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Resources for learning about computing and programming . . .
See below for links to download ZIP files with a complete package of each day's handouts and resources. The handouts also include links to sites to download other software.
MyEasyPages™ - www.myeasypages.co.uk Use MyEasyPages™ to create a simple web page . . . . . . and show friends and family can see what you've produced
Arithmetic of Computers - www.arithmeticofcomputers.co.uk A structured guide to some of the basic maths of number systems and computers
Found something useful that isn't mentioned here? . . . Any ideas? Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?
Then email me with details at Info@CodingIsFun.co.uk
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The aim of the session is for every pupil to build their own web page.
At the same time they can see the HTML they are producing and, if they wish, have a go at editing the HTML directly.
The interface is designed to make it easy to get started and does not require anyone to get involved in some of the more technical aspects of HTML pages.
My Easy Pages™
It's a good idea to set pupils up with user names / passwords and get them registered yourself before the session to avoid wasting time. Have a list of their user names / passwords handy - or, better, printed slips to give them. Note that email addresses are required and different users must have different email addresses. If this is a problem, please contact me.
Consider introducing the session by showing them a web page - and then showing them the HTML that generates it (View Source or similar in most browsers). Even without knowing the details, the idea of opening / closing tags and what a few types of tag do is fairly easy to get across. This is also an early view of the idea that coding is about giving instructions to tell the computer what to do.
Pupils who have some familiarity with Word shouldn't have much problem with getting to grips with the TinyMCE editor.
Remind them to click the Save button occasionally - the page isn't saved until they do (like Word) and you wouldn't want them to lose their work.
A warning - the Backspace key is a mixed blessing - within the text editor it's usually fine for backspacing over text - but elsewhere usually acts like a web browser's back button, which can take you away from the page and result in work being lost.
The handout has tips on how to copy / paste URLs for images and hyperlinks.
There is some validation built into the editing of the HTML and some limitation on the HTML that can be saved to give some protection against errors and doing anything malicious, but this isn't intended to be super secure, so do consider the appropriate level of supervision - the usual rules about not putting personal / inappropriate material on any web site apply here too.
And don't forget to tell pupils that they can access this from home as well.
With a few good pages from pupils, you might think about running a competition for the best.
For pupils who want to go further, the W3Schools tutorial is a good start. W3Schools also has good HTML reference material and a lot of information and resources for a whole host of web technologies. There is also a separate HTML5 tutorial for those who want to go further still.
Like Coding Is Fun, MyEasyPages™ is FREE - for personal / non-commercial / non-profit use - but any DONATIONS (via PayPal - see the top of this page) to help with their development and maintenance would be gratefully received.
Coding is Fun - Resources - 1 - MyEasyPages.docx
MyEasyPages™ web site Register and create your own web page MyEasyPages™ - www.myeasypages.co.uk
W3Schools HTML Tutorial Tutorial and reference for HTML (separate HTML5 tutorial also available) W3Schools HTML Tutorial - www.w3schools.com
This is a general list of possible additional resources that may be useful (in addition to those in the main Resources pages).
But please note that I have not tried using all of these so you'll need to put in a bit of groundwork yourself.
If you have any helpful comments on any of them or any others that might be added, please contact me at Info@CodingIsFun.co.uk.
Visual Studio is the name for Microsoft’s suite of Integrated Development Environments. 2012 is the latest version. Follow the Learn More link for downloads of versions for developing for Windows Desktop, Windows 8, Windows Phone and Web Sites. Express is the (slightly) stripped down free edition. Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 Express
The previous version, Visual Studio 2010 is also still available. Follow the See Download Details link for versions including the C# is the programming language. Other lnguages are available such as Visual Basic. Express is the (slightly) stripped down free edition. Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Express
You might also be interested in Visual Studio 2010 for Windows Phone. With this you can develop XNA and Silverlight Apps for Windows phones (Silverlight also runs on PCs as well as Windows Phone 7). Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Express
Somewhere in all this if you want to work with databases you may want to install some edition of SQL Server.
And you’ll probably encounter the .NET Framework, which is the technology that underpins a lot of Microsoft development stuff and helps link up various diverse technologies, development languages etc.
Note that Windows 7 or later is recommended for all this, even if not necessarily absolutely critical – and, as with all development software, plenty of RAM (my PCs have 6GB) and plenty of hard disc space are recommended.
For fancy graphics you’ll also need XNA Game Studio 4. XNA technology runs on Xbox consoles and Windows Phone 7 as well as on PCs. As a humorous aside, note that there are some people who claim XNA stands for "XNA is Not Acronymed". Microsoft say XNA doesn't stand for anything. Microsoft XNA Game Studio 4
Note that if you have a “.ac.uk” email address (or provide other accepted academic credentials) you can probably register at Microsoft’s Dreamspark site and get the “Pro” editions of this (and other) software [for non-commercial use only!] for free. Microsoft DreamSpark
For loading ISO disc images (which is what you get with some of the downloads), a tool like MagicDisc is helpful – or use Nero or any other CD/DVD burning software to burn the images to disc. Magic Disc
If you want to develop web sites, Microsoft’s web server is called Internet Information Server (IIS) – and ASP.NET is the web server extension that links IIS to the .NET Framework (and hence to development in .NET languages like C#) – there are plenty of (relatively) cheap web hosting companies that offer packages including IIS / ASP.NET / SQL Server and lots more – this is the one I use. Fast2Host
This is very versatile and quite powerful. As well as building the robots in the kit, you can design your own, with motors, lights and various sensors. Programming the robot can be very simple or as complex as you want it it with Lego's own easy to use graphical software or add-ons to Microsoft Visual Studio. Simple programs get stored and run on the Lego Minstorms NXT brick itself. For more complex things you can communicate with a PC while it is running and have a program on the PC control the robot. The robot connects to a PC via USB or Bluetooth. You'll probably want the 8547 kit (or the 9797 kit for education) to start with (unless Lego have come up with a newer version) - note that the Lego online shop is unlikely to be the cheapest place to buy it (unless you can get a special price for schools / academic institutions). Lego Mindstorms
For extra parts / spares, consider hunting on eBay . . .
For more advanced programming in C# using Visual Studio, download the .Net library from MindSqualls . . .
Note also that there is a new Mindstorms EV3 generation of products due out in 2013.
3D graphical programming - similar in concept to Scratch but maybe a bit more advanced. Alice
Graphical programming from Microsoft for PC and XBox. Kodu Game Lab
Tools for learning to programm in Java on Windows, Mac or Linux. Greenfoot
Software for app creation for mobiles from MIT. App Inventor
An alternative to PIC programming. Arduino
A simple robot that works with Raspberry Pi, Arduino - and Shrimp - processors. ShrimpBot
A grass roots organisation that aims to promote the teaching of Computing at school. Computing at School
A magazine (online and print) with lots of stuff about computing and its applications. Created with the aim of sharing the authors' passion about all things to do with Computer Science and published by Queen Mary University, London. CS4FN - Computing Science for Fun
A network of volunteers to run coding clubs in schools. Code Club
Software to learn programming in Ruby. Hackety Hack
A network of software developers and designers aged 18 and under. Young Rewired State
A wide range of devlopment boards based on PIC microcontrollers from MikroElectronika. MikroElectronika - EasyPIC
*** WARNING *** Do *** NOT *** confuse this with easypicDOTcom It is *** STRONGLY *** suggested that you block access to easypicDOTcom And do *** NOT *** use Google to search for EasyPIC
A JavaScript framework, rapidly becoming the de facto standard for simplifying programming in JavaScript, including providing lots of cool effects and solving a lot of the cross-platform web browser compatibility issues. Also think about using JQuery UI. JQuery
A language that extends JavaScript to make it a lot more friendly - and plugs into Visual Studio 2012 to give developers a much smoother development experience. Works with JQuery, but remember to include the jquery.d.ts TypeScript definitions file. You may also want to install the Web Essentials Visual Studio extension. TypeScript
Any ideas? Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?
Found something useful that isn't mentioned here?
Any questions or difficulties?
Or after any further information?
Then email me at Info@CodingIsFun.co.uk
CodingIsFun™ originated with a series of sessions run outside normal school time in a primary school club, with small groups of children aged 8 to 11 (though CodingIsFun™ is just as much about teenagers and students as it is about younger children), aimed at giving them a broad flavour of what computing is about.
The emphasis was on having fun, getting them involved and variety rather than a systematic effort to turn them into programmers.
It certainly felt ambitious, but none of the pupils dropped out - the club was entirely voluntary, with no compulsion to attend - and the feedback was very positive.
And for the record (for anyone who might expect otherwise), it wasn't just boys - there were plenty of girls and they were just as good as the boys - but then it was a woman, Ada Lovelace, who arguably wrote the first ever computer programme!
Quite a lot!
I'm now running these sessions in 6 local primary schools - and developing ideas for other sessions. I'm involved with Royal Institution Masterclasses I'll be starting a series of sessions in a local secondary school as part of their lower sixth enrichment programme. I'm getting involved with staff at some local schools to introduce computing to them - especially in the context of Computing in the new National Curriculum from September 2014. And extending that to work with the Local Education Authority's Central Enfield City Learning Centre.
So things are quite busy
The simple answer is wherever it needs to to help get youngsters enthused about computing and programming.
It is (and probably always will be) a work in progress!
For one thing, computing doesn't stand still.
For another, there are lots of other people creating resources and tools and a major part of the aim of CodingIsFun™ is to help you find them.
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