TNMOC offers free remote learning package to 400 underprivileged students
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The National Museum of Computing offers free remote learning package to 400 underprivileged students
Thanks to sponsorship from RAF Youth & STEM and Flint, 400 students will get free virtual learning access for STEM lessons that leverage the UK’s largest collection of working historic computers
Those eligible for the bursary are students who live in areas with a higher-than-average proportion of pupils on free school meals on pupil premium grant
Schools from anywhere across the UK can apply to access this programme
The National Museum of Computing, Bletchley Park, Thursday 17th December – The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC), an independent charity, has announced its plan to offer its remote learning programme to 400 students in deprived areas from across the UK. Sponsorship for the bursary comes from the RAF Youth & STEM team and consulting and telecoms firm, Flint International. The remote learning packages extend the highly successful in-person programmes, reimagined for the online learning world, giving students an interactive and fun experience with STEM subjects during a difficult time for teaching.
For the museum’s online remote learning programme, they are offering 90-minute sessions with two themes to choose from: World War II codebreaking or modern electric computing – as well as the choice to do both. The programmes can be tailored not only to support schools but also universities, colleges, home education groups and academics. A video explaining the full programme is available to watch here.
Karl Bartlam, Computing Hub Lead and Computing Teacher for Watling Academy, who’s class participated in the remote learning pilot programme, said: ‘Our students were very responsive to TNMOC’s remote learning programme. They described it as fun and felt like they were actually in the museum. The museum’s presenters were informative and clearly knew their stuff, answering all the questions the students had. It was a fantastic activity that gave our students that field trip feeling, from the safety of our classroom. We would highly recommend it to other teachers.’
Each remote learning session includes a live guided virtual tour and two live hands-on interactive sessions – provided online through a virtual classroom. In these sessions, students will take part in a hands-on activity tailored to skill level. Beginners will be given the opportunity to explore, interact and create a virtual World War II era Block H - generously facilitated through CoSpaces Edu, an educational AR & VR creation platform, whilst more experienced students will experiment using a Python programme to act as Lorenz keys to decipher messages. As part of the Modern Electronic Computing session students will gain programming experience through the BBC emulator with tasks based on their level including creating a game of snake or a program to map rocket trajectory. Further details on the remote learning packages can be found here.
On the sponsorship, Squadron Leader Emma Clamp from The RAF Youth & STEM team, says: ‘The outbreak of COVID-19 has had a significant effect on the ability to deliver face to face STEM activity. We are therefore delighted to be able to offer 200 free places on this exciting new remote learning programme developed by TNMOC. This will allow us to continue our aim to provide free STEM educational opportunities to the most disadvantaged students.’
Keith Barker, Founder of Flint, commented: ‘The UK has a great tradition in computing and technology. By supporting The National Museum of Computing we’re trying to give back a little to our industry and spark excitement in young people to help develop the next generation of engineers. I was lucky enough to serve a technology apprenticeship, and we have a small apprenticeship programme running in Flint. In our small way, we want to help grow the competence in our technology sector for the betterment of all.’
As a charity, the museum is always focused on how it can give back, and this still applies when it comes to their remote learning programme. TNMOC, with sponsorship from The RAF Youth and STEM team, will provide the remote learning programme to 200 students from underprivileged backgrounds and areas from all across the UK. The aim, to help encourage more students to engage with STEM subjects and to inspire the next generation of software developers, hardware engineers and beyond. With the sessions hoping to give students a deeper understanding of the technology around them and show that they too can be involved in developing the technology of the future, leaving those who are interested with a passion to get engaged.
On their new remote learning packages, Education Coordinator for TNMOC, Anne-Marie Langford says: ‘the new remote learning packages provide expert knowledge and access to the museum’s collection from the safety and comfort of your classroom or learning space. The packages give students a positive learning experience which differs from the usual classroom lesson, offering first-hand insight into key STEM concepts, leaving students with a new-found perspective and, hopefully, inspiration to get more involved in STEM.’
To take advantage of this, teachers who think their students would benefit from the free remote learning packages can get in touch with the museum by emailing education@tnmoc.org.
About The National Museum of Computing
The National Museum of Computing brings to life the history and ongoing development of computing for the enjoyment and benefit of the general public and specialists. The Museum combines a distinctive approach to engagement with an emphasis on British computing heritage and on-going innovation. TNMOC acquires, conserves, restores and rebuilds historic computing machinery. Our approach is furthered through a process of engagement, with the display and demonstration of historical systems. The Museum runs a highly successful learning programme for schools and colleges and introduces computer coding to young people to help inspire the next generation of computer scientists and engineers. The Museum also runs a popular, on-going programme of festivals, lectures and interpreted displays and interactive events.
About RAF Youth & STEM
RAF Youth & STEM is committed to the growth of a more diverse and skilled national talent pool in order to assist in addressing the associated nationwide STEM skills shortfall. It aims to inform, inspire and enable young people to study STEM subjects through informed choices and provides support to teachers in enriching learning.
This is achieved through delivery of a national STEM engagement programme that gives young people free access to a wide range of interactive roadshows, school engagements, multiple activity events, residential and online learning.