What computing will actually be taught to 5/6 year olds.

[MumsAWNet]

Reading the national curriculum, for computing it states that key stage 1 pupils will learn the following

“understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions
create and debug simple programs
use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs
use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content”

Which is way beyond a 5-6 year old if taken literally, are there any teachers who can explain what will be taught and what programming language will be used?
Thanks

Most of the work on programming in KS1 will be using a programmable device such as Roamer or Beebot. So the "programming language" is basically left, right, forward, backwards etc! Children are expected to be able to program the Roamer to follow a course or reach a specific destination, to work out why it hasn't and reprogram it so it does! Some children will also use programs such as Education City etc which have programming units. By year 2/3 the children will be moving onto Scratch or similar

Why would it be beyond a year 5 or 6.

Say you have to program a robot to vacuum a room. The algorithm could be as simple as move straight until you hit an obstacle, then turn right and move straight. The programming could be in graphical languages like the one with lego. I have seen a friends 8 yo soon having really elaborate lego robot stuff on Facebook.

Debug would just be finding out why something works or not. Reasoning is explaining why the robot behave the way it does (ie where in the code you asked it to act this way).

The last one doesn't even involve coding! It could be write a word document, save, and then retrieve it later.

OP is asking about year 1- 5 and 6 year olds, not year 5 or 6!

Ah sorry, misread it then. I thought it says year 5-6. There's a large difference between that and 5-6yo!

Then I have no idea. I've only heard of things like scratch, which is for 8+.

A quick google sounds like it'll be something like
in-the-attic.com/2012/10/04/teaching-my-5-year-old-daughter-to-code/

Actually the scratch page states that it could be used by younger children under guidance. I was mainly thinking working on their own with it.

Yes my younger DD entering y2 this week has already had a go with scratch at school last year and enjoyed it very much and got lots of understanding out of it too.Great for creating little animations etc. Dd1 entering Y6 now has been using it for a couple of years now and I think it's a brilliant teaching tool, easily adapted to the age being taught.

I teach ICT at infant level and have just been working on some of our curriculum this week.

My year 2s will do Scratch programming as their main coding activities. I have done it the past couple of years and they generally enjoy it, and many get really into it and are very creative.

Last year I introduced some simple Scratch to the Y1s towards the end of the year which was good so we will be doing that a lot more this year.

We will use various apps to introduce the concepts behind coding - algorithms, debugging, etc with things like Beebot, Kodable, Daisy the Dinosaur, A.L.E.X and others.

We use things like Beebot and Kodable with foundation too.

The Hour of Code was a good springboard for us last year and got all the children in school from reception to Y2, and all the teachers having a go at some simple coding.

understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions; create and debug simple programs

• coding via apps and Scratch
• manual, off computer following instructions, simple flowcharts

actual programming devices like the Beebots, Roamer or even rc toys

use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs

• spreadsheets and simulations; answering what if questions

use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content

• this is the old ICT stuff: word processing and presentations, a bit of spreadsheet and database work (things like a branching databases fits here and also a bit into the above depending on how used), use of internet and email, also includes saving/retrieving files from the network, etc.

hulababy are you an ICT teacher? Can you enlighten me what the database syllabus covers? Like what actually is a branching database? That's the part I never understood. A friend told me about database in primary in the old iCT and I never could figure out what it actually includes. (BTW I am a software developer so be as technical as you like).

Googling now. It seems very different from what I understood as databases on first glance. Probably need a bit of diggings on my side to see how it's related! Unless one of you can explain it.

I was a teacher of ICT and computing at secondary. I am now a HLTA but lead Computing at my infant school as part of that job.

The curriculum doesn't give any further details that what is posted in the op. What you actually teacher and how is up to the school to interpret and much will depend on the capabilities of the teacher tbh. ICT, and now Computing, instruction at primary varies hugely.

A branching database isn't really like a normal database. Its a binary tree and used for classifying objects - its very much like the old 20 questions game. So, its a database in the sense that is a collection of data, but thats about it tbh.

I don't do a huge amount of proper databases at infants. The Y1s get to enter some data to an existing database and make a couple of column charts (like shoe size, age, name). The Y2s do similar but have a go at some simple queries. TBH though it is just to get across a basic idea of what it is. We spend more time on coding, simulations and animation tbh as a bit more engaging at this age.

hulababy thanks for explaining. Looking at it I thought it is a simplified decision tree.

If you google hierarchical database you may find a bit more technical explanations. Obviously we do them very simple with limited records and very limited fields - and our fields tend to be one value - true or false

Yes - branching database is a decision tree on the whole. Lots of names for a very similar thing.

By the way, there's a new version of Scratch called Scratch Jr which is available as a free app, meant to introduce 5-7 year olds to Scratch.

What are the year 5 and 6s supposed to be doing?

I am going to investigate Scratch Jr to look at introducing concepts in EYFS and early Y1, moving onto Scratch itse at the end of Y1 and into Y2 (already do it in y2).

Seagullsandsand

This is the full primary curriculum

Key stage 1
Pupils should be taught to:
? understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions
? create and debug simple programs ? use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs
? use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content
? recognise common uses of information technology beyond school
? use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.

Key stage 2
Pupils should be taught to:
? design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts
? use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output
? use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
? understand computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the world wide web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration
? use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content
? select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information
? use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact.

Years 5 and 6 will be doing KS2

Thanks.What will they be using?

It will depend on individual schools as to how they implement it.
My school is only infants so I haven't really looked at key stage 2 in terms of implementation as it isn't relevant to my work.

I have seen to some courses in our city and they have a scheme of work some schools have signed up to.

In Y5 they have suggested:

MS Photostory
Word
Activinspire
G Draw
Sketchup
Audacity
Chrome
Firefox
Internet Explorer
Google Drive
Flowol 4
Scratch

In Y6 they have suggested:

Google Sites
Google Drive
Wikispaces
Windows Live Movie Maker
Serif Movie Plus
Excel
Google Spreadsheet
Open Office - Calc
Flowol 4
Scratch

These are, however, only suggestions and schools using the schemes can use others, and all will use additional ones - Microsoft Office will still be used and often tablet apps

Thanks for that.

As a non-specialist (as most primary teachers are!) I found this quite useful