EU Code Week

We, in Attymass National School, have prioritised the spiral development of computational thinking and programming/coding activities throughout the school. We aim to integrate this work with all other curricular areas. We were delighted to prioritise and showcase this work during EU Code Week but it is important to acknowledge that this work is ongoing.

Google grant

Our schools efforts to enhance computational thinking and coding/programming activities in a meaningful way in the school community were greatly enhanced when Google generously selected our school to receive one of 25 grants bestowed to schools/organisations all over Europe. Full details of this grant can be viewed at this link. With this grant, we were able to schedule a regional workshop/showcase event and also to purchase some Chromebooks for pupil use.

Our Plan

Project description: Drawing on foundation work done in Computational Thinking, EU Code Week was the conduit through which we could introduce meaningful work on Scratch using the CS First programme and activities. Schools in the Mayo area were invited to visit our school to see our ongoing work or to attend our Workshop event which took place on the 11th of October.

Attymass National School is part of a cluster of schools focussed on the embedding of Computer Science in teaching, learning and assessment. We collaborated with all other schools in this cluster for EU Code Week. A meeting of the cluster took place on the 25th of September and all planned activities were outlined. Our school has DEIS rural status - disadvantaged status as per Department of Education and Skills. Our work in computational thinking/coding/programming aims to empower the pupils to see the power and potential of Computer Science and related activities irrespective of geographical location.

In the week prior to EU Code Week, we were delighted to host a class visit from Rehins National School, a primary school in the region.

EU Code Week programme:

Oct (8 - 12) Monday to Friday

One hour during/one hour outside school time dedicated to CS First. Schools in Computer Science cluster invited to visit the school and collaborate online.

October 11th: EU Code Week workshop

On the 11th of October we hosted a workshop for teachers, parents and teachers in the Great National Hotel, Ballina with administrative support from Mayo Education Centre and their Director Paul Butler. With almost 100 people in attendance drawn from our school community and schools all over the region, we were delighted to showcase the work we are doing in our school.

The seminar slides can be viewed below

East meets West: EU Code Week visitor from Russia

On the 12th of October, we were delighted to welcome Irina Dvortskaya to our school and to learn from her. Irina was in Ireland on placement with the Bridge 21 project in Trinity College Dublin and had also collaborated on the SELFIE_EU project managed by the EU's Joint Research Centre in Seville, Spain. Irina has a computer Science degree and was affirming with regard to the work we are doing in developing computational thinking throughout Attymass National School

Using CSFirst materials

We had started using the excellent CSFirst materials prior to EU Code Week. We made excellent progress through the well designed and structured CSFirst materials thus developing our skills in the use of Scratch in a developmental way.

Further awareness raising at regional level

The Local radio station for this region of Ireland, Midwest Radio, visited our school and captured video footage which was further embedded on their social media platforms.

Halloween themed coding

Halloween did not distract us from our work in computational thinking and coding.

Bebras Computational Challenge - November 2018

We were delighted to take part in the Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge again this year. It is great to know that irrespective of our geographic location, we can undertake challenges with students all over the world