This Junior Cycle Coding Short Course immerses students in computational thinking, programming, and digital systems through hands-on projects. Students progress from block-based coding in Scratch and MakeCode Arcade to text-based Python, build interactive games, websites with HTML and CSS, and physical computing projects using the micro:bit. They explore how the internet works, data representation, AI models, ethics, and responsible online behaviour while developing, documenting, and reflecting on a complete Classroom-Based Assessment.
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Straight Into Scratch
Welcome: Build Your First Scratch Program
Variables and Input in Scratch
Loops in Scratch
Conditionals and Events in Scratch
Testing and Debugging in Scratch
Design It, Then Build It
The Four Steps of Computational Thinking, by Building
Pseudo-code and Flow Charts: Plan It, Then Build It
Trace, Predict and Fix
Make Games in Makecode Arcade
Plan and Build Your First Arcade Game, Part 1
Enemies, Lives and Debugging, Part 2
Score, Win and Share, Part 3
Make It Yours
Game Showcase: Play, Evaluate, Improve
Computers and the World
Inside the Machine That Runs Your Game
Computing in the World Around Us
Ethics in Computing
Strand 1 Challenge Build
The Internet and Data
How the Internet Moves Data
How Search Engines Find and Rank Pages
How Computers Store Data: Bits and Images
Investigating a Real-world Problem
Present and Justify Your Proposal
Build a Website with HTML and CSS
Your First Web Page with HTML
Adding Images and Structure
Styling with CSS
Build a Small Website
Coding Beyond the Screen with a Micro:bit
Sensing with a Micro:bit
Logging Data Over Time with a Micro:bit
Connecting Two Micro:bits with Radio
AI in Coding
What AI Models Are, from Chatbots to Agents
Train Your Own Image Model
Code a Game That Uses Your Model
AI Agents: Software That Plans and Acts
Using AI Well: Judgement, Limits and Staying in Control
Connected and Responsible
Ethics, Law and Safety Online
A Connected Cross-curricular Project
From Blocks to Text, Python
Your First Python Program
Variables, Input and Output in Python
Conditionals and Loops in Python
Functions in Python
Lists and Working with Data in Python
From Blocks to Text, Arcade Games in Code
From Blocks to Text in Makecode Arcade
Read, Document and Debug Game Code
Reading, Documenting and Analysing Code
Documenting Your Code
Reading and Analysing Unfamiliar Code
Strand 3 Challenge Build
Choosing Your CBA Approach
Planning and Starting Your CBA
Building and Testing, a Progress Check
Documenting and Packaging
Presenting and Reflecting

Straight Into Scratch
Welcome: Build Your First Scratch Program
Variables and Input in Scratch
Loops in Scratch
Conditionals and Events in Scratch
Testing and Debugging in Scratch
Design It, Then Build It
The Four Steps of Computational Thinking, by Building
Pseudo-code and Flow Charts: Plan It, Then Build It
Trace, Predict and Fix
Make Games in Makecode Arcade
Plan and Build Your First Arcade Game, Part 1
Enemies, Lives and Debugging, Part 2
Score, Win and Share, Part 3
Make It Yours
Game Showcase: Play, Evaluate, Improve
Computers and the World
Inside the Machine That Runs Your Game
Computing in the World Around Us
Ethics in Computing
Strand 1 Challenge Build

The Internet and Data
How the Internet Moves Data
How Search Engines Find and Rank Pages
How Computers Store Data: Bits and Images
Investigating a Real-world Problem
Present and Justify Your Proposal
Build a Website with HTML and CSS
Your First Web Page with HTML
Adding Images and Structure
Styling with CSS
Build a Small Website
Coding Beyond the Screen with a Micro:bit
Sensing with a Micro:bit
Logging Data Over Time with a Micro:bit
Connecting Two Micro:bits with Radio
AI in Coding
What AI Models Are, from Chatbots to Agents
Train Your Own Image Model
Code a Game That Uses Your Model
AI Agents: Software That Plans and Acts
Using AI Well: Judgement, Limits and Staying in Control
Connected and Responsible
Ethics, Law and Safety Online
A Connected Cross-curricular Project

From Blocks to Text, Python
Your First Python Program
Variables, Input and Output in Python
Conditionals and Loops in Python
Functions in Python
Lists and Working with Data in Python
From Blocks to Text, Arcade Games in Code
From Blocks to Text in Makecode Arcade
Read, Document and Debug Game Code
Reading, Documenting and Analysing Code
Documenting Your Code
Reading and Analysing Unfamiliar Code
Strand 3 Challenge Build

Choosing Your CBA Approach
Planning and Starting Your CBA
Building and Testing, a Progress Check
Documenting and Packaging
Presenting and Reflecting

Curriculum Mapping

See exactly how this course maps to official curriculum specifications

Curriculum Area
Outcomes
Introducing computer science
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9
Let’s get connected
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13
Coding at the next level
3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10

The curriculum does not include official reference codes for individual learning outcomes, so we have assigned a code scheme to make it easier to identify and track coverage.

What Students Will Learn

Learning Goals

  1. Develop computational thinking skills through decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithm design in block-based and text-based environments
  2. Build, test, and debug programs in Scratch, MakeCode Arcade, HTML/CSS, and Python while applying the PRIMM methodology
  3. Understand how computers, the internet, and data systems operate, from bits and CPUs to search engines and data transmission
  4. Create interactive projects using sensors, radio communication, machine learning models, and web technologies
  5. Evaluate ethical, legal, and social issues in computing and demonstrate responsible digital citizenship

Learning Outcomes

  1. Build and debug sequenced Scratch programs using loops, variables, conditionals and events to create games such as Paddle Ball, Pattern Creator and Racing Car.
  2. Apply the four steps of computational thinking (decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction and algorithms) to plan, design and build arcade games in MakeCode Arcade.
  3. Construct multi-page websites using HTML and CSS, including headings, images, links, layout elements and selectors, while using predict-run-fix debugging.
  4. Program a micro:bit to read sensors, log data, display results as graphs and communicate between devices using radio signals.
  5. Write, test and debug Python programs on a micro:bit using variables, conditionals, loops, functions and lists to build interactive projects such as games and weather stations.

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