Sunday 30 November 2014

Computing Projects Completed by Create and Discovery Community Group

Hi guys,

Hope everything is OK!

The follow links are examples of what has been produced by the community group by learning to apply their computing skills.

Note: Sorry, but flash player does not play on some tablet devices and smart phones, so if you get the chance then please look at the computer game and animations on a laptop, desktop, and mac books.

1. Shark attack game - press the green flag to start the game. Use the mouse pointer to move shark to "eat the fish" and see how many you can get in 30 seconds.

2. Joke telling time! - Dog and a comedy sketch.

3. Knight Sir Do - Good and Dragon Fire Belly animation. Dragon fire belly is hungry and wants some lunch!!!

4. Haunted house animation by Dionne (her own creative story)

5. Haunted house animation by Jodhveer (his own creative story)

6. Video clip of students creating their own computer animations or games.


Take a look and enjoy!

Poster for the Christmas Pre-Launch Date - 20th December 2014

Hi!

How are you, I hope all is well.

This is the poster for the pre-launch date for the Create and Discovery community group.

Have a look at this poster and take a look through the previous post for the hints and tips for this free prize draw, Christmas event.

This post is titled - "Updated BBC Bitesize Website - Guidance and Clues for the Prize Draw Answers" posted on 9th November.

Hope to see you soon!


Sunday 9 November 2014

Updated BBC Bitesize Website - Guidance and Clues for the Prize Draw Answers

Hi and thanks for checking out our blog!

I hope everything is going well.

Guidance and Clues

This is the website for the updated BBC bitesize website 

Computing - Computer science - How does the internet work (Q1 - What is the internet?)

Art and design - Inspiration and investigation - Art history (Q2 - Who born in 1852 designed the Casa Vicens?)

Science - Electricity - Circuits  (Q3 - What scientific discovery did Michael Faraday make?)

Note: Please do not worry - the case in the photos for the disney infinity 2.0 marvels game is the display case. I have borrowed it from the Game store in town and I am to return it next week when I collect the customer pack - the store had run out.  Sorry about that!

The guy in Game store also works with community projects as well and wishes the project and everyone involved all the best wishes.

For any further information contact us via phone, email, or this blog.  Our website is still under construction although the email function is working and operational.

Have a look at the photos below (click on them to zoom in), also have fun and good luck!!!





20th December 2014 - Free Prize Draw!

Hi and how are you!

I hope all is well.

On 20th December 2014 we are inviting you to visit us at our pre-launch Christmas event. It is from 10am to 12noon so leaves time to finish off any Christmas shopping!

Part of this pre-launch event is a free prize draw for some popular computer games! After the prize draw we ask the students who attend to take part in a taster session of our workshops and activities.

These computer game prizes can be changed on the day for the winner's preferred console such as Xbox 360 or PS4.

These are the prizes:-

First prize: Answer all 3 questions correctly - Disney Infinity 2.0 Marvel Superheroes Starter Pack

Second prize: Answer 2 questions correctly - Skylanders Trap Team Starter Pack

Third prize: Answer 1 question correctly - The Lego Movie Videogame

These are the questions:-

Q1. Computing - What is the internet?

Q2. Art and design - Who born in 1852 designed the Casa Vicens?

Q3. Science - What scientific discovery did Michael Faraday make?

For the answers please check out the updated BBC bitesize website - this website also shows the changes to the national curriculum in primary schools.

Also check out the following blog post titled "Updated BBC Bitesize Website" for some guidance and clues to answer the questions. See the photos of the prizes below!
To enter this prize draw of for further information please contact us on - 01788 553033, 07903 835706, or craig@createandiscovery.com

Have fun with this prize draw and enjoy!!!






Monday 6 October 2014

Imagineering Event in Coventry Ricoh Arena!

Hi guys, me again!

Hope everything is OK.

One more update!

This is the link for a science and engineering week-end in Coventry.

http://www.ricoharena.com/whats-on/entertainment/entertainment-events/imagineering-fair/

I am to encourage the Create and Discovery students to go to this event, may be as a day/ week-end trip!!

This is part of the full poster and you can zoom in by clicking on it.



Thanks and take a look at the full poster on the link below and see what you think!!
Prices are as on the full pdf poster and their website.

http://www.ricoharena.com/documents/177/original/Imagineering-Fair-2014.pdf

Computing in the National Curriculum - Primary Schools in the UK

Hi!

I hope all is well.

Sorry I have a long post but it is interesting one!
I would like to share with you an update regarding how students are going to be engaged with computing in primary schools.

From September 2014 (yes last month!) schools are going to be recommending that students engage with the more interactive subject of computing, which is more in depth in some ways that ICT.

So don't worry - we have also been encouraging our Create and Discovery students since 2012 to use computing to create their own animations and computer games.  What is great is that our after school project can now also help students with their school work,  a subject taught on the national curriculum - how cool is that!

Additionally, while I am mentioning computer games we are to going to hold a prize draw to promote the next launch date of the Create and Discovery programme in January 2015.

The prize draw to be held in December 2014 is going to be for popular computer games, so these could also be early Christmas presents.
One of the 5 or so prizes is going to be the lego marvel super heros computer game as it was predicted to be popular for this Christmas on the Xbox or platform of their choice.  So could be an early Christmas present as well!

To win a prize students need to answer the questions posed correctly and then have their ticket number pulled out of the prize draw box, by one of our previous students.  This is great news for our previous students as well!

So to summarise the ICT previously taught in schools is now more interactive and called computing. Computing is part of the national curriculum in schools, and with Create and Discovery we have helped students to develop this skill since 2012. In addition to promote the next Create and Discovery launch date January 2015 we are holding a prize draw for students.  The details of the prize draw are to be posted soon.

Please also take a look at these 2 following short videos for the background of the new computing subject to being taught in  schools and enjoy!



This is the second video, have a look and enjoy!

Saturday 4 October 2014

Certificate of Achievement!

Hi!

Hope everything is OK.

This is the the certificate of achievement that the students received from the project.

So remember guys keep on going!!!


Final Catch Up Session and Feedback!

Hi!

How are you.

This was the very last session for the project.

We had a great time working together and the rest of the animations and games are to be uploaded onto our Scratch account, this is our computer programming account.

Once uploaded to the account the links are to be posted on this blog.

In addition I would like to congratulate all our students for their hard work and efforts to further develop their confidence, communication, and team building skills.

So remember - keep on going, keep on going!

Final Session Video

Jelly Spaghetti Final Activity

Hi!

I hope all is well.

This is the final Jelly Spaghetti task where a team leader works with the team player to build the tallest tower possible with the materials bought, and the time allowed.

Take a look at these 2 videos and enjoy!

Jelly Spaghetti 1



Jelly Spaghetti 2

Meccano Final Workshop!

Hi Guys!

How are you I hope all is well, and if you were wondering yes I am still alive!

I have started a new work contract and it has started to pull me a lot more away from my project than anticipated so I am recruiting for a co-ordinator to help my to keep the project running smoothly.

So watch this space - I am to add a post once they are working with the project!

This is the video for the final Meccano session :-(

Although the students did really well and one group nearly completed the task in the time given - they got to step 12 out of 17, so keep on going guys!

Have a look at the video and enjoy!

Meccano Final Workshop

Wednesday 20 August 2014

Quiet Session and Some Interesting News!

Hi, I hope everything is OK!

We had a quiet session this Saturday as most students were at day trips or weddings!

They got back safe and we are aiming to see them next session.

Additionally we had some interesting news! One of the tutors got B, B, B and is off to study Geography and Ecomonics at Uni so a big congrats to you!

We are also wishing all the best for our second tutor with her GCSE result on Thursday.

So keep on going and this is a picture to celebrate with the A'level results!


Thursday 14 August 2014

New Tutors working with Create and Discovery Project!

Hi guys, I hope everything is OK!

We have some great news - we are working with 2 new tutors!

They helped facilitated 2 workshops on their very first day! These were computers and project development. So a big well done to these guys!

With the computers the new tutors did a fantastic job of enabling the students to design individual computer games, with USPs!!!  The students had to present them to the group and had to "sell them" to us as well. Also we had team leaders for the tower building in project development.

Also a quick update about the new tutors  - One tutor has done his A'levels and his results were due today so all the best for these results! He would like to follow a career involving economics and finance.

Our second tutor has done her GCSE's so good luck for next week Thursday! She would like to follow are career linked with journalism and English.

So good luck guys with exam results!!!

Keep on going guys! You are doing really well.

Also please note that the videos should be back for next week, so watch this space!!




Friday 8 August 2014

Project Development Activities - Team Leadership and Team Building!

Hi guys, me again!

Please be aware:  We encourage our students to express themselves as creative and confident students. Although if any students interrupt other students engaged in any workshop or activity then we sit them down and have a one to one session encouraging team-work and "Gold Star" behaviour.

These were the final videos for the session and the students really pulled together to build some tall towers!
We give them £1500 for each team leader (don't worry it's only monopoly money!)  to buy the materials (from some "rip-off" supplier!) and they are encouraged to complete the task in the time them have.

In addition we have included the student's actual steps and conversations they had during the tasks.

So a big well done to you guys - remember to keep on going as you are really improving!

Team Leadership and Team-Building 1



Team Leaderships and Team Building 2

Art and Chess Activities!

Hi guys, I hope all is well.

Sometimes during the fun classes we have to put our "serious hat on!"

Please note: In addition to our safeguarding and child protection policies we have behaviour and anti-bullying documents as well. We always encourage our students to express themselves in a creative and confident way.  Although if a student appears to be disrupting the class we sit down with them and have a one to one session encouraging them to behave with "gold star" behaviour.  As such this is not shown on the videos.

Although on a lighter note:-

Below are the 3 art and chess videos (with some computers mixed in as well!)
The students did engage well  with these tasks and with passion!  We aim to show them that they can produce art products not just electronic-based products.

We have also included the student's actual steps and conversations they had during the tasks.

Keep up the great work you're doing guys!

Take a look and enjoy!

Art and Science



Computer, Chess, and Art

Chess and Art



Hi! Chess and Science Workshops!

Hi guys I hope everything is OK!

This is the second instalment of videos for the project from 02/08/14!

We spent some time discussing with the students about how they can improve their skills.
So a "big-up" to our students as some of these challenges are more challenging than they look!

In addition, we have included the actual detailed steps and conversations the students were having! So that you can see them actually applying communication, confidence, and team-building where possible.

Below are the 3 videos recorded chess and science sessions.

Have a look and enjoy!

Chess and science workshop 1



Chess and science workshop 2



Science - Individual student asked for the challenge of completing the science task (let's see how he gets on!)

Wednesday 30 July 2014

Project Development Activity!

How are you, I hope all is well!

This is the activity that our students really enjoy - the tower building activity!

The team leader is given £1,500 and has to buy materials to build the tallest tower between the groups! The team players help the team leader to build the tower - so how hard is that you might ask?

Well guess what - they have to use marshmallows and jelly babies! So they have to concentrate and eat off all the materials!

They are given 15 to 20 minutes. For some reason the shop keeper is a rip-off as they charge £500 for 20 pieces of spaghetti, £500 for 10 marshmallows, and £600 for 10 jelly babies!  All other items are £50 each!

This activity is considered to be the most challenging of the tasks for the students and so is the ultimate way to express how much they have enhanced their communication, confidence, and team building skills.

Have a look and enjoy!


Computer Workshop - Building a 2-D Computer Game!

Hi!

Our second task was to challenge the students to build their own computer game.

Keep up the good work guys and let's see what we can achieve when we finish off these computer games!  Remember our motto - Touch Your Imagination: Produce Inspiration!

We had some fun and best of all I got to ask a very important question (although I did not realise this at the time!) - Q. Who is Steve Jobs? A. We don't know?!

So it is always interesting to hear what the students are talking about! Although funnily enough they knew all about the ipod, ipad, and iphone!!!

Keep on going students, you're getting there.

Take a look at this video and enjoy!


Hi and Welcome to Our Chess Activities!

Hi guys!

Thanks for bearing with me!

Welcome to our third rolling pilot for the Create and Discovery project - we are going to continue rolling out this pilot scheme until our big day when we get some funding! So as soon as this happens we are you let you know!

We had the first session on the 19rd July and this session in the video was on the 26th July.

On Saturday the team have worked really hard to get us to this stage so big well done to you!

Although our students have worked even harder! They have shown that they are well on their way to becoming creative and confident, problem solving students, so a really big well done to the students!

Remember - keep on going guys, keep on going!

This first video is of the chess training session so have a look and enjoy! The second video below is of the chess workshop.




This is the chess workshop  - take a look and enjoy!