Industry immersion: teachers get hands-on experience at IBM Computing Summer School

This July, teachers will have the chance to step out of the classroom setting and into the technology industry with the IBM Computing Summer School, which will take place 3-5 July 2017, at IBM Southbank (one of three Summer Schools that IBM is delivering this summer). The three day course, which will be delivered by IBM professionals, alongside staff from the award winning London Connected Learning Centre, is aimed at primary school teachers with a responsibility for computing in school.

Back by popular demand, teachers will be encouraged to explore effective ways to support colleagues in teaching computing; better understand the computing programmes’ attainment targets; get to grips with assessment and progression; and develop imaginative and creative ways to embed computing across the curriculum. The programme will explore the principles of computational thinking, digital literacy, online safety and information systems within real world contexts, including IBM’s commercial and social programmes.

Julia Lawrence, director, London Connected Learning Centre explained why she is looking forward to working with IBM UK this summer, “Our long-standing partnership with IBM is very significant for the CLC and the schools in which we work.  It enables us to help teachers and their students gain a deep understanding of the computing curriculum using IBM’s industry expertise.  From understanding the computer science behind the Wimbledon Championships to gaining insight into IBM Watson, schools are exploring the curriculum through transformational new technologies, making computing real and relevant to those who have to teach it.  We’re very proud of our work with IBM and look forward to delivering our fourth summer school with them this July.”

Mark Wakefield, Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs Manager at IBM UK, explained why London Connected Learning Centre was the ideal partner for this event: “Education is a longstanding passion for IBM – we rely on a good supply of well-educated, digitally skilled young people entering our workforce, as do our clients. To ensure students effectively develop these skills, those teaching them need to be confident that their IT skills and training are up to date and that they are able to appropriately contextualise the subject that they are teaching. In the digital space, very few organisations have a real understanding of the pedagogy around technology; London Connected Learning Centre is the exception, they are experts in the area and simply have the educational knowledge that we don’t. Their focus is on teachers as much as students, which is crucial for us! Our relationship with London Connected Learning Centre spans over 15 years so we’ve seen first-hand how important they are as an organisation, and we trust them implicitly.”

To find out more about the IBM Computing Summer School, or reserve your space, contact Kim Morrison, kmorrison@londonclc.org.uk or call 0207 720 7514. The course requires a small £25 commitment fee to secure your place.