I think any mother would agree that motherhood is one of those things that
motherhood is one of those things that
motherhood is one of those things that can completely transform your life and
can completely transform your life and
can completely transform your life and your perceptions of the world around you
your perceptions of the world around you
your perceptions of the world around you and it’s amazing it’s the one single
and it’s amazing it’s the one single
and it’s amazing it’s the one single most thing that makes you completely
most thing that makes you completely
most thing that makes you completely reshuffle your priorities in life what’s
reshuffle your priorities in life what’s
reshuffle your priorities in life what’s important to you is now completely
important to you is now completely
important to you is now completely different and actually I think mothers
different and actually I think mothers
different and actually I think mothers are some of the most creative people out
are some of the most creative people out
are some of the most creative people out there having to come up with the most
there having to come up with the most
there having to come up with the most ingenious ways to solve problems that
ingenious ways to solve problems that
ingenious ways to solve problems that people without children can’t even think
people without children can’t even think
people without children can’t even think are actually problems it’s through one
are actually problems it’s through one
are actually problems it’s through one of these such experiences after I’ve had
of these such experiences after I’ve had
of these such experiences after I’ve had a forgiving birth to my twin daughters
a forgiving birth to my twin daughters
a forgiving birth to my twin daughters and after taking a year off work I went
and after taking a year off work I went
and after taking a year off work I went back to school as a computer science
back to school as a computer science
back to school as a computer science teacher full time so now I’m doing two
teacher full time so now I’m doing two
teacher full time so now I’m doing two full time jobs and it was tough I didn’t
full time jobs and it was tough I didn’t
full time jobs and it was tough I didn’t know whether I was coming or going
know whether I was coming or going
know whether I was coming or going and it was it was a little bit crazy and
and it was it was a little bit crazy and
and it was it was a little bit crazy and I remember one particular example I was
I remember one particular example I was
I remember one particular example I was had a class in the afternoon I had to go
had a class in the afternoon I had to go
had a class in the afternoon I had to go and teach them and in the morning I’d
and teach them and in the morning I’d
and teach them and in the morning I’d had a very very busy morning and I got
had a very very busy morning and I got
had a very very busy morning and I got to that lesson in the afternoon and I
to that lesson in the afternoon and I
to that lesson in the afternoon and I went up to taking my keys out and I and
went up to taking my keys out and I and
went up to taking my keys out and I and I get there and I I look at those
I get there and I I look at those
I get there and I I look at those students and I suddenly my face drops
students and I suddenly my face drops
students and I suddenly my face drops because I realize that I have completely
because I realize that I have completely
because I realize that I have completely forgotten what it is I’m going to teach
forgotten what it is I’m going to teach
forgotten what it is I’m going to teach those children I knew I was going to
those children I knew I was going to
those children I knew I was going to teach them about they were doing game
teach them about they were doing game
teach them about they were doing game development and I’d promised to show
development and I’d promised to show
development and I’d promised to show them how their they can get their
them how their they can get their
them how their they can get their characters to lose health or gain a life
characters to lose health or gain a life
characters to lose health or gain a life but how I was going to do that or how
but how I was going to do that or how
but how I was going to do that or how you actually do that those skills are
you actually do that those skills are
you actually do that those skills are completely forgotten now if there’s
completely forgotten now if there’s
completely forgotten now if there’s anybody has any memory or has any
anybody has any memory or has any
anybody has any memory or has any recollection of what an IT or a computer
recollection of what an IT or a computer
recollection of what an IT or a computer science lesson typically looks like you
science lesson typically looks like you
science lesson typically looks like you will know that this is a problem because
will know that this is a problem because
will know that this is a problem because computing teachers traditionally start
computing teachers traditionally start
computing teachers traditionally start by demonstrating the skills they
by demonstrating the skills they
by demonstrating the skills they they’re students to do and then the
they’re students to do and then the
they’re students to do and then the students spend the rest of the lesson
students spend the rest of the lesson
students spend the rest of the lesson doing it but I couldn’t do the
doing it but I couldn’t do the
doing it but I couldn’t do the demonstration so like any teacher and
demonstration so like any teacher and
demonstration so like any teacher and like any mother as 30 seconds you have a
like any mother as 30 seconds you have a
like any mother as 30 seconds you have a plan
plan
plan I thought the demonstration is the
I thought the demonstration is the
I thought the demonstration is the problem let’s remove the demonstration I
problem let’s remove the demonstration I
problem let’s remove the demonstration I went in there and we said I set them
went in there and we said I set them
went in there and we said I set them challenges instead of tasks they did
challenges instead of tasks they did
challenges instead of tasks they did exactly the same thing getting their
exactly the same thing getting their
exactly the same thing getting their characters to lose health or gain a life
characters to lose health or gain a life
characters to lose health or gain a life but this time I said explore figure it
but this time I said explore figure it
but this time I said explore figure it out for yourself speak to your friend
out for yourself speak to your friend
out for yourself speak to your friend here’s three different places that you
here’s three different places that you
here’s three different places that you can go and look at but don’t come to me
can go and look at but don’t come to me
can go and look at but don’t come to me only come to me at the last resort and
only come to me at the last resort and
only come to me at the last resort and secretly was hoping and praying they
secretly was hoping and praying they
secretly was hoping and praying they never came to me by the end of that
never came to me by the end of that
never came to me by the end of that lesson I’d learned three different ways
lesson I’d learned three different ways
lesson I’d learned three different ways to do the same thing and actually it was
to do the same thing and actually it was
to do the same thing and actually it was the single best lesson I delivered in a
the single best lesson I delivered in a
the single best lesson I delivered in a very very long time it was so successful
very very long time it was so successful
very very long time it was so successful that I then redeliver deliberately
that I then redeliver deliberately
that I then redeliver deliberately delivered that lesson to other classes
delivered that lesson to other classes
delivered that lesson to other classes old groups younger children more able
old groups younger children more able
old groups younger children more able students less able students students
students less able students students
students less able students students that cause behavioral challenges in the
that cause behavioral challenges in the
that cause behavioral challenges in the classroom that really tres tested my
classroom that really tres tested my
classroom that really tres tested my skills as a teacher and it worked
skills as a teacher and it worked
skills as a teacher and it worked brilliantly for every single one of
brilliantly for every single one of
brilliantly for every single one of those students and it got me thinking
those students and it got me thinking
those students and it got me thinking why what was it about these lessons that
why what was it about these lessons that
why what was it about these lessons that made them so successful what made them
made them so successful what made them
made them so successful what made them so brilliantly successful it was and it
so brilliantly successful it was and it
so brilliantly successful it was and it what the idea of what I realized was it
what the idea of what I realized was it
what the idea of what I realized was it was because I didn’t play I just play
was because I didn’t play I just play
was because I didn’t play I just play and play is a natural human instinct
and play is a natural human instinct
and play is a natural human instinct it’s something we’re all born to do it’s
it’s something we’re all born to do it’s
it’s something we’re all born to do it’s pre-programmed into our brains and we do
pre-programmed into our brains and we do
pre-programmed into our brains and we do it so well don’t we as children
it so well don’t we as children
it so well don’t we as children children’s are expert at playing you
children’s are expert at playing you
children’s are expert at playing you can’t get them to stop
can’t get them to stop
can’t get them to stop you really can’t it actually so many
you really can’t it actually so many
you really can’t it actually so many times in a classroom you have to say to
times in a classroom you have to say to
times in a classroom you have to say to the children stop playing now stop
the children stop playing now stop
the children stop playing now stop playing start listening and start
playing start listening and start
playing start listening and start working we separate play and learning
working we separate play and learning
working we separate play and learning why do we do that
why do we do that
why do we do that I separate play and learning because
I separate play and learning because
I separate play and learning because children learn through play she didn’t
children learn through play she didn’t
children learn through play she didn’t sit down that that’s my daughter sit her
sit down that that’s my daughter sit her
sit down that that’s my daughter sit her and she didn’t sit down and say well
and she didn’t sit down and say well
and she didn’t sit down and say well mommy’s a computer science teacher it’s
mommy’s a computer science teacher it’s
mommy’s a computer science teacher it’s the digital world out there I need to
the digital world out there I need to
the digital world out there I need to learn how to use computers no she saw an
learn how to use computers no she saw an
learn how to use computers no she saw an object made lots of noises flashing
object made lots of noises flashing
object made lots of noises flashing lights colors and she figured can I eat
lights colors and she figured can I eat
lights colors and she figured can I eat this no she couldn’t but she discovered
this no she couldn’t but she discovered
this no she couldn’t but she discovered that pressing certain buttons did
that pressing certain buttons did
that pressing certain buttons did certain things she was curious she was
certain things she was curious she was
certain things she was curious she was curious and in order to satisfy her
curious and in order to satisfy her
curious and in order to satisfy her curiosity she engaged with the device
curiosity she engaged with the device
curiosity she engaged with the device and she taught herself something it’s
and she taught herself something it’s
and she taught herself something it’s that same curiosity that we use
that same curiosity that we use
that same curiosity that we use throughout and for so many things it’s
throughout and for so many things it’s
throughout and for so many things it’s that same curiosity which means that the
that same curiosity which means that the
that same curiosity which means that the world over they are taught lead lung
world over they are taught lead lung
world over they are taught lead lung young toddlers 2 years old that are
young toddlers 2 years old that are
young toddlers 2 years old that are perfectly proficient at unlocking
perfectly proficient at unlocking
perfectly proficient at unlocking lepprince phones finding the YouTube app
lepprince phones finding the YouTube app
lepprince phones finding the YouTube app and playing their favorite video now if
and playing their favorite video now if
and playing their favorite video now if anyone’s a parent I’m sure yeah so it’s
anyone’s a parent I’m sure yeah so it’s
anyone’s a parent I’m sure yeah so it’s it’s amazing because they haven’t even
it’s amazing because they haven’t even
it’s amazing because they haven’t even learned to read yet they don’t know the
learned to read yet they don’t know the
learned to read yet they don’t know the concept of letters and yet they can
concept of letters and yet they can
concept of letters and yet they can navigate their way that’s that’s amazing
navigate their way that’s that’s amazing
navigate their way that’s that’s amazing how do they do that what inspired them
how do they do that what inspired them
how do they do that what inspired them to do that they’re not they’d having fun
to do that they’re not they’d having fun
to do that they’re not they’d having fun it’s it’s again it’s about having fun
it’s it’s again it’s about having fun
it’s it’s again it’s about having fun and it’s that curiosity that we’re
and it’s that curiosity that we’re
and it’s that curiosity that we’re coming back to and it’s what play can do
coming back to and it’s what play can do
coming back to and it’s what play can do for us if we think about it you know if
for us if we think about it you know if
for us if we think about it you know if we think there’s lots of different forms
we think there’s lots of different forms
we think there’s lots of different forms of play this is video games in this
of play this is video games in this
of play this is video games in this sport and there’s imaginative play and
sport and there’s imaginative play and
sport and there’s imaginative play and freeform play because play develops our
freeform play because play develops our
freeform play because play develops our creativity and it stretches our
creativity and it stretches our
creativity and it stretches our imaginations we can explore new ideas in
imaginations we can explore new ideas in
imaginations we can explore new ideas in a safe environment that we can’t do if
a safe environment that we can’t do if
a safe environment that we can’t do if we’re not playing necessarily it’s what
we’re not playing necessarily it’s what
we’re not playing necessarily it’s what allows Nora to feel that that storage
allows Nora to feel that that storage
allows Nora to feel that that storage box is actually a pirate’s at all that
box is actually a pirate’s at all that
box is actually a pirate’s at all that vegetable crate is a pirate ship and
vegetable crate is a pirate ship and
vegetable crate is a pirate ship and they’re about to go on a massive
they’re about to go on a massive
they’re about to go on a massive adventure
but this is play and and there’s what’s
but this is play and and there’s what’s play got to do with education because
play got to do with education because
play got to do with education because I’m a teacher where’s this all coming
I’m a teacher where’s this all coming
I’m a teacher where’s this all coming into because if we’re describing play
into because if we’re describing play
into because if we’re describing play and then well how it does that relate to
and then well how it does that relate to
and then well how it does that relate to education where is a place for it
education where is a place for it
education where is a place for it because surely education and work is
because surely education and work is
because surely education and work is about serious study is there any room
about serious study is there any room
about serious study is there any room for it anything if you all took a moment
for it anything if you all took a moment
for it anything if you all took a moment now to visualize a student hard at work
now to visualize a student hard at work
now to visualize a student hard at work in high school preparing for their exams
in high school preparing for their exams
in high school preparing for their exams and think about what you might be
and think about what you might be
and think about what you might be visualizing I can probably hazard a
visualizing I can probably hazard a
visualizing I can probably hazard a guess you might see a student sitting at
guess you might see a student sitting at
guess you might see a student sitting at a table reading a book working writing
a table reading a book working writing
a table reading a book working writing speaking to a teacher perhaps you’re
speaking to a teacher perhaps you’re
speaking to a teacher perhaps you’re probably not going to visualize the
probably not going to visualize the
probably not going to visualize the student playing games probably not going
student playing games probably not going
student playing games probably not going to see them doing that regardless of how
to see them doing that regardless of how
to see them doing that regardless of how you get them to play those games and so
you get them to play those games and so
you get them to play those games and so this is where my work comes in a lot of
this is where my work comes in a lot of
this is where my work comes in a lot of what I do I run a program called the
what I do I run a program called the
what I do I run a program called the digital schoolhouse and the digital
digital schoolhouse and the digital
digital schoolhouse and the digital schoolhouse program is tries to answer
schoolhouse program is tries to answer
schoolhouse program is tries to answer this question this tries to bring play
this question this tries to bring play
this question this tries to bring play into learning and bridge the gap and how
into learning and bridge the gap and how
into learning and bridge the gap and how we can use that to inspire and engage
we can use that to inspire and engage
we can use that to inspire and engage students and teachers with computing and
students and teachers with computing and
students and teachers with computing and stem and creative computing and
stem and creative computing and
stem and creative computing and preparing them for the digital world to
preparing them for the digital world to
preparing them for the digital world to turn them on educate and not turn them
turn them on educate and not turn them
turn them on educate and not turn them off or away from it it’s a nationwide
off or away from it it’s a nationwide
off or away from it it’s a nationwide project we have schools across the UK we
project we have schools across the UK we
project we have schools across the UK we recruit schools and colleges to become
recruit schools and colleges to become
recruit schools and colleges to become digital school houses and each of those
digital school houses and each of those
digital school houses and each of those schools provide us with a group of lead
schools provide us with a group of lead
schools provide us with a group of lead teachers so we work with the team of
teachers so we work with the team of
teachers so we work with the team of teachers and those teachers are trained
teachers and those teachers are trained
teachers and those teachers are trained by ourselves by academics from
by ourselves by academics from
by ourselves by academics from universities by experts from industry
universities by experts from industry
universities by experts from industry and they’re trained to think outside the
and they’re trained to think outside the
and they’re trained to think outside the box to bring play back into the
box to bring play back into the
box to bring play back into the classroom to think differently about
classroom to think differently about
classroom to think differently about what they do in lessons and it’s they
what they do in lessons and it’s they
what they do in lessons and it’s they then take those materials and they
then take those materials and they
then take those materials and they deliver that to in their workshops and
deliver that to in their workshops and
deliver that to in their workshops and not to their students in their own
not to their students in their own
not to their students in their own school but to students from other
school but to students from other
school but to students from other schools to their local community they
schools to their local community they
schools to their local community they become a hub
become a hub
become a hub force for changing education within the
force for changing education within the
force for changing education within the community a force for bringing play and
community a force for bringing play and
community a force for bringing play and fun and showing people that computing
fun and showing people that computing
fun and showing people that computing isn’t what we always thought it out to
isn’t what we always thought it out to
isn’t what we always thought it out to be from the point of view of the student
be from the point of view of the student
be from the point of view of the student they’re going on a school trip and when
they’re going on a school trip and when
they’re going on a school trip and when they get to that workshop they will
they get to that workshop they will
they get to that workshop they will learn computing in ways that we hope are
learn computing in ways that we hope are
learn computing in ways that we hope are completely different so these students
completely different so these students
completely different so these students are learning programming through dance
are learning programming through dance
are learning programming through dance because dance is a choreographed
because dance is a choreographed
because dance is a choreographed sequence of steps and algorithm or that
sequence of steps and algorithm or that
sequence of steps and algorithm or that can learn computational thinking through
can learn computational thinking through
can learn computational thinking through jigsaw puzzles or programming through
jigsaw puzzles or programming through
jigsaw puzzles or programming through playdough or making a skateboard ramp a
playdough or making a skateboard ramp a
playdough or making a skateboard ramp a cat skateboard ramp because if we think
cat skateboard ramp because if we think
cat skateboard ramp because if we think it’s about lifting the lid of computer
it’s about lifting the lid of computer
it’s about lifting the lid of computer science computer science has a
science computer science has a
science computer science has a perception that it’s just for an
perception that it’s just for an
perception that it’s just for an exclusive few the geeky nerdy brilliant
exclusive few the geeky nerdy brilliant
exclusive few the geeky nerdy brilliant at physics brilliant at maths typically
at physics brilliant at maths typically
at physics brilliant at maths typically men boys sitting away tapping away
men boys sitting away tapping away
men boys sitting away tapping away coding sorry and there’s a place for all
coding sorry and there’s a place for all
coding sorry and there’s a place for all these people but it’s not limited to
these people but it’s not limited to
these people but it’s not limited to them there’s a place for everybody else
them there’s a place for everybody else
them there’s a place for everybody else in computer science to everybody can
in computer science to everybody can
in computer science to everybody can access computing and I think it’s just
access computing and I think it’s just
access computing and I think it’s just about showing them how but if we want to
about showing them how but if we want to
about showing them how but if we want to make that change if we want to that
make that change if we want to that
make that change if we want to that realization to occur across wide
realization to occur across wide
realization to occur across wide communities it’s not enough to just
communities it’s not enough to just
communities it’s not enough to just inspire the kids we have to inspire the
inspire the kids we have to inspire the
inspire the kids we have to inspire the teachers we have to we have to show them
teachers we have to we have to show them
teachers we have to we have to show them there is a different way and it’s not
there is a different way and it’s not
there is a different way and it’s not that hard to do so we teach the teachers
that hard to do so we teach the teachers
that hard to do so we teach the teachers as well they learn alongside their
as well they learn alongside their
as well they learn alongside their students they bring students they start
students they bring students they start
students they bring students they start the day they say I’m sorry I know
the day they say I’m sorry I know
the day they say I’m sorry I know nothing about what you’re going to teach
nothing about what you’re going to teach
nothing about what you’re going to teach me Sheila and we say that’s fine
me Sheila and we say that’s fine
me Sheila and we say that’s fine and by the end of it they’ve taken over
and by the end of it they’ve taken over
and by the end of it they’ve taken over the lesson it’s amazing sight to see and
the lesson it’s amazing sight to see and
the lesson it’s amazing sight to see and what we find is it’s the small changes
what we find is it’s the small changes
what we find is it’s the small changes big impact they cause a change in
big impact they cause a change in
big impact they cause a change in widespread change in the atmosphere and
widespread change in the atmosphere and
widespread change in the atmosphere and the ethos of computing within that
the ethos of computing within that
the ethos of computing within that school they suddenly start to see
school they suddenly start to see
school they suddenly start to see computing differently and they realize
computing differently and they realize
computing differently and they realize it’s not just about what they’re
it’s not just about what they’re
it’s not just about what they’re teaching it’s about their way they’re
teaching it’s about their way they’re
teaching it’s about their way they’re teaching it
teaching it
teaching it you can use the latest robotic device
you can use the latest robotic device
you can use the latest robotic device but if you’re not teaching it in an
but if you’re not teaching it in an
but if you’re not teaching it in an engaging way
engaging way
engaging way you’re not going to encourage students
you’re not going to encourage students
you’re not going to encourage students to continue with that subject it’s very
to continue with that subject it’s very
to continue with that subject it’s very very simple so I have a saying amongst
very simple so I have a saying amongst
very simple so I have a saying amongst my teachers I say to them no idea is too
my teachers I say to them no idea is too
my teachers I say to them no idea is too crazy no idea is too wacky or too
crazy no idea is too wacky or too
crazy no idea is too wacky or too outrageous because it’s about having fun
outrageous because it’s about having fun
outrageous because it’s about having fun fun is a critical part of learning it
fun is a critical part of learning it
fun is a critical part of learning it should be a fundamental part education
should be a fundamental part education
should be a fundamental part education but is it difficult to get teachers to
but is it difficult to get teachers to
but is it difficult to get teachers to think differently and change the tricks
think differently and change the tricks
think differently and change the tricks are quite simple to be honest it’s about
are quite simple to be honest it’s about
are quite simple to be honest it’s about starting with something they’re familiar
starting with something they’re familiar
starting with something they’re familiar with take something that they already
with take something that they already
with take something that they already have in their classroom let’s forget the
have in their classroom let’s forget the
have in their classroom let’s forget the the you know the really advanced
the you know the really advanced
the you know the really advanced software packages and you know the
software packages and you know the
software packages and you know the programming devices let’s forget that
programming devices let’s forget that
programming devices let’s forget that for the moment let’s start with they’ve
for the moment let’s start with they’ve
for the moment let’s start with they’ve always used Lego bricks schools all over
always used Lego bricks schools all over
always used Lego bricks schools all over have low sets of LEGO bricks in their
have low sets of LEGO bricks in their
have low sets of LEGO bricks in their school take them they’ve been using them
school take them they’ve been using them
school take them they’ve been using them for all sorts to think we take their
for all sorts to think we take their
for all sorts to think we take their sets of LEGO bricks that they own and
sets of LEGO bricks that they own and
sets of LEGO bricks that they own and show them how they can use that to teach
show them how they can use that to teach
show them how they can use that to teach programming show them how you can use
programming show them how you can use
programming show them how you can use sweets to teach artificial intelligence
sweets to teach artificial intelligence
sweets to teach artificial intelligence and that’s a very tasty workshop and
and that’s a very tasty workshop and
and that’s a very tasty workshop and when you do things like that you find
when you do things like that you find
when you do things like that you find that actually you can transform people’s
that actually you can transform people’s
that actually you can transform people’s perceptions and people’s ideologies and
perceptions and people’s ideologies and
perceptions and people’s ideologies and you can get students engaging with
you can get students engaging with
you can get students engaging with computing in the way they’ve not engaged
computing in the way they’ve not engaged
computing in the way they’ve not engaged with before and that’s how you break
with before and that’s how you break
with before and that’s how you break down barriers that’s how you engage a
down barriers that’s how you engage a
down barriers that’s how you engage a wide range a diverse range of students
wide range a diverse range of students
wide range a diverse range of students and make those opportunities available
and make those opportunities available
and make those opportunities available to all of them equally because it’s
to all of them equally because it’s
to all of them equally because it’s about ultimately it’s coming back to
about ultimately it’s coming back to
about ultimately it’s coming back to satisfy our basic human instinct
satisfy our basic human instinct
satisfy our basic human instinct curiosity the cause behind human
curiosity the cause behind human
curiosity the cause behind human innovation and when we become curious
innovation and when we become curious
innovation and when we become curious when we have fun when we play our
when we have fun when we play our
when we have fun when we play our students will – and when they do that
students will – and when they do that
students will – and when they do that then that’s when the real magic begins
then that’s when the real magic begins
then that’s when the real magic begins thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much you
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