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BCS Network of Excellence
Courses for Teachers
University of Birmingham, Spring 2013
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The School of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham is offering four courses for school teachers this Spring. They are directed primarily at teachers from schools in the BCS/CAS Network of Excellence but are open to everyone. Registration is via the University of Birmingham Online Shop.
Databases
Lecturer: Prof Achim Jung
Format: Four two-hour sessions consisting of lectures and practicals
Dates: 7, 8, 11, 12 March
Time: Light refreshments available from 4:30; lectures starting at 5
Description:
Database theory forms part of the A-level computing syllabus, and this course will provide an introduction to this topic. We'll look at various databases management systems that can be used in the classroom and there will be opportunities to interact with them in the practicals. We'll look at using SQL for querying a database. Then we'll look at the issues that need to be considered when setting up a database, including normalisation.
Fee: £80
Restrictions: This course is designed for a maximum of 20 teachers.
Introduction to programming in Python
Lecturer: Dr Mark Lee
Format: Six two-hour sessions consisting of lectures and practicals
Dates: 18, 19, 25, 26 February, 4, 5 March
Time: Light refreshments available from 4:30; lectures starting at 5
Description:
Python is the ideal programming language for teaching the fundamentals
of both practical software development and computer science. It is
highly flexible, has an extremely clear, consistent and intuitive syntax
but is powerful enough to allow the quick development of useful and
interesting software. Python is also flexible and supports key concepts
from both object-oriented and functional programming.
The course will be hands-on and assume little prior knowledge of
programming but will provide the necessary skills and knowledge to write
working software and provide a foundation for more advanced programming.
Fee: £120 (Registration now closed)
Restrictions: This course is designed for a maximum of 20 teachers.
Introduction to computing via Processing
Lecturer: Dr Seyyed Shah
Format: Four two-hour sessions consisting of lectures and practicals
Dates: 21, 22, 28 February, 1 March
Time: Light refreshments available from 4:30; lectures starting at 5
Description:
Processing is a free Java-like language and tool aimed at visual
designers, artists and students. It is an ideal platform for learners to
investigate the world of computation. Over the two sessions, we will
interactively explore and use the Processing tool in a computing-lab,
developing sample programs as we go. The second-half of each two hour
session will be a workshop, where we solve small programming challenges.
Topics include variables, calculation, conditionals and loops. By the
end of the programme, you will be able to write a program that creates
an approximate visualisation of The Matrix, from the 1999 hit-film.
Fee: £80 (Registration now closed)
Restrictions: This course is designed for a maximum of 20 teachers.
CANCELLED: Robot Programming in Java
Registration and payment
Registration and payment is exclusively via the University of Birmingham Online Shop. Please note that you will have to register with the shop before "purchasing" a course. We'll indicate here when a course is fully booked and (attempt to) block the online shop from accepting any further registrations.
Venue
All courses are taught by staff of the School of Computer Science of the University of Birmingham. We'll contact participants directly about lecture rooms but it is recommended that you come to the Computer Science building first, where we'll offer some light buffet food before the courses start.
Travel information
The School of Computer Science is located on the "Edgbaston Campus" of the University of Birmingham, close to the national railway station "University". The main artery from the city centre to the University (the Bristol Road) is busy at all times of the day. Therefore, we strongly advise you to take the train to reach campus. Here is how:
- The train line that serves "University" station is the one between "Lichfield Trent Valley" and "Longbridge" (or "Redditch"). The trains are frequent (about one every 10 minutes) and run until late at night.
- If you catch the train at "Birmingham New Street" (the main rail exchange) then the local train to "Longbridge/Redditch" usually leaves from platform 9 or higher. "University" is the second stop and the whole journey lasts no more than a few minutes.
- If you have to drive on the day then you may want to use one of the many Park & Ride car parks along the Lichfield-Redditch train line. The web page gives a useful overview of your options. There is a large P&R at "Selly Oak" station which is only one stop from "University" and it will begin to empty by 4 o'clock.
Once you alight from the train at "University" it is very easy indeed: The Computer Science building is just 80 metres away. Turn left as you leave the station and you will see the department behind a large (sitting) figure.
If travelling by car is your only option, then set your satnav to "University Station" and enter the campus at the West Gate. There are barriers there and you will need to press the intercom to speak to Campus Security. Tell them that you are coming for a course in Computer Science. After 4:30 you can park in any of the car parks and there is one right after you have driven through West Gate on your right-hand side. That's behind the building marked R28 on the campus map. You are then only a few metres away from the Computer Science building, which is marked Y9.
For generic travel information see here.
The local organisers
- Gurpreet Grewal-Kang: G.Grewalkang at bham.ac.uk
- Achim Jung: 0121 414 4776, a.jung at cs.bham.ac.uk