Workshop’s Committee 

Zsuzsa Pluhár, Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Informatics, Budapest
Bence Gaál, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest 

Schedule 

Teacher’s workshop 

The organizers will offer to the participants and Hungarian teachers the opportunity to meet and share their experiences, methods, models, teamwork arrangements, as well as problems arising while working with pupils of primary and secondary schools around computing and related topics. 

Workshop

Light up your classroom Teaching color mixing and variables with micro:bit and LED rings

Alexandra Maximova

In recent years, the integration of physical computing devices like micro:bit into the classroom has transformed the way programming is taught, making abstract concepts more tangible and engaging for students. This workshop is rooted in the context of lower secondary education, where students are beginning to explore the fundamentals of programming through tools that bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds.
The activity presented in this workshop draws on the educational philosophy that hands-on, experiential learning is crucial for grasping complex programming concepts. By using micro:bit paired with LED rings, students are not only introduced to basic coding principles but also encouraged to experiment and see real-world applications of their code.
This workshop is designed with a specific focus on color mixing and the introduction of variables — a topic that can be challenging for beginners but is an essential building block in any programming curriculum. The activities showcased here have been developed and refined in a classroom setting, targeting students who are already familiar with basic programming constructs like loops, functions, and conditionals.
By participating in this workshop, educators will gain insights into how to effectively employ micro:bit and LED rings to create an interactive and supportive learning environment, where students can explore and faster foundational programming concepts through creative experimentation.

Interactive workshop about computational and algebraic thinking

Anikó Rumbus, Pál Sarmasági

One possible way to understand how the world around us works is to learn through experience. The CT & MathABLE Erasmus project aims to implement innovative school curricula that enable the recognition and validation of skills and qualifications and equip future citizens with the digital skills and IT literacy needed for digital transformation. The project will offer open, relevant, and locally tailored educational content with new ways of interaction and high-quality content.

In the CT & MathABLE project, we have created activities that develop students' IT and algebraic thinking. These tasks include both online tests and unplugged tasks.

In our workshop, we will present some online test tasks and try out unplugged tasks.

CT Unpluggled – Goats crossing a ravine

Vipul Shah

The activity is based on a widely known math puzzle: 6 frogs. Several variations including Jumping Kangaroos exists in variations across many countries. To solve it requires recognition of patterns through a systematic approach to the movement of the participants (goats).

The problem requires two groups of goats to pass each other on a narrow log. A goat can only move forward either a single step if the space in front of it is empty, or by jumping over the goat directly in front of it if the space behind that goat is empty. The questions we will ask are:

• Is it possible for all goats to reach the other side of the log and how?
• If yes, is there a pattern that emerges?
• Is it possible to predict if a solution is possible for group of different number goats on each side and what that solution will be?

We will explore the puzzle with two groups of 3 goats each.

Bebras Unplugged

Zsuzsa Pluhár and the students of Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Informatics

Bebras initiative can be found in several countries - in several forms. Next to the basic competition, there are several ideas on how to use Bebras tasks in everyday school activities.

In this workshop, you participate in a challenge with unplugged activities of Bebras tasks. The main idea of these activities is not only to "do-by-hand" but to show how can you prepare your own (DIY) activity for several age groups.

Programming in a spiralcurriculum, from kindergarten to highschool

Jacqueline Staub

Turtle Graphics is a simple and intuitive way to introduce programming concepts through visual feedback. Originally developed as part of the Logo programming language, it allows users to control a "turtle" that moves around the screen to draw shapes and patterns. By giving the turtle commands such as move forward, turn, or repeat actions, learners can explore fundamental programming principles like loops, functions, and conditionals. Its visual nature makes it an engaging tool, especially for beginners, to understand how code translates into actions and results, fostering both creativity and problem-solving skills.

This workshop demonstrates how to introduce programming to beginners of various age groups. We present a spiral curriculum that gradually and repeatedly introduces fundamental programming concepts such as loops, procedures, parameters, and variables, allowing learners to continuously deepen their knowledge. From simple navigation tasks to more complex algorithms, Turtle Graphics provides a flexible entry point into the world of programming. The workshop is aimed at all educators (regardless of prior knowledge) who wish to develop a didactic approach to teaching programming.

EPAM presentation: Gamification in programming education
Zoltán Pozsonyi

... is coming...

Application 

To apply for the workshop, please submit a maximum 2-page file describing your idea and activity. Your file should have the following succinct sections, without a separate abstract:

• Title, name, name of institution and supervisor(s)
• Introduction: context and background about your activity
• Activity: describe the activity in a short abstract - it will be published for the participants
• Number of participants: how many teachers, participants can participate
• Number of sections: how many times would you repeat, do the activity
• Duration: 45Minutes (if not, please, describe the length)
• Technic: what technical tools and equipment you need

Send your application to the following e-mail address: issep2024@inf.elte.hu.