How we teach
We use traditional classroom group learning activities, individual tuition, question and answer, coding challenges, certificate tasks, individual exploration and research, and our own bespoke online games making tutorial, exercises and coding examples. Our variety of approaches ensures that every students is taught in a way suitable for their preferences and needs.
Individual challenge
Each student is continually assessed to ensure they have an approriate level of challenge, and stretched to ensure they continue to learn. As they progress they are given more freedom to set their own goals and develop their own ideas. At the end of every group learning session, students are encouraged to mod and develop the game they have been making, adding their own ideas.
Analogue and digital
The children do not just use digital technologies to learn and create. They are encouraged to use traditional tools such as paper, paint and pencils.
The children do not only learn how to originate on the computer, but also how to transfer creative work by way of scanning and photographing. For example, to create images, a student may photograph or scan pictures they have drawn and painted, and then use computer based editng tools such as Pixelmator and those provided within Scratch.
Using the internet
Our activities involve very little use of the internet by the children, and then only under the supervision of our teachers, for example to research or view other children's work. Children completing our website design course, have their websites uploaded for them by the teachers.
Team work & peer learning
Our methods are designed to encourage self learning and discovery, sharing and problem solving. Therefore many of our activities and projects involve the children collaborating in groups or pairs. We encourage children to share their knowledge and skills with each other, and help one another.
In the early sessions of a course, we assess the children to ensure pairings are constructive and mutually beneficial for each child.