Education Sprint - PyconUK 2012

What do you think students should learn?

• How to think like a computer scientist:

• The teacher isn't always right, and doesn't always know the answer.
• Problem solving.
• CS Unplugged.
• Cultural shift from Teachers PoV.

• Teamwork:programming is not just a solo activity.
• Programming is a creative process that can be fun.
• Patience.
• It's not magic (although it can seem magical).
• Computers only do what you tell them to (providing the computer is running a sane environment).
• Documentation is essential: explain your code, show your working
• The manual is your friend. Know where to look, and do it yourself.
• Programming really isn't that hard!
• Programming is for solving problems. Find an itch and scratch it.
• How to access, query and understand data (opportunity for cross-curriculum collaboration).

What do you think teachers need to know in order to teach programming?

• A programmming language, at least to the level of skill expected of the students.
• A place to look up reference material and resources (to know where to get second level support).
• Understand the free-culture/creative commons outlook (to be [not have] part of a community).
• Where to ask for help:

• IRC
• teacheroverflow.com
• stackexchange.com
• computingplusplus.org
• STEM
• Etc...

Project Ideas for Schools

• Pygame Games
• Pyweek
• Raspberry Jam
• Turbine recording data into a RPi.
• Beep Beep
• Text based adventure games ftw!
• Dojo :-)