This edition of the Computing at School newsletter covers many topics including:

*Visual development of mobile apps using App Inventor

*Active learning in computing using Lego NXT and Logo

*BYOB, an extension to Scratch that aids abstraction and extension

*Robot simulation using RoboMind...

Students are presented with two mobile phone tariffs and have to explore at what point one tariff becomes better value than the other. They have to select a way of comparing the tariffs using appropriate graphs or tables, work systematically to explore the effects of changing the amount of time the phone is in use...

In this activity, students investigate the potential effects to health of the use of mobile phones and their transmitters, which use radio waves and microwaves to transmit information. Research can include the electromagnetic spectrum and its applications and how energy...

Students use an Excel spreadsheet to calculate mobile phone bills. They compare mobile phone tariffs to see which one is the best for someone to use.

This resource is part of the Nuffield Maths Level 1 Foundation resource collection.

Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic radiation and they penetrate into human tissue. There is still a significant debate about the safety of holding even a low power microwave transmitter next to your brain or keeping it in a trouser pocket. The possibility of...

Three cars drive on a highway twisted into a Mobius strip. Each car stays in its lane and are driven at the same speed. The challenge is to work out what will happen and if the cars will ever meet. This resource is suitable for Key Stage 3.

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The cell is the smallest unit of life and for many millennia single celled organisms were the only form of life on Earth. It’s this type of life that astrobiologists are looking for elsewhere in the solar system. In this activity, wallpaper paste is used to build model cells Curriculum areas covered: • Cell biology...

These resources exemplify the way practical work can be used alongside a pedagogical approach called model-based inquiry. This is based upon generating, testing and revising scientific models. Being primarily centred round collaborative and cooperative styles of learning, it also places particular emphasis upon the...

This problem solving resource uses linear functions to model real world data about car skid marks. The work assumes students are familiar with substitution and drawing straight line graphs.

The problem is set in the context of investigating car accidents. When a car suddenly brakes to a stop, it can leave...

This lesson gives students a 3D printing challenge to model and print a small food clip, using the technical drawings provided.

In this activity students design and model a 3D robot arm. Robot arms are an example of a programmable system. They are used in a wide variety of industrial applications, ranging from loading machines to assembling cars, welding parts together and spray painting products. They are also used in applications such as...

This Mathematics Matters case study looks at how mathematicians work with epidemiologists to understand the spread of infections and mitigate their effects. Epidemics can threaten the lives of both humans and animals, so it is essential that we react swiftly to any outbreaks. Mathematicians play a key role in...

Students will review their analysis studies and pick one product and one disability which they model a solution for and test to see if the problem has been resolved. A detailed evaluation will follow using the provided question prompts reflecting ACCESS FMM. This resource works well when delivered with ...

This lesson develops the concept of modelling linear and exponential growth. In particular students will enhance their understanding of:

• Translating between descriptive, algebraic, tabular, and graphical representation of the functions.
• Recognizing how and why a quantity changes per unit...

This is a problem solving lesson, designed to help you assess how well students are able to:

• Interpret a situation and represent the variables mathematically.
• Select appropriate mathematical methods.
• Interpret and evaluate the data generated.

The problem is set in the...