Computing / ict teachers

[NewTeacher1]

Sorry for posting here, I will post on staff room too but I think more people look on here!

I’m changing career and starting my brand new job of ICT teacher. I’m coming from an administration background so I have knowledge of most IT related programs. I just need some advice on which are the best resources to use in this field. Can anyone point me in right direction please

ICT is not much taught these days - what age group?

Also shouldn't the school you are going to (I'm guessing you are doing a Teach Second type course and haven't started yet) provide the broad direction?

How are you with Boolean algebra? Hex and Oct conversions? Logic gates? Programming? Can you explain the fetch execute cycle? Is half a byte a nibble or a nybble?

Get yourself over to Staffroom in Education as AIBU is very busy and your thread can slip onto page 2, AKA oblivion in a heartbeat.

Thank you all! My knowledge is good, I know all about the theory I will be teaching. It’s more the websites I could use for fun starters n plenaries. The school won’t be any help as business studies teacher is inky teacher in department. The only computing teacher left last year!

*only

Admin and applications is not Computing.

You could maybe be an Admin teacher... to teach Computing you need a degree in a Computing related subject with a good % programming in it. The courses here teach 4-5 different programming languages. How’s your SQL? Your JavaScript?

disclaimer, Scotland

My degree is in computing science. I took an admin job as it was flexible in the hours and i needed a break from everything at that time. I don’t want to go into other details as I will be identifiable! But I am okay with the theory.

I just need ideas on good places to go for starters and plenary type places.

I'm not a computing person unfortunately, but Twitter is a good place to connect with other subject specialists and share resources. You are probably also less likely to have someone give you a subject knowledge test before helping you out...

Sorry I was trying to be vague and change little details so as not to be identifiable! Just to clarify, I’ve got degree in computer science and masters in programming. I just don’t know the teaching aspect as in best places to get interactive stuff for kids that will be a good end to lessons and maybe online assessment type quizzes

@TheFallenMadonna lol! You are right!
Twitter, I stay away from social media unfortunately. Is there any other places I could go to? Been googling all night but they all look like trial versions then you have to pay

Hi OP.

Try Tes resources. There’s also a kind of talk forum on there where you’d be able to get advice from other CS teachers.

Worth looking at Kahoot also - it’s a quiz site that children like!!

If your new school is part of a multi academy chain - or if there are other schools in the area it’s worth contacting IT/CS departments - usually teachers are very happy to help!

www.teach-ict.com/
BBC bitwise
scratch.mit.edu/
www.python.org/

I have similar background to you.
I've not taught ICT for a while as Michael Gove scrapped it.
Good luck.
Head over to the staffroom in here rather than aibu.

I don't teach computing but I do teach! Have you looked on the TES website? There are lots of resources available free or at low cost and they will all have been made by other teachers. Kahoot (sp?) is popular for quizzing but I don't know much about it. Good luck.

Hi OP! Welcome to the wonderful and mad world of Computer Science!
I can not recommend highly enough that you subscribe to Craig n Dave who are two great Computer Science teachers that support all areas of GCSE and A Level.

If your department has a decent budget, then do look at PG Online but they are expensive.

If you have any specific questions or need support, just ask!

Oh and I should say that for great CPD (training), sign up to NCCE and look at their (currently virtual) courses for all key stages.

I really have no idea for CS, sorry. There's TES of course, but I use it less and less as the quality is variable and so much stuff is paid for. I don't do SM, but I have a Twitter account I only use for work, and it is honestly incredibly useful.

Twitter is the way to go if you want to find what you are after quickly and in all likelihood free. Teachers on there are generous with sharing their resources. You'll probably need to set up a Dropbox as that's commonly used. Or go to TES but prepare to be charged and not have full knowledge of exactly what your buying until you've paid.

*you're

As above, TES is your first port of call. But don't pay for anything - just search through the stuff that is free. If you google things like 'computer science plenary ideas', you will find stuff comes up. Get yourself on Facebook and/or Twitter as there will undoubtedly be group to join and people to follow who know their stuff. My subject has an excellent Facebook group where people freely share resources - quality varies but the main thing at your stage is just getting ideas and seeing what works in your school and with the different classes you teach. You need to know which exam board you are following at school and be happy that your schemes of work are following the spec.

If you are teaching KS4, I can't recommend enough just spending time going through exam papers and looking at examiner's reports and understanding what examiners are looking for. It is something of a subtle art getting it right - and can make a huge difference to grades in your first few years.

If it's just you, looking at your schemes of work and making sure that they are pitched correctly and working towards KS4 outcomes is essential. You can tweak them to suit you. If your school is part of a MAT, particularly a large one, you may find there is a designated teacher advisor for your subject and/or that there are shared resources somewhere on an intranet site. Ask for time to observe good practise in your subject - even if this means going off site every now and again.

THANK YOU! Thank you so much everyone. So lovely x

Are you going to be teaching without having done any teacher training..? Seems bizarre that you could secure a teaching role but jot have knowledge of ...er...teaching! Private school maybe?
But yes, TES, definitely not aibu!!

@Burntbiscuits

Are you going to be teaching without having done any teacher training..? Seems bizarre that you could secure a teaching role but jot have knowledge of ...er...teaching! Private school maybe? But yes, TES, definitely not aibu!!

Burnt why do you think they have no teacher training? They are just asking for help with resources which is common practice in the teaching world!!

I know you’re a bit reluctant but there is SO much available on Twitter! I have an account & all I do is retweet resources which could come in handy, so no need to engage/interact. Def worth checking out. It’s my first port of call over TES these days as many share resources/Dropbox links on there for free.

Start by searching ‘Computing resources edutwitter’ I just had a quick look and already found a blog that might be useful to you: petabytes.com

Good luck & hope you enjoy your role in these weird times!

• pedabytes.com - damn autocorrect

P.P.S. If you’re in Wales, you can also find lots of free resources on Hwb- your school admin or IT Technician should have your login info