Tell us a little about yourself and your work.

I am currently a teacher at a Welsh-medium secondary school, where I teach Digital Technology and Computer Science. This marks my 9th year in education, having retrained as a teacher after gaining experience working for a large local insurance company. 

How did you get started working with Technocamps?

As part of my role as an IT Business Liaison manager in my previous career, I was offered the opportunity to enrol on the Computer Science Foundation Degree Course at Swansea University. Having no academic qualifications in IT, I felt this was a great way to develop my understanding of the fundamentals of Computer Science. With Technocamps working so closely with the Foundation Degree course, this is where my journey with Technocamps began. I attended numerous workshops and events held by Technocamps and continue to do so as regularly as I can. 

Which part of the work with Technocamps has been most beneficial for you, and why?

As a non-specialist in my teaching field (having only my foundation degree qualification), I rely heavily on the resources that Technocamps create and provide. The fact that these resources are provided in Welsh is fantastic as it means I don’t have to spend hours translating the notes before I am able to use them. Technocamps provide excellent resources for all key stages across the curriculum. These resources include PowerPoint presentations, lesson plans and worksheets, all in an easy-to-access format on their website. The other great thing about working with Technocamps is the variety of workshops they provide, where a bilingual Technocamps delivery officer attends the school campus to deliver hands-on sessions on a variety of computer science topics. 

With recent changes to the computer science and Digital Technology GCSE’s I have relied heavily on the resources that Technocamps have provided in order to upskill myself in preparedness to teach both courses. I always feel that I can contact Technocamps if I need support or guidance with any computer science topic. 

How do you think the skills and knowledge provided by Technocamps are used in your field or day-to-day work?

The skills I’ve gained from Technocamps have significantly enhanced my day-to-day teaching. By integrating computational thinking, problem-solving strategies, and coding principles into my lessons, I am able to create more engaging and interactive lessons for my pupils. These tools help foster creativity and critical thinking, encouraging students to approach challenges with a logical and systematic mindset. Additionally, the hands-on programming skills I’ve learned allow me to guide pupils in developing their own projects, making abstract concepts more tangible and accessible.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

As an individual and a school we have benefited greatly from Technocamps over a number of years.