Technologically enhanced learning

There are many high-quality, often interactive, resources available via the web to support pupils’ learning in Computing.

Typing error messages into a search engine will often give a pointer towards a solution, and provide some opportunity for ‘just-in-time’ learning in the process.

YouTube hosts countless ‘walkthrough’ tutorials for a wide variety of software packages, including programming toolkits such as Scratch. Your pupils might add their own.

Wikipedia²³ provides comprehensive coverage of Computing topics and links for further study, as well as promoting a more thoughtful evaluation of online information and a potential audience for pupils’ own contributions.

There are plenty of opportunities for pupils to seek help, get feedback, provide support to others and share their work with an audience beyond the classroom through your school learning platform, web space provided by your local authority or regional broadband consortium, and online communities based around particular software.²⁴ Pupils can put into practice what they know about using technology safely, respectfully and responsibly, as well as developing these skills in an immediately meaningful context.

Communities like these feature prominently in the work of Computing professionals, many of whom are generous in sharing their work, expertise and experience.²⁵