Teaching Computer Science: Day 9 - Bits n bobs

Teaching Computer Science - Day 9: Bits n bobs

Not much to report this week as I have been at the UK Skills Show demonstrating Kodu, TouchDevelop and Project Spark however, in my absence, I left this cover lesson on "Units of data".

Learning Objectives:

• Define the terms bit, nibble, byte, megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte

Lesson 1: Theory (Units of Data)

Suggested time: 50 mins

Starter:

Students were asked to watch the video “Units of Data Measurement” from 60secondmindmeld.com. After watching the video, students completed the following worksheet: Units of Data Worksheet 

Main:

Students were asked to investigate different units of data and to create a revision resource which explains the terms bit, nibble, byte, megabyte, gigabyte and terabyte.

Students were then instructed to create a new page in their revision wiki called “Units of data” and upload their finished resource.

Resources:

PWN ICT – Units of Data.pptx

Teach-ICT - Representing Data

OCR - Representation of data in computer systems 

Cambridge GCSE Computing Online - Definitions of units

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Lesson 2: Programming (TouchDevelop)

Suggested time: 50 mins

Main:

Students were instructed to sign in to TouchDevelop (www.touchdevelop.com) and attempt the hour of code tutorials: https://www.touchdevelop.com/hourofcode

Once completed, students where asked to submit their apps to the TouchDevelop Challenge website: http://touchdevelop.weebly.com/student-blog.html

Below is a sample of some of the games created by the students:

Falling rocks game: https://www.touchdevelop.com/hvlca

Another falling rocks game: https://www.touchdevelop.com/fkspa

Turtle drawing: https://www.touchdevelop.com/mbiib

Loves me not game: www.touchdevelop.com/sliwb


Plenary:

Students were invited to try out each other’s apps.