Digital Learning Blog

As a very experienced teacher, education and learning is at the heart of much of what I do.  I love teaching and learning whether that is in the classroom or engaged with life long learning. This page lists the 20 latest education posts.

Learning
Spencer

Inkscape tutorials

Using the Raspberry Pi in the classroom? I have been using the Raspberry Pi in a  club and workshop setting since the very start.  I have also made a tentative approach to using it in the classroom to support teaching. In September it will be a new challenge when I

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Learning
Spencer

Raspberry Pi in the classroom

As part of my new Computer lab at school I have been very lucky to be able to also get a class set of Raspberry Pi 400s.  This is a significant investment and the plan is to use these in a planned and significant way as part of Key Stage

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Man sat at computer presenting to a live stream
Learning
Spencer

RPi Digital making at home

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9eVaVVSaeM&t=47s Since the 30th March 2020 the Raspberry Pi Foundation have been broadcasting a live show every Wednesday across the various social media platforms called  Digital Making at home.  The range of presentations has been amazing and there have been so many highlights for me.  The videos make great resources

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Featured Learning
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CAS Virtual showcase

The last two weeks have been really busy with remote teaching and delivering live lessons at home and in school. Into this busy fortnight I also attended 14 Webinars as part of the CAS Virtual Showcase 2020. With lockdown many tech and education events have either been cancelled or moved

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Learning
Spencer

Modelling Radioactive decay

A classic GCSE Physics experiment using plastic cubes to model random radioactive decay can be modelled and simulated with Python. You can change the number of starting cubes by editing the line max_count = 100 The whole experiment is carried out before displaying any results! The results are saved to

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Learning
Spencer

NCCE Certificate in GCSE CS Subject knowledge

I’ve passed! After nearly 6 months of hard work and some challenging logistical arrangements I have completed the National Centre for Computing Education certificate in GCSE Computer Science Subject Knowledge. I am really pleased and proud to have completed this in the first cohort of candidates and look forward to

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Learning
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PRIMM

PRIMM – A structured approach to teaching programming Introduction Whilst at PyconUK 2018 I listened to the keynote talk from Sue Sentance (Chief Learning Officer at the Raspberry Pi Foundation) about some of the pedagogies used by Computer Science teachers, essentially “what is in their toolkit?” As a very experienced

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AstroPi
Learning
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Astro Pi workshop

I am always keen to develop my range of workshops and activities for schools and events and was asked to do 4 x 2.5 hour workshops at school during ‘activities week’. I decided to do a new workshop this year based around Astro Pi and using the Sense HAT The

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Learning
Spencer

Python: Traffic Lights

Get hands on with LEDs and Python to create your own traffic light. Extension: Disco lights Age: Key Stage 2 and 3 Langauge: Python 3 Hardware: Raspberry Pi, LEDs, (PiStop optional)

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RTk2
Learning
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NodeRed: Traffic Lights

Getting started with NodeRed and Physical computing. Age: Key Stage 2 and 3 Langauge: Python 3 Hardware: Raspberry Pi, LEDs

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RTk2
Learning
Spencer

Micro:bit Dragon Eggs

Thas was a fun Python Micro:bit and Raspberry Pi workshop carried out at a jam and in a library. This introduced Physical computing in a fun and interesting way. Age: Key Stage 2 and 3 Langauge: Python 3 Hardware: Micro:bit, LEDs, connecting cables

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Learning
Spencer

Minecraft at Christmas

This is a fun Python and Minecraft Christmas workshop. Age: Key Stage 2 and 3 Langauge: Python 3 Hardware: Raspberry Pi

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Learning
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Micro:bit Harry Potter

A fun Harry Potter themed workshop using Mirco Python which was used a Library workshop. Age: Key Stage 2 and 3 Langauge: micro python Hardware: Micro:bit

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Minecraft activity 3

In this Python activity you will create loops. The two examples are walking on water and rainbow road. Age: Key Stage 2 and 3 Langauge: Python 3 Hardware: Raspberry Pi

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Learning
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Minecraft activity 2

A more advanced Minecraft Python activity where you build a house. The house can then be easily customised. Age: Key Stage 2 and 3 Langauge: Python 3 Hardware: Raspberry Pi

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Learning
Spencer

High School Musical Stage camera

It seems like ages since I last wrote a blog post but the summer term is always a crazy time at school with revision, exams and the summer show. This year we performed High School Musical at school, and following the tradition of previous shows I wanted to use a

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Doing
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The RPi Community

The Raspberry Pi 5th birthday weekend was a fantastic event and really showed off the best that the community has to offer. To run such a big event the Foundation called out to its biggest resource for help …. The community pitched in and over the weekend nearly forty volunteers

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Learning
Spencer

Pi-topCEED Review and first experiences

I often get quite excited writing reviews for a products and use words like awesome and amazing but as you will see these words are fully justified for the Pi-topCEED. I have been running Raspberry Pi workshops and activities since a few months after getting my first Pi so my

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Doing
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Hub launch at Birmingham Airport

I had my second visit to Birmingham Airport today for the official launch of the Learning Hub and opening ceremony performed by Baroness Estelle Morris. We had a number of primary schools with us who did a range of activities in the new Learning Hub. This saw my first joint

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