Robots and Physical Computing

A recently released book  Teaching Computing Unplugged in Primary Schools   edited by Helen Caldwell (University of Northampton) and Neil Smith (Open University) has a number of interesting chapters by authors who are passionate about how computing is taught in schools. The central theme is unplugged activities, without using computers, but still teach the fundamental of computational thinking. Ok, confession time. I co-wrote, along with Katharine Childs (Code Club), Chapter 3 Artists so I am biased here, but I believe in the central theme of Unplugged Computing. Computing, and Computational Thinking in general,  is not  just  about programming and using a computer (though using computers and  programming are vitally important to Computing) but it is also about many other things including problem-solving, being creative and working collaboratively. Chapter 3 is about linking these computational thinking ideas to produce visual art, by app...

Taken from:  http://www.northampton.ac.uk/news/minecraft-jam-and-history-in-the-making/ History was made on Saturday as the University of Northampton hosted Northamptonshire’s first-ever Raspberry Jam. Raspberry Jams see those with an interest in the affordable – and tiny – Raspberry Pi  computer get together to share knowledge, learn new things and meet other enthusiasts. More than 30 people of all ages attended the county’s inaugural Jam at Avenue Campus, which was organised by the University’s Associate Professor in Computing and Immersive Technologies, Dr Scott Turner. He said: “The Jam was a real success, with a wide mixture of people including fairly notable experts; those who have a Pi, but aren’t quite sure what to do with it and complete novices. “It was great to see people who had some sort of Pi-related query have their questions answered, and others showing off what they have managed to get their Pi to do. “It really helped to inspire the novices to...