Member Article

Computing Teachers Sharpen Programming Skills in New Initiative

Computing teachers are going back to school with a programming course from app developer Apadmi. The course has been designed bring teachers’ programming abilities up to date and covers the development of apps with a ‘real world’ example that can be used to further school pupils’ understanding of the subject.

Teaching of computing in primary and secondary schools is undergoing its largest ever overhaul with a new curriculum set to be introduced in September 2014. The Technology Policy unit of the Department of Education has encouraged teachers to spend the time before this happens innovating and growing the curriculum by exploring industry created schemes, like the course offered by Apadmi.

Recent research by MyKindaCrowd stated that 74% of ICT teachers felt that they didn’t have the right skills to support the new curriculum and 96% would welcome the closer involvement of businesses to help them build practical skills and knowledge.

Howard Simms, co-founder and operations director at Apadmi believes that more support needs to be offered to keep teachers up to date with the latest technologies and applications: “As an employer within the technology sector, we have a responsibility to ensure that young people have the opportunity to develop computing skills, such as app development. The teachers who we are talking with find keeping up with the pace of technology challenging and this is where we can help them with courses that cover the latest trends and applications.”

One delegate from the November course, Lorna Sharrock from Painsley High School in Staffordshire, felt that courses run by businesses in the technology field are a positive step forward in developing the skills of computing teachers: “I’ve found the course really useful and would definitely recommend it to fellow teachers. The course materials provided are excellent – they are ready to be used in the classroom and include some great extension tasks for students. I’ve been able to pick up some great programming principles, understanding what I am doing, rather than just copying down the information.”

Simms added: “There is the potential for our schools to offer a world class education in computing that will ensure the UK has a skilled workforce that competes on a global stage. But this must be done in partnership with specialist companies and not rely on teachers having to play catch up with what is happening in the sector.”

The teacher training course covers the basics of application development and programming and the common questions and problems that teachers may encounter when delivering the lesson plan and app development exercise as provided by Apadmi. The teacher training course follows Apadmi’s successful ‘App in a Day’ programme of lessons delivered by Apadmi staff direct to pupils in classrooms across the UK.

The next course will run on the 30th January 2014. Teachers interested in attending should contact Apadmi for further information on 0161 850 1300, email appinaday@apadmi.com or go to http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/app-in-a-day-cpd-workshop-tickets-8516257355

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Apadmi .