Microcomputer to offered to teachers to combat computing education crisis
A Raspberry Pi jam is to be held in Manchester in an effort to improve the computing knowledge of adults and children.
This first step is part of a long-term mission to bring coding to the classroom.
Raspberry Jam network founder and principle ICT teacher, Alan O’Donohoe has ben joined by Raspberry Pi distributor CPC Farnell to launch the UK’s first-ever Raspberry Jamboree in Manchester Central, UK, March 9th.
The Raspberry Jamboree will provide hands-on Raspberry Pi workshops to 350 teachers and educators. The sessions, with the low-cost, credit-card sized computer, aim to help educators develop the necessary skills needed to apply their knowledge to teach coding in the classroom – helping to fill the crisis in the current ICT curriculum, soon to be addressed by Michael Gove’s proposed coding-focused revisions.
The event will also provide a platform for this year’s interactive debate on the future direction of ICT in education and how innovations such as Raspberry Pi are driving change in the existing curriculum. It will be led by a panel including Professor Steve Furber (Principal Designer of BBC Micro), Pete Lomas (Raspberry Pi co-founder) and teachers, such as Carrie Anne Philbin.
“The Raspberry Pi computer is a fantastic tool to inspire and engage learners to enter the world of computing science with its massive educational potential. The aim of the Raspberry Jamboree conference is to identify and share the impact that this low-cost computer is having on education,” said Alan O’Donohoe, ICT teacher and founder of UK and worldwide Raspberry Jam network.
“However, without the passionate work and support from CPC, it would be a real struggle to provide events on the scale of March’s Raspberry Jamboree. It’s refreshing to work with a company that shares the same educational values and interests as those teaching on the ground.”
David Deventer, marketing director at CPC, added: “In this world of technology, it’s not enough for students to only know how to switch on a PC and use basic office software; they need to understand the science behind it if future generations are to cement the UK’s position at the forefront of technological innovation. With fantastic products like Raspberry Pi, which help students to learn code, we’re halfway there – but we need to ensure that we’re doing all we can to enable teachers to nurture these skills.”
The event forms part of the 2013 Education Innovation Conference & Exhibition.
The Raspberry Jamboree is co-locating with the Education Innovation exhibition and conference. Ticket holders will receive free entry to the Education Innovation event. Early bird registration is £5 (plus booking fee). Standard rate registration is £10 (plus booking fee).
Tickets can be booked here.