Curriculum Design

Introduction to coding for young people, to build digital coding skills and confidence. We will focus on using make code and BBC Micro:bits in this session, but will collaborate with the young people to creatively shape the theme of the session ensure the topic is relevant and interesting. We hope to be able to buy the young people a micro:bit each to send home so they can continue to work on their coding skills. The goal is to build the young people's understanding and confidence, with the aim to enable them to code in their own time. This target group are part of an ongoing partnership, the community group work with families from minority communities specifically, providing holiday activities for children and young people. We are working with Oxford Community Action community group who are partnering with us to provide holiday activities. This event will build on previous interactions and become part of a longer programme to build confidence and gain digital skills and experience. In previous sessions we identified a gap in the young people's coding experience and a desire to learn from both the young people and their families. We aim to collaborate on the theme with the young people and community leaders, potential themes could include: climate change education, Computer Aided Design, 3D printing of micro:bit accessories this will be decided before the session takes place.

The aim of the after school club is to introduce physical computing through the use of BBC Micro:bits, Make Code software and Kitronik Move Motors (https://makecode.microbit.org/) The club is aimed at Year 7 pupils (11-12 years old) and will be run after school from 3pm - 4pm each week. Students do not normally get the opportunity to do hands on physical computing and this club will enthuse them to try out their ideas, work collaboratively and learn basic programming skills. We will also target under represented groups to join this club such as girls and students with SEN and physical impairment. We will also be able to invite primary feeder schools to bring Year 6 students to the club and our Year 7 club members will be taken to primary schools to run a robotics club for primary school pupils during STEM week.

Jam Coding is going to run a series of 12 lunch clubs focused around our underserved and underrepresented children exploring game design. We intend to offer this to our Pupil Premium and SEND children who may otherwise not be able to access extra- tuition. The children will build their own game environments before coding sprites and obstacles in order to make a game of their own choosing. The workshop will focus on ensuring children understand key terms such as commands, events, algorithm, repeat loops and demonstrate how to use such elements. Children will develop their computational thinking throughout the course. Jam Coding synopsis for this course: “At Jam Coding, our goal is to help improve children’s digital skills . This game building workshop will teach children how to code and build their very own 3D computer game. Children will have fun creating interactive animations and games using visual coding. Working in teams, they will learn how to think logically and solve problems.” By using Jam Coding we are able to access their technology and expert Code Coaches. They will be holding a celebration week on the last where children are able to explore their peers work and will be given a certificate for their participation.