Contact Computing at School for event and ticket information.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009 from 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM (GMT)
Programming at KS3 - What can we do?
"Topping the wish list for school based learning is computer programming ..." (http://www.edge.co.uk/news/gcse-students-disinterested-in-exams)
... so say the pupils! What can we do to help our students learn how to program? Perhaps it seemed easier in the "old days" with computers like the BBC Micro and newsagents shelves were brimming with magazines and books encouraging us to get into programming. In a subject such as music we teach some of the fundamental building blocks of the language of music and how these can be used to create new and exciting pieces of music, but when being taught about computers we jump ahead into word processors or art programs. The challenge of problem-solving, the algorithm, is central to computing and of course programming is an excellent way of helping pupils, according to the 2008 revision of National Curriculum for ICT, to:
Find out more about how we can get programming into our classrooms using some of the excellent new software tools that really inspire and motivate our learners. Matthew Applegate (see below) will share his vision for programmign in schools and give an opportunity to get soem hands-on practice with some of these new tools. It promises to be a fascinating event!
Simon Humphreys
Guest speaker: Matthew Applegate (www.pixelh8.co.uk)
Internationally renowned chip tune musician Pixelh8 / Matthew C. Applegate makes his music from reprogramming vintage computer systems such as the ZX spectrum, Commodore 64, Game Boy and more.
His most recent work “Obsolete?” is a study of The National Museum of Computing, at WWII code-breaking centre Bletchley Park, the people, the history and the machines. Using the old computing machines such as the Colossus Mark 2, Elliot 803 and others to create a whole new palette on which to create the music with. The study culminated in two sold out evening performances on March 20th and 21st, 2009. The piece was commissioned by The National Museum of Computing and funded by The Performing Rights Society Foundation New Music Award and has already been featured on BBC News 24, BBC Look East, BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Suffolk, BBC Three Counties, BBC World Service, New Scientist, Games TM, Future Music, Dazed & Confused Magazine and many more.
Parallel to his involvement in music performance Pixelh8 lectures and runs music and computer related workshops across the United Kingdom and is patron of the Access To Music Centre Norwich and is currently studying for his Masters Degree at UCS Centre for Design Innovation. He is also a STEMNET Science and Engineering Ambassador and a supporting member of the Computing At School Working Group, a member of the Society for the study of Artificial Intelligence, and is on the 2012 Turing Centenary Advisory Committee .
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