Switched on Computing 1 Third Edition

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All staff felt confident to deliver the unit content ... " Claire Tomkies, Headteacher, Coads Green Primary School, Launceston.

If you’re using Joy-Con controllers, your PC will see each controller as a separate device. This is fine if you want to play some retro games in 2-player mode on your PC, but modern games aren’t going to work at all. One option is to manually map controls in the game to each individual Joy-Con, but most titles won’t support this. There are even ways of moving your save files to and from your Switch and emulator. However, this isn’t a polished, user-friendly experience. The main problem with the emulator option is that it may be illegal where you live. CAS local hubs are growing rapidly. As word spreads about their success, more and more people are volunteering to host meetings. They provide an excellent forum to swap teaching tips and keep abreast of developments as ever increasing numbers of teachers dip their toes into teaching computing. But there's also a recurring theme that keeps being raised; what software is best to introduce young children to programming? For time pressed teachers, the array of possibilities can seem daunting. Of course, this doesn’t help if you want to continue using the same save files present on your Switch. Sadly, few games on the Switch offer cloud syncing with their PC versions, but a few key titles do allow this. For example, Diablo II Resurrected (cross-progression is planned), The Witcher 3, and Divinity Original Sin 2 offer cross-progression features.This progression grid shows you how the six strands of the new computing curriculum are developed from Year 1 through to Year 6. You may be trying to connect your Joy-Cons or Pro Controller to your PC rather than your entire Switch. While you’re better off using an Xbox controller or even a Playstation controller with PC games, if all you have is a Nintendo controller (or you’re emulating Nintendo titles), they are easy to hook up to your computer. Other major features on the EYFS and state diagrams plus the usual raft of news, contributions, ideas and tips from CAS members. Each unit includes a focus lesson which ties into the wider curriculum and includes step-by-step teacher guidance.

If you see a “Connected to the Computer” message, you can open the Switch drive in your operating system. When done, remember to select Disconnect. Use Smart Device Transfer for Photos and VideosYear 2 definitely builds on Year 1 in lots of ways, and I think there will also be a fair amount of learning about new technologies for both teachers and pupils. Laptops / netbooks / PCs will be used more this year than iPads I think. How teachers portray our emergent subject to pupils is crucial. Computing and IT has often been viewed as a boys' thing. Negative stereotyping, project contexts, the hidden curriculum of the classroom, past contributions from women going unrecognised and peer pressure amongst girls themselves have left a gender imbalance. A new beginning carries opportunities to portray the subject in a fresh light.  Inside this issue we've a special focus on 'minding the gap'. You'll find reports on initiatives, pointers to resources and insights into things that can work in the classroom. Incidentally, I am wondering how I did not know about the Snipping Tool available in Windows 7. Goodbye to Alt & PrtSc. I think this will be a brilliant tool to get children using so that they can capture elements of their work and put them together in a presentation! Software required: Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel, Picasa or IrfanView to edit the photos, Google Earth

Author of the Teacher Guide, Miles is principal lecturer in Computing Education at the University of Roehampton. He is a board member of Computing At School, the BCS Academy of Computing, the National Centre for Computing Education and the CSTA. He is a fellow of the BCS, RSA, HEA and Chartered College of Teaching, and a member of the Raspberry Pi Foundation. This term's issue has a focus on Computational Thought, and why there is more to Computing than just programming. There is, hopefully, something of interest to all CAS members and the wider teaching community. Resources and ideas shared by teachers, both primary and secondary. There is also a section on the Network of Excellence for those new to CAS who aren't familiar with current developments.

With the prospect of all Year 7 pupils receiving a BBC MicroBit in September, this issue takes a timely look at physical computing. Lots of ideas from teachers about different devices and their use in both primary and secondary classrooms. Hardware needed: PC / laptop / netbook, possibly a camera or tablet to video the finished presentations As of Switch System Software 11.0.0, you can connect the Switch to your computer using a USB-C cable connected to your PC’s USB port. The Switch will simply show up on your computer as a USB drive. Just head to: Support needed: Link to the online Scratch resource at http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/15631475/#editor ; school policy on children having Scratch accounts In step 6, it will be easier to use Powerpoint to present the results than SMART notebook (which isn’t readily available on the student devices – but could be. However, with the introduction of tougher SMART Notebook licensing from Version 14 onwards (SMART Notebook Advantage), this may not be a futureproof solution anyway.

Adam’s specialism is how we can use Unplugged Learning to aid children’s understanding. He believes that it has a place in all aspects of Computing and EdTech as it’s where children understand the why and how digital processes work. One year on and it is clear that Computing teachers are rising to the challenge of the new curriculum and a vibrant grassroots community of practice is emerging. This issue reports on developments to support the wonderful work of CAS members. The new Switched on Computing units follow the same tried and tested approach as Switched on ICT. They include:

With this in mind, we have worked with the author of Learn to Code Practice Books, Claire Lotriet, to put together four complete activities for KS1 to UKS2 to teach maths through computing. As more teachers embrace Computing, we will all have ideas to share. No-one has a blueprint for what works best. CAS brings fellow professionals together in the Network of Excellence, to share ideas and develop that subject There is no doubt that many of the new visual programming resources provide hugely motivating environments for pupils. Reading the stories and seeing what is already happening makes you wonder just what is possible! Adam is a Year 5 teacher and Computing and Assessment Lead at Old Hall Primary School. He has been the Bury LA Leading Teacher for Computing since 2015, providing training and advice to schools and in 2019 he was appointed the role of SLE for the Bury Teaching School Alliance.