National Center for Computing Education Computing Hub
The Computing Hub are one of the 34 Computing Hubs across England. They serve all of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, North Northamptonshire, South Holland and Bedford.
Free and low-cost computing CPD with DfE-funded supply-cover subsidies for staff working in primary and secondary schools at all career stages.
Teachers from state-funded schools or colleges
From 1 April 2023, all NCCE teacher CPD, including online, face to face, residential and remote courses, is free for state-funded primary schools, secondary schools and colleges.
Trainee, supply and returning computer science teachers
Courses which are part of the Computer Science Accelerator programme are free to trainee teachers, supply teachers and returning computer science teachers.
Teachers from independent schools
£75 for short courses or a fee of £220 per full-day course is payable for independent schools for any of our face to face or remote courses. Course fees are payable upfront, and the cancellation and no-show policy applies.
Upcoming Events and CPD Opportunities
Primary
Assessment of Primary Computing
Through a range of formative and summative assessment approaches you will confidently evaluate learning in computing, exploring various methods of evidence gathering to support and validate assessment data. You’ll find out what is different about assessing computing compared to other subjects, ensuring that your assessment of each strand is accurate. You’ll also consider how to assess computational thinking – the key capability to solve problems using computers. Schools follow a diverse set of assessment policies and practices – this CPD recognises the different school contexts and guides participants to apply techniques and tools that work with, not against, the wider school ethos.
There are 4 sessions, equivalent to a day of CPD.
- 17 May 2024 (1 day course)
- Huntingdon
- 10:00 AM
Topics Covered:
01 | What we assess in computing – develop an improved understanding of the over-arching computing curriculum; the key concepts and skills it contains; and the assessable outcomes in the classroom. Compare the National Curriculum to your school’s curriculum to ensure adequate coverage and that key assessment points are being met in each year group. Develop a clear vision of age-related objectives appropriate for your school.
02 | How we assess in computing – Develop your understanding of formative and summative assessment in a computing context and consider a range of assessment methods that can be used in either or both situations. Build a toolkit of assessment-for-learning approaches and give better feedback, while reducing workload.
03 | Assessing specific areas in computing – Both programming and computational thinking consist of progression in knowledge, and the skills to apply that knowledge. You’ll have the opportunity to explore and practise a range of assessment techniques specific to these areas and discuss which are more suited to assessing declarative or procedural knowledge.
04 | Using assessment – Supporting and validating assessment requires all staff to understand how to gather evidence, where to store evidence of learning and what to gather in order to be able to assess progress. Explore and discuss best practice whilst also aiming to reduce workload. Learn how to use the aforementioned assessment techniques to demonstrate progress within and across year groups.
Secondary
Adapted Teaching & Effective Learning Interventions in Secondary Computing
(Live face to face Training Course - 6hrs)
Take your first steps towards teaching GCSE computer science and establish a foundational knowledge base of concepts, terminology and classroom practice. Find out how algorithms are designed and how programs are written to provide clear instructions to machines. Learn about the binary system and how it's used by computers to store and process data, plus how to convert to and from the familiar denary system of numbers zero to nine.
Dates:
- Cambridge - 22nd April 2024 (09:30)
Topics Covered:
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01 | Introduction to algorithms - from the instructions you might give to make the perfect cup of tea, to the steps needed to sort a list alphabetically, this session will introduce algorithms. You’ll discover the three key constructs that comprise all algorithms at this level, and how to describe algorithms using flowcharts and pseudocode as required by the GCSE examination.
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02 | Essentials of computer programming - computers do not understand English as humans do. To get a computer to carry out the instructions contained in an algorithm, a computer program must be written. In this session you’ll find out how the basics are expressed in a simple block-based language, as well as the text-based language Python.
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03 | What is data? Data is all around us, in written and electronic formats. Computers handle data in the form of binary – ones and zeros that can represent the dates, alphabetical characters, images and so on that are important to us humans. You’ll carry out basic data-handling operations through simple programs, changing inputted data into different outputted data.
SEND
Creating an Inclusive Classroom: Approaches to Supporting Learners with SEND in Computing
(FREE Online Course - Self study - 8hrs)
Explore ways to make your computing lessons more inclusive for learners with special educational needs and disabilities
Topics Covered:
Common barriers faced by students with SEND in computing lessons
Strategies to support students overcome barriers
Explore both general and specific computing activities that will help to include and engage learners