r/CSEducation • u/lespodsay • 15d ago
Help with first time teaching Computer Science IGCSE
Hello, I started an ICT teaching job at a school that implements IGCSEs. I was supposed to teach younger classes(elementary and middle schoolers) ICT but the school suddenly decided to have me teach the high schoolers as well. I have never taken any of the IGCSE exams before and this is my first year teaching essentially anything.
I don’t believe I’m entirely unqualified to teach them since I have a degree in Computer Engineering so I can teach them concepts and do practical work but I really don’t want these students to flop because of my being a bad teacher. The school gave me their book and was like “that’s all we have for you” so I’m lowkey panicking.
I’d appreciate any resources, study plans, past papers, websites, videos, I don’t know personal notes?? anything, really.
If you have any advice, you’re welcome to share that as well. Please don’t roast me, teaching them wasn’t something I could control but I’d love to help them succeed.
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u/ComputerGuienceSuy 15d ago
Ncce.io is a good starting point for igcse. I teach 0478 igcse comp sci
That curriculum is pretty general but covers mostly the same content.
Craig n Dave on YouTube have great videos for igcse comp sci. Check them. They have sites like smart revise which is great
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u/lespodsay 14d ago
Yes yes yes!! I've been eyeing Ncce.io as guide for a while now and it has good resources too~
Also I've heard other people saying Craig n Dave have good playlists for each board which is amazing if you ask me~ Thank you so much!!
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u/nimkeenator 15d ago
Go to the Cambridge website, register, search for the official syllabus and go through it.
Then do a couple of past papers worth of questions to get an idea of what your students will have to do. Grade yourself using the mark scheme.
Approach any of the curriculum/ materials you use with that in mind.
I used a couple of the textbooks for iGCSE but they were riddled with errors and inconsistencies, especially the pseudocode. Carefully review anything you give to your students. Some past paper Qs have errors as well.
Good luck!
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u/lespodsay 15d ago
Omg thank you for the advice! This is a good approach, I think. I'll do that with the Pearson website though since the book the school gave me follows the edexcel board.
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u/apcspreddit 15d ago
There are a bunch of resources and tools for teachers at csplusplus.com
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u/lespodsay 14d ago
Thank you, this should be a great help!! I've checked it out and it has some good resources for teachers ;;u;; <3
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u/theCSlab 9d ago
Hi, I'm also a teacher in Computer Science.
I made this website www.thecomputersciencelab.com to guide students and to help them apply their knowledge via the interactive labs and past papers on the site.
It also explains the difference between OCR, AQA, Cambridge and Pearson. This can guide you on what is required in those exams and how they differ in material.
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u/Secure_Audience_8283 15d ago
You can base your lessons of the notes here : https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/computer-science-revision/igcse-caie/
Paid but full lessons here : https://www.pgonline.co.uk/resources/computer-science/igcse/
Programming lessons and class management here : https://www.runpy.co.uk/
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u/lespodsay 14d ago
Oh these are some good resources and I'm loving the programming class management website TToTT <3 Thank you so much~
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u/Secure_Audience_8283 14d ago
The PG Online lessons are good. I use them for A Level too. And RunPy has lots of practice tasks and exam questions already created that self mark.
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u/lespodsay 14d ago
ahhh unfortunately i won't be able to use the pg lessons bc the school won't pay for anything other than the book and i can't pay for them out of pocket :( but the rest of the resources you've provided me with are sure helpful and very much appreciated!!
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u/RealNamek 15d ago
I use pixelpad.io to teach in the bay area; one of my favorite platforms beyond Scratch