Teaching with Physical Computing
Offered By: Arm Education via edX
Course Description
Overview
Working with leading teachers and academics, Teaching with Physical Computing is brought to you by the Education team at Arm, the world’s leading semiconductor IP company. Arm-based microcontrollers are in billions of devices – from supercomputers, mobile phones and cars to small computers from partners such as Micro:bit, Raspberry Pi and Arduino.
We work with schools and partners in supporting teaching communities of practice in STEM & Computer Science education with training and a range of free-to-access resources on arm.com/schools.
Whether you’re new to teaching Computing or a specialist Computer Science teacher, Teaching with Physical Computing will set you on the path to becoming an expert in delivering physical computing projects in the classroom.
The Arm School Program’s suite of professional development courses introduces you to the world of Physical Computing and how to apply it through Project-Based Learning (PBL) in the classroom. We demonstrate how programmable physical computing devices, such as the Micro:bit, Raspberry Pi and Arduino, enable educators to apply a constructionist approach to computing education, focussing classroom learning experiences around real world problem-solving. Combining programming languages, computational thinking and design thinking to design and build solutions to real-world problems is an experience that can change your students’ perceptions of Computer Science. Whether you try it once a week or a few times each year, the combination of physical computing and PBL is a powerful tool in bringing Computing concepts to life.
In this self-paced experience for beginners in PBL, the program will lead you towards mastering the topic: the pedagogy, its practical application and supporting educational theoretical principles. It also covers how to embed Project-Based Learning into your curriculum, as well as how to assess it effectively. By completing this program, you will acquire a comprehensive toolkit of concepts and techniques that you can apply with confidence in the classroom.
For more teaching and learning resources from the Arm School Program, visit https://www.arm.com/resources/education/schools/content
Syllabus
Course 1: Teaching with Physical Computing: Introduction to Project-Based Learning
This course introduces the fundamental concepts underpinning Project-Based Learning, and how you can apply it with programmable devices to bring STEM & Computing to life in the classroom.
Course 2: Teaching with Physical Computing: Practical application and classroom strategies for PBL
This course guides you in using real-world problems to spark your learners’ creativity and empower them to develop their own solutions using Physical Computing.
Course 3: Teaching with Physical Computing: Assessment of Project-Based Learning
Learn how to confidently and effectively use assessment in Project-Based Learning.
Course 4: Teaching with Physical Computing: Soft skills, teamwork and the wider curriculum
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the ‘non-technical’ elements that make Project-Based Learning an important addition to STEM & Computing classrooms, and how to integrate them into your teaching.
Courses
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Arm’s first professional development course introduces you to the core elements of physical computing. This includes common Arm-based hardware platforms such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi and micro:bit, as well as the learning theories and concepts that underpin a Project-Based Learning pedagogy. The course helps you transform your approach to teaching Computer Science in the classroom, sharing best practice and practical guides to give all learners the opportunity to develop and practice a broad range of STEM skills.
The course explores how physical computing devices can enable educators to apply a constructionist approach to computing in the classroom, using real-world contexts to engage and inspire learners to be creative with technology.
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Brought to you by Arm, this course guides you through the practical application of Project-Based Learning (PBL) theory using a range of tools and techniques.
The course takes educators on a deep dive into Project-Based Learning, enabled by Physical Computing devices such as Arduino, Micro:bit and Raspberry Pi. We look at the role of the teacher in the PBL classroom, and the planning required to ensure inclusive, collaborative learning experiences.
You will also learn how Physical Computing differs from traditional approaches. This course covers all the practical elements you need to successfully deliver PBL experiences in the classroom.
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Brought to you by Arm, this course covers all the non-technological elements of Project-Based Learning. This includes soft skills such as gracious professionalism, teamwork, communication and collaboration.
Learn how to become an effective advocate of PBL amongst your peers, and effectively share the benefits with school leadership and parents. You will also learn about common ways of embedding PBL in the formal curriculum and how to utilise available resources to enhance your lessons.
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Brought to you by Arm, this course focuses on an aspect of Project-Based Learning that teachers often find challenging: how to assess it effectively.
Assessment of PBL can be challenging. In this course, we explore the purpose and methods of assessment, including what educators need to consider when applying both formative and summative assessment tools.
The course also introduces you to the additional opportunities PBL affords in assessing soft skills, such as problem-solving and collaboration.
Taught by
Oli Howson, Robert Leeman, Dr John Woollard and Gareth Edgell
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