Over the next few lessons we will be investigating Boolean logic, truth tables and logic gates. We will find out what all this means and how it is used both in computing and in everyday life.
Visit the Teach-ICT activity page and login (you can get the details from a teacher) and start by watching the first video.
When you’ve watched the video and had a go at the activites, reply to this post with an explanation in your words of the Boolean logic means.
This week pupils have been having a go at programming in python. For some of them this is the first time they have had a go at programming using only text. In the past they have used Scratch and Kodu.
This weeks lesson the pupils have been using the turtle in python to draw shapes and patterns.
For example, this pupil had his turtle draw two individual shapes using this code…
Having seen inside a computer you will now prepare a blog post explaining the computer components and also create a poster that highlights to key points of each component. This will also be added to the blog.
Today KS3 have been looking inside a desktop computer and getting hands-on with the components.
For most of the pupils this was the first time that they had seen inside a computer and actually got to handle the components.
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Computers are everywhere! Knowing how they go together and how to make simple repairs is a great skill to have and useful for making repairs in the future (no more running to PC World and paying a fortune for a quick fix!!). It is also a main stand in the computing curriculum that pupils understand hardware.
The pupils were able to see the different storage devices as well as the CPU, heatsink, motherboard and PSU.
The site now has a Q & A forum where you can post your computing related questions (maybe you need help with Flash or Photoshop) and hopefully someone in the school can find an answer.
Take a look at it and see who you can help (dojos for the helpful ones 🙂 )
So far this term the pupils have been working on writing the software to control the micro:bit home energy monitor.
The micro:bit will monitor a circuit that controls an LED with a sensor (an LDR). The micro:bit should monitor how long the LED is illuminated as well as monitoring the temperature using it’s built in sensors.
Pupils got to work with the inventors kits to create a circuit incorporating an LDR and an LED.
The next task is to write the program for the micro:bit so that the LED turns on when the value of the e LDR changes. The temperature should also be measured, and the time the LED is on for should also be measured.
These lessons will explore using micro:bit to monitor energy usage and temperature. We will create a circuit and power it using the micro:bit. We will simulate powering a building (house, office, classroom) and create a system to keep power usage to the minimum.
Building circuits with Group A
Pupils in KS3:CS-A have been trying out the Inventors Kits for the micro:bit today. The aim was to build a circuit using a Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) and when it’s value changed the micro:bit display would change. So not only do they build the circuit but they write the program too.
Over the term the pupils will investigate how buildings can use computers to help monitor and control the services within them, such as lighting, heating and ventilation.
So you may not want a career in computer science or IT, but it may pop up. Or…you could be a trend setter and creative genius. You could take technology in to other industries. We’ve seen robots in factories. Technology in healthcare, the change in education and entertainment, and the current trend in wearables.
Could you be the fashion designer to create a full smart outfit? Could you design some smart wearables to help protect young children? or the vulnerable?
Take a look at this article on Digital Trends, read the stories and view the images. You will be answering a few questions:
Here’s the article:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/wearables/smart-clothing-is-the-future-of-wearables/