CAS Virtual Showcase opens with programme of 50 inspiring events
22 June 2020
The Computing at School (CAS) community has launched a new online summer programme and its first ever CAS Virtual Showcase event now underway.
The National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE) is taking part in the showcase organised by CAS, which sees over 50 free online events running over a fortnight, from Monday 22 June to Friday 3 July.
CAS’ usual summer conferences cannot, of course, be held as planned, so the community has put together an exciting programme for its new online event, the CAS Virtual Showcase.
CAS has brought together experts, educationalists and researchers to create a free online programme covering everything from gender balance and fake news to esports and preparing for an Ofsted inspection.
There are sessions on Barefoot Programming, the NCCE’s courses, ISAAC computer science, updates to the AQA’s GCSE Computer Science specification, as well as keynote speeches from Simon Peyton-Jones, Chair of CAS and Chair of the NCCE and Dr Lucy Rogers, writer, inventor and presenter of BBC’s Robot Wars.
The Virtual Showcase also offers a chance to find out more about the NCCE’s work, with sessions on Wednesday 24 June and Wednesday 2 July. Will Rogers, NCCE Programme Manager, will give an overview of the NCCE’s work engaging with schools and teachers and an insight into the next steps, while Steve Clarke, interim CS Accelerator Programme Manager, will lead sessions on the new eligibility for the CS Accelerator course which now enable more teachers and trainees to participate.
Bookings are now open for the NCCE’s events at the CAS Virtual Showcase:
· Virtual Showcase: NCCE Overview - Where we are now and what's happening next? Wed 24 June 2pm and Wed Jul 1, 2pm
· Virtual Showcase: NCCE - Computer Science Accelerator: Who? What? Why? Wed Jun 24, 3pm and Wed Jul 1, 3pm.
Other highlights of the CAS Virtual Showcase include:
· A Barefoot programming workshop with Jon Chippindall (Tues 23 June, 10am to 10.45am)
· Mental Health Matters with Cat Lamin (Fri 26 June, 1pm)
· The Inclusive Computing Classroom with Catherine Elliot, for KS 1 and 2 (Thurs 25 June, 2pm)
· Unplugged Activities for Teaching Computing at KS1 and KS2 with Martin Bailey (Thurs 25 June, 11am)
· Machine Learning for Kids for KS3 with Dale Lane (Fri 3 July, 1pm)
Prof Simon Peyton Jones said:
“CAS conferences have always been a highlight of the year, a buzzing mix of ideas, passion, and expertise. We will miss the face to face aspect this year, but going online means that many more teachers will be able to participate than could ever do in person. The programme is rich and diverse: inclusive computing, gender balance, the latest in AI, classroom techniques, and much, much more. I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone taking part. I am really looking forward to the Showcase: it will be exciting and fun, as well as offering lots of practical take-aways.”
Beverly Clarke, National CAS Community Manager at BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT said:
“I am delighted that we have been able to respond to the pandemic by offering the first ever CAS Virtual Showcase. The teaching community has responded well in delivering emergency remote teaching and through this showcase we hope to continue supporting teachers to gain value CPD in challenging times.”
The CAS brings together a community of teachers, academics and industry professionals to provide access to a range of resources and local events supporting continuing professional development, including the CAS Virtual Showcase.
For a full list of all events and to book, click here.
Download our Virtual Showcase e-brochure here.
A full programme of events can be download here.