Teaching Physical Computing to 5- to 11-year-olds

CO043 Online course

Teach your young learners how to create electronic circuits, then learn to control them using block-based programming languages.

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Pedagogy Key stage 1 Key stage 2 Primary certificate

Free online course Approximately 8 hours of self-study

Learn how to create physical computing projects using a Crumble or micro:bit

Gain an understanding of inputs and outputs

Learn how to adapt your lessons for young learners, with Raspberry Pi

Who is it for?

This course is designed for educators of all types, in schools or informal settings.

It will help you begin your physical computing journey and use physical computing to help to teach young children how to program.

Topics covered

Using physical computing devices in primary school
Using a Crumble to light LEDs and turn motors
Using buttons and sensors as inputs to a Crumble
The programming concepts of sequence, repetition, selection, and using variables
Builidng a buggy with a Crumble
An introductino to Micro:bit

How will you learn?

You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

Course leaders

Isabella Lieghio

Primary computing specialist teacher, working with schools and universities to support computing curriculum development and online safety. Barefoot and NCCE content writer, CAS Master teacher and ADE.

Outcomes

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Evaluate different commercially available physical computing tools
Apply your programming knowledge to control digital inputs and outputs
Develop physical computing projects using a Crumble microcontroller from task to completed build
Demonstrate how to use the micro:bit MakeCode editor and emulator
Design suitable physical computing projects for your learning context
Reflect on your learning and create ideas for your classroom practice

This course is part of Teach primary computing

Teach primary computing

Our nationally recognised qualification will support you to demonstrate your commitment to developing your own practice and to computing as a school subject.

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