Having Fun with Computer
Programming and Games: Teacher and
Student Experiences
Clare McInerney
International Conference on Informatics in Secondary Schools
January 13-16 2010
Zurich, Switzerland
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Lero
• Established in November 2005 with support
from Science Foundation Ireland’s CSET
(Centre for Science, Engineering and
Technology) programme.
• University of Limerick (UL – lead partner),
Dublin City University (DCU), Trinity College
Dublin (TCD) and University College Dublin
(UCD), Dundalk Institute of Technology
(DKIT) and National University of Galway
(NUIG)
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Education and Outreach Strategy
• Increase uptake of computing at third-level
(STEM subjects)
• Students don’t know what computing is about
• Increase awareness of computing
• Emphasis on hands-on experience
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Education and Outreach
Programme Target
• 2nd level
– Aimed at Transition Year (TY) students (age
approx 15 or 16)
– Exam free, stress free year
• TY optional 4th year of 6 year cycle
• School designed curriculum or transition units
– Producing a School Magazine
– Setting up a Green School
– Ireland - A Level Playing Pitch?
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Situation at second-level (highschool)
• Government initiatives
– IT 2000 – equipped schools 1997-2000
– Establishment of National Centre for Technology in
Education (NCTE)
– €150M allocated Nov 2009 : computers, software and audio
visual equipment
– Technology and skills infrastructure in schools varies
considerably
• What is being taught in schools?
– European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
– Some HTML
• No state exam in computing
– Few teachers with computing background
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Materials
• Address E&O Strategy - Selected Scratch from a set
of tools
• Developed self guided teaching materials summer
2008, updated summer 2009
– Designed for teachers by teachers (SFI STARs program
summer 2008)
– Computational Concepts using Scratch http://scratch.mit.edu
– Computational Thinking (Wing, 2006) – Using some CS
Unplugged materials http://csunplugged.com
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10 modules with 2-5 lessons
Scratch Modules – 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10
Non Scratch Modules – 3, 7
http://www.scratch.ie
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Pilot Project 2008-2009
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Feedback on Computational
Concepts using Scratch Modules
• Module 1 – Getting Started
– Scratch was “far superior” to the level of engagement while
studying ICT literacy skills and that “motivation levels were
high among all students”.
– Battle of the bands competition: “this was very popular and
we had a big band jam on the projector with the speakers
turned up”.
• Module 2 – Drawing Shapes and Repeating
– Algorithms and Turtle Graphics: Drawing squares, circles
etc.. worked well however, once students started working
with more complex shapes that used nested loops, “students
appeared unimpressed”.
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Feedback on Computational
Concepts using Scratch Modules
• Module 5 - Scratch Cards
– extreme cards were “too difficult to do alone”, the teacher in
school 4 commented that the “level of tasks and their
challenge was very appropriate” at the extreme level.
• Module 6 - Code Maintenance
– “gave them confidence”. “more modifying code lessons
would be welcome.“
• Module 10: Scratch Project
– “the groups were very enthusiastic about displaying their
work”. “Some students showed good initiative and worked on
parts of their project at home”
– Final projects displayed for open day
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Feedback on Computational
Thinking Modules
• Module 7 – Solving Complex Problems
– Towers of Hanoi: “there was great competition in
class to see who could solve with 3 disks. A few
students were able to solve the problem in 7
moves and moved onto 4 disks.”
– Traveling Salesman Problem: “the Traveling
Salesman Problem was less popular than the
Towers of Hanoi game. Only the more persistent,
mathematically-minded pupils found the activity
engaging”
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Feedback on Computational
Thinking Modules
• Module 3 – Searching and Sorting
– “students really enjoyed the Battleships exercise.
There were 1 or 2 moments of confusion with
some students but nothing significant and the
exercise proved to be good fun”.
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Summary of pilot
• Scratch modules engaging for students and teachers
• Summer 2009 updates
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More details and examples to complex materials
Simplified worksheets for research project and final project
Updated screen shots for Scratch 1.4
Added progress check sheet for Scratch cards
Added ideas for final projects
• Teacher and student motivation
– Certificates
– Competition
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Partnership with Irish Computer Society
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Materials Distribution
• Sent to 750 secondary schools September
2009 – endorsed by Irish Computer Society
(ICS)
– ECDL
– F1 in schools
– Choose IT
• Downloads on www.scratch.ie
– 341 downloads since Nov 2008
– 100 Ireland
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2009-2010 Challenges
• Measuring success of Education and
Outreach Program
• Economic downturn in Ireland
• Teachers facing cutbacks
• Need a network of committed people
• Building the community
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Students having fun with Scratch
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Conclusion
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Moved from pilot project to national project
Encouraging uptake
Very positive feedback
Potential for national impact in short time
Really interesting project
Happy to share and collaborate
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Questions?
clare.mcinerney@lero.ie
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