Nestled on the outskirts of Edinburgh, East Lothian is a high-achieving education authority. Pupils at East Lothian’s secondary schools equalled or exceeded national averages for qualifications gained in 2011, according to the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). With an emphasis on ensuring students acquire practical skills that can be used in a commercial environment, the authority was looking at ways to enhance its computing courses.
Jack Tennent, a computer studies teacher at Knox Academy and Preston Lodge High School, discovered LiveCode and quickly realised its potential. Not only does it offer a way to develop new course materials and teaching aids but can also be used by students to create apps and learn about software development.
“The familiarity and comfort factor that young people have with mobile and computing devices means that any computer science course has to be that much more appealing and engaging if it is to be taught successfully,” said Jack Tennent, computing teacher at Knox Academy and Preston Lodge High School.
“Equally the course has to be relevant to the demands and expectations of the commercial world. Today software and app development are increasingly a feature in many commercial activities and understanding the art of software development is an essential skill for any secondary school student to learn.”
Jack Tennent, computer studies teacher said “LiveCode’s easy to understand language and cross-platform nature has the potential to demystify what has been a highly technical and complex subject. By doing away with the complexity, LiveCode allows students to learn about software development and create apps that draw on their creativity, flair, passion and imagination. For teachers, LiveCode offers more scope to create tailored teaching aids and course material quickly and easily,” he added.
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