Year 7 Virtual Library

💬 How to Use

The virtual library is full of extra resources such as tutorials, ideas, books, articles and videos. They cover each of the topics you do in class, as well as some you don’t. If you love Computer Science or want to find out more about something then use this library to help you.

🔑 0 – Welcome to BGS

This topic covers how you should use the computer science rooms here at Bourne Grammar School, including useful programs such as email, the file explorer and Bourne to Learn.

Want to type better and faster?

Being able to type fast and accurately is a vital skill for anyone who uses computers, Typing Club is a great website to earn how to touch type. Touch typing is when you don’t even need to look at the keyboard to know where all the keys are, you know where they are based on your sense of touch.

Go here https://www.typingclub.com/ to get started, it is free and you can make an account to save your progress.

Need some help with the basics?

We know that many of you have not used a proper Windows computer in your life. If you need some extra help with learning the basics of how these kinds of computers work then you can go here, https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/basic-computer-skills/. The website has lots of mini tutorials that go all the way from the basics to advanced skills.

🐈 1 – My LOL Cat

This topic covers the basics of programming using Scratch, a block based programming language. Many of you have used this before coming to Bourne Grammar, however some of you will have never used it. Below you will find resources that will help you and also stretch you to create some cool and interesting programs and games.

Scratch Tutorials

Are there some concepts in Scratch that you don’t really get, does a while loop just not make sense, what on earth is a variable? Then click here https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/549223601/editor to get some help on this and more.

Need some inspiration?

Do you have the skills but don’t know what to make? Don’t worry, all the greatest artists, programmers and writers get stuck sometimes. Go here to find some ideas that will use your talents: https://scratch.mit.edu/ideas

🌐 2 – How the Internet Works

This topic covers how the internet, the world wide web, DNS, routers and networks work.

How does the internet work? – Glad you asked!

This video has more detail on how the internet works, it also shows you some of the physical infrastructure needed for everything to run smoothly.

Why do we need HTTPS?

Have you ever wondered why a green lock icon appears on your browser URL bar? And why is it important? We did too, and this comic is for you!

Follow the adventures of Certificat, Browserbird, and Compugter as they explain why HTTPS is crucial for the future of the web and how it all works together.

Don’t let the bad crabs get you (you’ll know what we mean in the comic). Get to know HTTPS and why it is essential to your privacy.

Click here to start reading the comic: https://howhttps.works/

How DNSSEC Works

How do you feel about a taco explaining you how DNSSEC works? Sometimes, when you’re stuck understanding a topic, mixing it up with something completely different may help grasping it.

DNS was created when the internet was really small, security wasn’t really though about. This comic covers how recent updates have made it more secure.

Click here to start reading the comic: https://howdnssec.works/

How did the World Wide Web (WWW) start?

We looked at when and who invented the WWW but if you want to know more it’s origins and it’s future then click here to find out more: https://webfoundation.org/about/vision/history-of-the-web/

🕸️ 3 – Web Development

In this topic you learnt what web pages are made from and how to make you own. These resources will help you move on from your simple first website onto bigger and better ones.

Responsive Web Design Course

The basic building blocks of a webpage is made up of HTML tags, you learnt the basics of this in class. However if you want to become a pro web designer then this website has a free course that will take you all the way to making a really good website. https://www.freecodecamp.org/learn

Learn CSS Layout

In this topic you looked at how CSS can be used to layout your HTML webpage in whatever way you wished using the box model. If you want to learn all the tricks of the trade and features we did not have time to look at in class then go here: https://learnlayout.com/

Flexbox Froggy

This website is a lovely interactive game in which you need to help Froggy and his friends by using CSS: https://flexboxfroggy.com/

💽 4 – Data Representation

In this topic you looked at how data is stored and represented on computers. From the simplest bit (0 or 1) to bytes and beyond.

Files, files and more files

This video goes into more depth into how files are stored and represented.

BBC Bitesize – Data Representation

The BBC Bitesize site has some great information on this topic here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zpfdwmn/revision/1

Programming challenges

Challenge 1  Multipliers

Develop a program that computes and outputs a number of binary multipliers, i.e. 1, 2, 4, 8, etc. The number of multipliers could be fixed or input by the user.

Challenge 2  How many digits?

Develop a program that inputs a number and computes how many binary digits are required to represent it.

Challenge 3  Binary to decimal

Develop a program that inputs a sequence of binary digits and computes the corresponding decimal number

As a starting point, you could use a Scratch program that already contains the necessary blocks for you to complete (https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/324094174/) or assemble (https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/324094344/).

Explore

Take a look at these Scratch and Python programming challenges related to binary numbers: csunplugged.org/en/topics/binary-numbers/unit-plan/how-binary-digits-work/programming/

👾 5/6 – BBC micro:bit

In this topic you used the micro:bit to learn about coding with sequences, selection and iteration.

Make It: Code It

The micro:bit website has loads of project ideas to help inspire you, if you don’t have a micro:bit at home then you can still use the simulator to do most of the ideas you see on this page: https://microbit.org/projects/make-it-code-it/

🦺 eSafety

Learn how to report and block offensive users and messages on different apps:


For more help
Childline: Call 0800 11 11 or chat with a counsellor online – For anonymous support and advice on dealing with cyberbullying and other issues – www.childline.org.uk
The Diana Award Anti-Bullying Campaign: A charity that helps people get involved to tackle all forms of bullying – www.antibullyingpro.com
True vision: If you receive hateful messages or a crime has been committed against you because of your race, sexuality or disability, this could be considered a hate crime. This is illegal and can be reported to the police through True Vision – www.report-it.org.uk
YoungMinds: This website has lots of information for young people about their wellbeing and mental health, and also has information for teachers and parents – www.youngminds.org.uk

Contact the police if the messages you receive pose a threat to your personal safety. Remember a death threat online is illegal.