We’ve been working hard to develop a whole host of virtual workshops for primary and secondary school ages. Workshops are currently virtual via live streaming into classrooms throughout Wales. All workshops are fully funded by support from the Welsh Government.
Secondary
We work with secondary schools in Wales to deliver STEM Enrichment Programmes engaging with pupils by delivering a range of computer science and STEM-based workshops including programming in Python, Little Man Computer, Greenfoot and Robotics.
These workshops are aimed at Key Stages 3 & 4 and are held during the school day in term times.
Each workshop will be delivered to a classroom virtually through a teachers computer connected to a whiteboard/projector. This will require a web camera, speakers and microphone. In addition, all pupils will need to have a pen, pencil and paper available to them
Cryptography | Unplugged | 2 x 1 hour sessions
Session 1 will cover an introduction to cryptography and three different ciphers with additional online worksheets that can be completed as practice. Session 2 will cover a final cipher before pupils have the opportunity to do our virtual version of the Break Into the Box activity, which is a huge favourite from previous experiences.
Session 2 requires access to a computer either individually or in small groups.
Python Maths | Plugged | 3 x 1 hour sessions
An introduction to Python in a visual and artistic way. Session 1 introduces the Python programming language which pupils will learn and explore through the use of Turtle. Pupils will learn the initial commands and improve their computational thinking skills as they develop their ability to program. Session 2 begins to look at more complicated tools that are used throughout computer science such as forloops, IF statements and user feedback. Session 3 sees students move onto using lists and Python’s random library to do some quite advanced programming.
Requires access to a computer and access to the website repl.it
Monte-Carlo Simulations | Plugged | 2 x 1 hour sessions
Probability and statistics can be much more than pulling balls out of a bag or drawing cards from a deck. Monte Carlo simulations give students a chance to explore probability and statistics in an exciting new way. Students with an understanding of Python will be led through some interesting experiments in which they will use randomly generated data to make some interesting discoveries including throwing darts to predict pi and why the casino always wins.
Requires access to a computer and access to the website repl.it
Planets and Orbits | Plugged | 1 hour session
The sun orbits the earth? The planets orbit in circles? The earth floats in the water of the heavens? The historic models of the solar system are numerous and in most cases incorrect. Take a trip through history as we explore how observations and mathematics led us to the current models of the solar system before pupils construct their own models online.
Requires access to a computer and access to the website geogebra.org
Brain Games | Unplugged | 2 x 1 hour sessions
This workshop encourages learners to use computational thinking and problem solving skills to complete collaborative challenges individually and in small teams. Learners will complete a number of challenges involving physical and mental tasks that will develop their collaboration, communication, problem-solving and computational thinking.
Requires pen, paper, packet of spaghetti, blu-tack.
It’s Easy to be Green | Unplugged | 2 x 1 hour sessions
The purpose of this workshop is to give pupils an opportunity to learn about renewable and non-renewable energy. Pupils will have an opportunity to design an energy efficient product or service that benefits the customer and has a positive impact on the environment. This will be based on the knowledge they’ve gained in the workshop.
Requires basic ‘junk’ prototyping materials.
Animal Classification – Biology | Plugged | 2 x 1 hour sessions
This workshop provides learners with an opportunity to learn all about different groups of animals whilst having an opportunity to develop their computational thinking skills in Scratch. Pupils will have an opportunity to develop their own Dichotomous Tree in Scratch which will make the program determine which school of animal you’re thinking of is from.
Requires access to a computer and access to the website Scratch.mit.edu or Scratch 3 installed.
Fuelling the Future | Plugged | 3 x 1 hour sessions
These sessions look at the difficult task facing society in the near future and how to produce enough energy to power the world. The sessions delve into a possible solution to our energy issues while developing programming skills to develop a model of nuclear reactions.
Requires access to a computer and Scratch for sessions 2 & 3.
Primary
We offer free energetic and innovative workshops in English or Welsh adaptive to year topics. Workshops cover STEM subjects underpinned by Computer Science utilising Scratch and other programming languages to deliver problem-solving and computational thinking which can be fully integrated into the primary curriculum.
These sessions are aimed at Juniors Years 5 & 6, Key Stage 2 and are held during the school day in term times.
Each session will be delivered to a classroom virtually through a teachers computer connected to a whiteboard/projector. This will require a web camera, speakers and microphone. In addition, all pupils will need to have a pen, pencil and paper available to them.
Computational Thinking | Unplugged | 90 mins
Focusing on the 4 strands of computational thinking, this session will provide pupils with key skills that can be applied in all walks of life. Topics will include algorithms, abstraction, decomposition and pattern recognition. By the end of the session, students will be able to use the skills they have learnt to solve problems in fun ways.
Technology, Ethics and the Future | Unplugged | 90 mins
This session talks about what technology is and how it has evolved over time to become the technology we use in everyday life. Pupils will have to think outside the box about how different technologies can be “smart” and how they can help us in the world today.
Machine Learning | Unplugged | 90 mins
How does Alexa understand what I ask her? Who is the best table tennis player in the world? Is this a turtle or tortoise? Machine Learning is an exciting and modern area of computer science that is being used in a number of ways from speech recognition to games. This session will introduce the basics of Machine Learning, what Machine Learning systems are used for and how Machine Learning systems work.
Introduction to Scratch | Plugged | 90 mins
This workshop introduces pupils to Scratch online programming, which they will use to create a variety of cross-curricular projects, such as drawing shapes. It will cover algorithms, shapes, arithmetic, literacy and much more!
‘Introduction to Scratch’ sessions will require students to have access to a computer and access to https://scratch.mit.edu/