HLT - Python Training Course

During the recent audits conducted in secondary schools a clear training priority emerged - Python.  As a response we have sourced a capable Python tutor (via Alan Urwin) with a first class Computer Science degree who teaches private clients and tutors GCSE Computer Science with City Tutors.  HLT Computing support has met with Shahid Khan who has now agreed to go ahead with the course.

It would be really useful if you could look at the dates and times of the evening course in which Shahid would teach Python fundamentals and the OCR GCSE Python elements including the project elements.  We are sure this would provide a good platform for you to tailor your own approach to teaching GCSE and would also be applicable to Edexcel GCSE.

The subsidised cost would be £100 per person for a 20 hour course.

We have identified some potential dates with Shahid and have initially planned for the course to run from the 24th April 2014 for 8 out of the following possible Thursday sessions:

1. 24th April
2. 1st May (unless a holiday)
3. 8th May
4. 15th May
5. 22nd May
6. 5th June (unless Shahid is away)
7. 12th June
8. 19th June
9. 26th June
10. 3rd July

The course will run on Thursdays from 4.00pm to 6.30pm or 4.30pm to 7.00pm at one or possibly two of the Hackney secondary school sites.  

There are 12 places maximum which HLT will try to fill, currently we have 5 places verbally agreed.

Could we please ask you contact Jonny Davey on jonnydavey@gmail.com to express an interest or book a place.  If Thursdays or the dates clash with your events it would be good to know.

HLT Computing Support Team

HLT Programming Training Event - 8th May 1.30pm Tomlinson Centre - You are invited to this Free event

Over the last few months we have been collecting information about your support  requests in preparation for September 2014 and the clear priority for everyone is programming training.  In response, the next Network Meeting at the Tomlinson Centre on May the 8th at 1.30pm is to be a hands-on programming training event.

Our trainer is the highly experienced Halgurd Saleh (Burberry's current Business Analyst) who has extensive real world knowledge of programming for the Web and beyond. Halgurd designs and builds sophisticated web environments for Burberry and other clients and has a complete understanding of corporate web production processes.

The schedule for the afternoon:

1. A short biography of Halgurd Saleh's programming learning journey
2. An exploration of the lineage of HTML5, CSS and JavaScript
3. A hands-on coding training session focusing on P10, P11, P12, P13 and P14 of the 'Subject knowledge requirements for entry into computer science teacher training' document
4. Q and A. Halgurd will take any questions you have about programming

We are very excited about the session and hope you can attend.  Please RSVP to jonnydavey@gmail.com to confirm you plan to attend.  If you do come along bring plenty of questions because Halgurd really has mastered the area.

School Recommendation - The Turtle Prize



http://turtleprize.com/

Lisa Cookson has also shared this great free Python competition resource with lesson plans and good supporting resources. Thanks Lisa.

Professor Paul Curzon - Free Programming Training Offer

Hello World, I attended a great 'Programming Without Computing' training session at Queen Mary University on Monday in which Prof. Paul Curzon delivered three practical/visual activities to illustrate programming fundamental concepts. It was very good and the activities could be replicated by you in both primary and secondary settings. Responding to school requests for programming training I spoke to Paul afterwards to see if he would be available to come to Hackney and he is but I have to arrange dates, times, invitations and a room (Only a whiteboard required).

Here are the course titles which last about an hour and a half each:

1. Computational Thinking: Searching to Speak
2. Invisible Palming! Intelligent Paper? So what is an algorithm?
3. Programming Unplugged: Learning programming without computers
4. Computational thinking: It's about people too

Deeper details of each session can be found at http://teachinglondoncomputing.org/free-workshops/

Please let me know if you would like me to organise these events, probably one evening a week for four weeks in a row.  Paul would like at least 15 staff members there so please let me know either way by commenting or ticking the reactions boxes below.