Computational thinking in primary schools

CO457 Online course

Explore what computational thinking is, and how to teach and assess it in a primary school.

Key stage 1 Key stage 2 Teach primary computing certificate

Free online course 90 minutes

Computational thinking lies at the heart of the national curriculum for computing. It includes the key building blocks for success in computing, such as using abstraction to simplify problems or decomposing problems into smaller chunks. As computational thinking skills develop, children become more adept at applying logic, spotting patterns, planning algorithms, and evaluating computer programs. This course will support you to both teach and assess computational thinking, and embed it in your computing curriculum.

This self-paced course includes easily applied, practical approaches to developing computational thinking. You will consider what is expected of learners as they progress through primary school, and how to best teach and assess this. By supporting the development of these key thinking skills, you will ensure that your pupils are successful in computing and beyond!

Enrol now to build your understanding of computational thinking in primary schools and support your pupils in mastering essential computational thinking skills!

Who is it for?

Subject leaders of primary computing wanting to ensure computational thinking is embedded in their curriculum

Topics covered

Models of computational thinking that apply to the primary classroom
Adapting lesson plans to develop computational thinking
Progression in computational thinking
Formative and summative assessment approaches

How long is this course?

This course is approximately 90 minutes of self-directed learning

How will you learn?

This online, self-paced course can be completed flexibly. You can join and start this course at any time after the advertised date, and keep access for a year after booking.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Understand the term computational thinking
Recognise what computational thinking looks like in the classroom
Identify progression in computational thinking
Apply reliable assessment methods in computational thinking

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.

Find out more