News & Updates
We talk to Mark Bardsley, Transformation Programme IT Executive at Manchester Airport Group, about his career path in IT, from academia to a typical day in his current role.
27 FEBRUARY 2020
A progression framework is the backbone of any subject curriculum. From our research, we have found that there are two quite different ways of presenting progression that show what should be taught and when it should be taught, as well as information on how or why concepts should be taught.
25 FEBRUARY 2020
This week saw the launch of two Year 7 programming units for the NCCE Resource Repository. We’re very excited that they will be the first of many programming units to appear on the Resource Repository, and want to explain the thinking behind these units.
25 FEBRUARY 2020
Almost a year ago, we began the task of deciding what the ‘best’ approach would be to covering the entire content of the KS1 and 2 Computing National Curriculum. We had the national curriculum, but what it doesn’t show is how to get learners from their starting point, to the predefined end points.
25 FEBRUARY 2020
Just over 15 months ago, we were in the process of planning for the delivery of the NCCE. We began to think about the significant challenge we’d face in organising and talking about our subject. We reviewed many of these and eventually decided upon three principles for our organisational structure.
25 FEBRUARY 2020
In this month's episode, we hear from members of the Raspberry Pi Foundation Educator Support team about how they are approaching progression throughout the NCCE Resource Repository resources.
18 FEBRUARY 2020
Throughout computing, and in particular programming, there are many technical terms with precise technical meanings. This can frame expert knowledge as inaccessible to novice learners. Using semantic waves is one way to support novice learners in computing.
13 FEBRUARY 2020
The National Centre for Computing Education has announced a further four schools/colleges that have been successful in their application to become Computing Hubs.
13 FEBRUARY 2020
An exciting announcement today: as part of our ongoing work and support for the National Centre for Computing Education, we have launched a new rewards programme that will see us give away 4,000 Raspberry Pi 4 kits over the next three years!
05 FEBRUARY 2020
With technology changing the way we live, learn and work, our chair Simon Peyton Jones spoke at Bett about the need for a different approach to the teaching of computing in the classroom.
29 JANUARY 2020
In this month's Teach Computing Podcast, we explore some practical strategies that not only support SEND students but improve accessibility for all learners.
23 JANUARY 2020
We've released a new way to measure your students' understanding of the A level syllabus on the Isaac Computer Science platform. It's called the Class Progress Tool.
21 JANUARY 2020
Are you attending this year's Bett Show (22-25 January)? Come and find out about the programmes and resources we offer first hand.
17 JANUARY 2020
A learner's first experience of a solution to a programming problem may in fact be the final program, polished, complete and error free. Live Coding is one approach to exposing learners to the full process of programming.
14 JANUARY 2020
We are committed to helping A level teachers and students get the most out of Computer Science. That’s why we have just released 10 new topics — 27 in total — on our platform.
08 JANUARY 2020
Like many other teachers, I regularly used multiple choice questions in quizzes and tests, and viewed them primarily as a means of assessment. Peer Instruction turns this view on its head and instead uses multiple choice questions for teaching.
19 DECEMBER 2019
In this month's Teach Computing podcast we focus on the challenges facing Computing educators and some of the ways in which teachers can get support.
17 DECEMBER 2019
Hello! This is a quick post to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who helped Isaac Computer Science to have such an amazing first year. You are all awesome, and we are excited to be working with you to develop this programme further.
16 DECEMBER 2019
Exploring Computer Science (ECS) has worked across the United States to increase opportunities for pupils from under-represented groups to access a Computer Science (CS) curriculum. How does it compare to the Computing national curriculum in England?
03 DECEMBER 2019
Ben Hall explores a short paper on 'Improving Scratch Programming with CRC-card design' presented at the 14th Workshop in Primary and Secondary Education (WiPSCE).
03 DECEMBER 2019
Computer science is a growing GCSE subject, presenting opportunities for teachers looking to develop their career across the curriculum. Dave Gibbs looks at opportunities for non-specialists, including our new course ‘Introduction to GCSE Computer Science’.
03 DECEMBER 2019
In this month's Teach Computing podcast we’ve decided to focus a whole episode on a single aspect of pedagogy and how it applies to teaching computing.
28 NOVEMBER 2019
Watch our new film, 'NCCE: the story so far'. To mark our anniversary, we've been to Newcastle, Wolverhampton, Swindon and Cambridge to find out what teachers think about our programme.
27 NOVEMBER 2019
Our full suite of Key Stage 3 and GCSE level subject knowledge assessments are now available, and are free for use by any teacher and their students.
20 NOVEMBER 2019
Collaborative working is effective in many curriculum areas, but a structured pair programming approach can support learners to develop programs and problem solve more successfully.
14 NOVEMBER 2019
Today, we are opening general recruitment for the programme. This means that all primary and secondary schools in England can now take part in the upcoming trials in this landmark programme.
11 NOVEMBER 2019
Longitude Explorer Prize is open to secondary schools and youth groups across the UK, to enter teams of 11-16 year olds with ideas for tech that will help improve the world around them.
05 NOVEMBER 2019
This month marks the one-year anniversary of the National Centre for Computing Education. To celebrate, we're taking a look back at some of the highlights from the past year, as well as giving you a chance to find out we've got planned for our anniversary week.
04 NOVEMBER 2019
‘Data science’ is a term being used more frequently in academia and industry, but a Royal Society report, Dynamics of Data Science Skills, suggests that data science skills are an important area that should be discussed in education, and data skills need to be built into a school’s curriculum.
24 OCTOBER 2019
James Robinson explains why carefully designed multiple choice questions (MCQs) are a powerful and effective tool for assessing and addressing misconceptions held by learners.
24 OCTOBER 2019
We’re following up our inaugural episode’s exploration of the reasons for teaching computing with a discussion about what we mean when we talk about ‘computing’.
18 OCTOBER 2019
At the National Centre for Computing Education we want to capture the views of Computing teachers on the front line. So over the next month, we are running our first National Centre teacher survey to understand the how Computing is being delivered in your school.
16 OCTOBER 2019
Worked examples are a tool commonly used in a range of subjects including Maths and Science to support novice learners. By studying worked examples alongside the completion of traditional practice problems, learners are exposed to the problem solving process as well as frequently applied techniques. A well constructed worked example: * Helps reduce extraneous cognitive load on learners * Aids learners in assimilating new knowledge into their existing understanding * Is especially useful for
10 OCTOBER 2019
We are pleased to announce the first part of our autumn/winter programme of Isaac Computer Science events for students and teachers. There are a number of different events happening all over the country — book your place at an event near you today!
09 OCTOBER 2019
We are excited to announce the launch of a comprehensive new assessment suite for Key Stage 3 computing and GCSE computer science.
02 OCTOBER 2019
We are working to create a comprehensive Resource Repository for you: a collection of over 500 hours of teaching materials to help you with the delivery of the entire computing curriculum from Key Stages 1 to 4 in England.
30 SEPTEMBER 2019
Following on from the highly anticipated Google graduation, roving reporter (and Programme Manager) Claire Arbery reflects on her highlights of the day.
24 SEPTEMBER 2019
To round off September, we’re completing a pedagogical hat trick by sharing the very first episode of our brand-new computing education-focused podcast: Teach Computing.
23 SEPTEMBER 2019
Venetia Howard reflects on how far she has come as a teacher and the sense of purpose and community she enjoyed at the CS Accelerator Google graduation
19 SEPTEMBER 2019
Jane Waite talks us through some of the many instructional approaches that are available to educators when teaching programming.
18 SEPTEMBER 2019
Sway Grantham, Primary Learning Manager at Raspberry Pi Foundation, summarises the research findings and evidence of using manipulatives to challenge learners' concept of a computer.
18 SEPTEMBER 2019
After proudly achieving the Computer Science Accelerator Certificate, Spencer Organ is looking forward to having an impact on his students' learning
18 SEPTEMBER 2019
Watch our new video, which sets out the vision for the National Centre for Computing Education, as narrated by Simon Peyton Jones.
17 SEPTEMBER 2019
Busy teachers don’t always have the time to access, read, and assimilate pedagogy research into evidence-based practices, let alone begin to implement these practices in their classrooms. To help, we’re developing a series of bite-sized Pedagogy Quick Reads.
12 SEPTEMBER 2019
English teacher Julie Simmons has taken a new chapter in her career, moving to teaching GCSE computer science through the CS Accelerator course
11 SEPTEMBER 2019
We are delighted to co-launch Isaac Computer Science, a new online platform for teachers and students of A level Computer Science.
09 SEPTEMBER 2019
With the return of #CASChat taking place on Tuesday 10 September, Steve Clarke explains more about the weekly chat forum, and why you should get involved this year.
05 SEPTEMBER 2019
A recent participant on the NCCE CS Accelerator course to improve teaching of computer science at GCSE level, Ahsan Ashraf explains the ‘amazing’ benefit of working with other computer science teachers
05 SEPTEMBER 2019
Having recently attended our NCCE summer school, secondary teacher Leroy David talks about the benefits of blended CPD and collaborating with peers to develop new techniques.
02 SEPTEMBER 2019
Entries to GCSE computer science have increased in 2019, for the sixth year in succession, indicating a growth in popularity for the subject
22 AUGUST 2019