Professional Learning And Networking for Computing
Summary of Technique This technique is used to interrogate pupils’ knowledge of structured programming by looking at alternative conceptions. A list of known alternative conceptions (see the approach post here) is used as the basis for programming questions. The questions can act as a diagnostic test, by providing...
Activity Summary A TRACS exercise for database queries. A set of queries suitable for national 4 and national 5. Number of Lessons An introductory lesson with pupils attempting simple examples. A second lesson to present complex sort / search and calculated / derived data. PLAN...
Activity Summary This is a diagnostic test and set of PI questions that helps a teacher to identify alternative conceptions of structured style code. They can be used as a multiple choice test with the most common alternative conceptions at National 5 being identified or as individual...
Activity Summary The attached resources demonstrate TRACS for expressions at N4/5 level, and focus on the order in which a language evaluates an expression. Pupils can be guided through the process, allowing them to use the PICCLLES guide to carry out expressions in the correct order. Suggested time allocation These tasks...
Summary of Approach The process a computer goes through when executing a section of code is manually stepped through by the learner in order to understand how it will work and what the expected output should be. Keypoints Just showing a visualisation of a piece of...
Summary of Technique Bill will complete this post! This is an ultimately understanding-first method of teaching programming – which involves introducing the reference language constructs alongside (even ahead of) the corresponding specific programming language constructs. Students both work to understand explain code as well as writing code...
Summary of Technique Pupils use a paper-based TRACS model to trace the processing of a database query. Pupils annotate the model to indicate the sequence of the operations and the effect of each of the operations on the results of the query. The activity is based...
Summary of Approach Computing Scientists must be able to solve problems efficiently. Often, problems are very complicated. Computing Scientists can quickly suffer from cognitive overload. Kinnunen & Simon researched the effect of programming assignments on students. Students were asked to talk about their experience of completing...
Summary of Technique Exercise(s) for Teachers Ways of Using the Technique in the Classroom The most important thing about using TRACS is to be flexible in its use. The process captures all the features of a piece of code and allows you to concentrate on...
Summary of Technique The aim of this technique is to enable learners to think about the execution level of HTML and CSS. Learners are provided, on paper, with a piece of HTML and/or CSS code along with an image of how it will appear in a browser. They will be asked to identify...
