STEM Computer Science Workshop, Blacktown, NSW

Immerse yourself in the world of computer science and playfully explore how to engage children in algorithms, sequencing, and sorting —without the need for computers — and gain expertise in the pedagogical topic of early computational thinking.

In an increasingly digital society, this is an essential workshop for early years educators and will help you reframe digital technology as an exciting tool for learning, rather than as children’s passive entertainment.

STEM topic: Computer Science

In this hands on workshop, you will learn how to create rich STEM learning experiences and use computer science as a topic through which to teach the outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework. Interactive activities include:

Dress up as a robot and learn how to control one.
Play and build your confidence with computer terms.
Develop algorithms for everyday situations.
Write, debug, and run code without touching a computer or looking at a screen.
Play with sequences, structures, and code in a fun way.

Pedagogical topic: Early computational thinking

This workshop will help you uncover basic concepts of computational thinking and unlock the world of computers for children, which means this workshop is strongly recommended for any service considering purchasing Bee-Bots (or something similar) as an educational tool. By attending this workshop, you will:

Gain a basic understanding of computer science concepts.
Understand the fundamentals of computational thinking.
Learn the difference between computer programming and information technology.
Be able to recognise computational learning opportunities in everyday life.
Be equipped with age-appropriate computer science ideas for implementation in your service.
Know how to support children to unlock the world of computer science and “speak to a computer”.