NEW PYTHON AND HTML UNITS ADDED TO THE POPULAR AND ENGAGING DISCOVERY EDUCATION CODING SERVICE FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS
− New units in Python and HTML in Discovery Education Coding allow teachers to extend their pupils’ learning beyond block coding into real-life coding languages. −
United Kingdom, 16 November 2015— Discovery Education released two new coding units which introduce pupils to Python, an open-source language with many commercial applications, and HTML, a language commonly used to create web pages. Discovery Education Coding, which is aligned to the new Computing Curriculum, is used by over 4000 schools across the UK. The programme’s simple, progressive design and compelling game-like activities motivate primary school pupils learning to code for the first time, and teachers are provided with extensive support through lesson plans. This new content is designed to be used at Key Stage 2, to extend and challenge more able students.
Bidston Avenue Primary School in Birkenhead, already using the HTML units, say “Excellent step by step instructions are provided by the help videos.” Whilst Simon Haughton from Parkfield Primary school in Manchester is excited by the Python content and says, “It’s a great emulator.”
“Teachers and students alike tell us they love using Discovery Education Coding. To keep up with the fast pace of young pupils eagerly learning to code, we’re adding this new more advanced content so that they can start using simple but real-life coding languages,” said Victoria Cottrill, Head of Primary Content at Discovery Education. “By scaffolding the experience and by offering professional development opportunities for teachers, we’re helping everyone broaden their understanding of this relatively new area of the curriculum.”
For two consecutive years, Discovery Education has hosted a summer Coding Camp − a free, virtual professional learning event − for its school partners. This year’s Coding Camp focussed on computational thinking so that educators can feel more confident guiding pupils to understand the foundational concepts behind coding. It also encouraged teachers to deliver coding in a cross-curricular way, helping students to connect coding with more real-life scenarios.
Discovery Education’s mission is to continue to inspire and support teachers as they engage their pupils in coding, so that they respond like this year 5 student from Harbour Primary & Nursery School in East Sussex: “Discovery Education Coding is fun because you make your own coding and you have lots of games and pictures. It makes me feel like I’ve achieved something new.”
For more information on Discovery Education Coding and the new Python and HTML units visit www.discoveryeducation.co.uk/coding
