - Guidance and Clues for the Prize Draw Answers" posted on 9th November.

Hope to see you soon!

Updated BBC Bitesize Website - Guidance and Clues for the Prize Draw Answers

Hi and thanks for checking out our blog!

I hope everything is going well.

Guidance and Clues

This is the website for the updated BBC bitesize website 

Computing - Computer science - How does the internet work (Q1 - What is the internet?)

Art and design - Inspiration and investigation - Art history (Q2 - Who born in 1852 designed the Casa Vicens?)

Science - Electricity - Circuits  (Q3 - What scientific discovery did Michael Faraday make?)

Note: Please do not worry - the case in the photos for the disney infinity 2.0 marvels game is the display case. I have borrowed it from the Game store in town and I am to return it next week when I collect the customer pack - the store had run out.  Sorry about that!

The guy in Game store also works with community projects as well and wishes the project and everyone involved all the best wishes.

For any further information contact us via phone, email, or this blog.  Our website is still under construction although the email function is working and operational.

Have a look at the photos below (click on them to zoom in), also have fun and good luck!!!

20th December 2014 - Free Prize Draw!

Hi and how are you!

I hope all is well.

On 20th December 2014 we are inviting you to visit us at our pre-launch Christmas event. It is from 10am to 12noon so leaves time to finish off any Christmas shopping!

Part of this pre-launch event is a free prize draw for some popular computer games! After the prize draw we ask the students who attend to take part in a taster session of our workshops and activities.

These computer game prizes can be changed on the day for the winner's preferred console such as Xbox 360 or PS4.

These are the prizes:-

First prize: Answer all 3 questions correctly - Disney Infinity 2.0 Marvel Superheroes Starter Pack

Second prize: Answer 2 questions correctly - Skylanders Trap Team Starter Pack

Third prize: Answer 1 question correctly - The Lego Movie Videogame

These are the questions:-

Q1. Computing - What is the internet?

Q2. Art and design - Who born in 1852 designed the Casa Vicens?

Q3. Science - What scientific discovery did Michael Faraday make?

For the answers please check out the updated BBC bitesize website - this website also shows the changes to the national curriculum in primary schools.

Also check out the following blog post titled "Updated BBC Bitesize Website" for some guidance and clues to answer the questions. See the photos of the prizes below!
To enter this prize draw of for further information please contact us on - 01788 553033, 07903 835706, or craig@createandiscovery.com

Have fun with this prize draw and enjoy!!!