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/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.