Our Computer Science Taster Days are a full-day campus visit to our labs.
Modern life is full of technology; most of us use digital tools every single day for chatting, shopping, banking, education, and recreation. A career in computer science allows students to step up from mere users to empowered creators and scrutinisers of technology. Our Taster Days give an authentic impression of how that looks like through a series of hands-on workshops covering different aspects of computer science.
The Taster Days are aimed at pupils in Key Stage 3. Our aim is to encourage pupils from all backgrounds to engage with computing and to consider further study at GCSE and university.
Dates
Running every Wednesday in the spring term:
| Â | Slot | Date | School | Detailed Schedule | Â |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | Taster Day 1 | 29 January 2025 | Notre Dame | Schedule | Â |
| Â | Taster Day 2 | 05 February 2025 | St Nicholas | Schedule | Â |
| Â | Taster Day 3 | 12 February 2025 | Life Sciences UTC | Schedule | Â |
|  | – half term – | 19 February 2025 |  |  |  |
| Â | Taster Day 4 | 26 February 2025 | Cardinal Heenan | Schedule | Â |
| Â | Taster Day 5 | 5 March 2025 | St Francis of Assisi | Schedule | Â |
| Â | Taster Day 6 | 12 March 2025 | St Michaels | Schedule | Â |
| Â | Taster Day 7 | 19 March 2025 | Prenton | Schedule | Â |
Organisation
Each Taster Day will include two sessions developed and delivered by our students, as well as a hands-on session and an outdoor activity delivered by academics from the Computer Science Outreach team. The exact schedule for the day will depend on the timetable of our students.
We recognise that many pupils will already be somewhat familiar with programming. Our undergraduate students have been working hard to design a range of activities to support and enhance the work you do in the classroom.
Each day typically begins at 10am and ends at 2pm. Schools are responsible for arranging their own transport to the university campus. The Computer Science labs are conveniently located just a short walk from University Square via The Quadrangle.
For further information, please see our 2025 Taster Day Info Sheet.
Lessons
Below is a list of this year’s student developed lessons (for very similar topics developed by multiple students, only one topic/blurb is given below). Each Taster Days features two of these.
Decomposition and Flowcharts (Stefan)
Discover the power of thinking like a computer scientist and learn effective life skills by breaking big problems into small, manageable steps through decomposition. This hands-on lesson uses real-life examples, like planning your day or making tea, to teach the correct way to approach and understand a problem to create efficient algorithms to solve it – no coding experience needed! You will understand the importance of computer scientists and engage in interactive activities that will highlight how these foundational skills can lead to exciting careers in tech. By the end, you’ll feel inspired and ready to explore the endless creative possibilities in computer science.
Search like a superhero, Master the art of algorithms (Samiya)
Have you ever wondered how computers search through massive amounts of information so quickly? This lesson introduces students to the fascinating world of logical thinking, fundamental to all of computer science, through a hands-on and relatable experience. Students will learn to code using python to solve logical puzzles and understand how algorithms like linear search and binary search help computers find information efficiently. This lesson is fun, challenging and leaves students with that ‘eureka’ moment about how algorithms and logic shape the technology they use.
Algorithms (Rabeea)
When technology makes decisions for us, for example recommending a video to someone on social media or finding the fastest way home, it will use algorithms. They are many algorithms that influence our daily life and helps technology think for us. During this lesson students will explore how algorithms process data and make automated decisions. They will focus on recommendation systems used by social media and then will attempt to stimulate a technology/algorithm that will analyse a user’s preferences.
Introduction to Machine Learning (Matt)
Introduction to Machine Learning (ML) is a hands-on and engaging session introducing Year 9 students to the exciting world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The lesson includes real-life examples, a case study in the construction industry, and a practical exercise in image recognition. Students will explore how Machine Learning works, its applications, and its challenges. This lesson will delve into AI’s potential and pitfalls, and students will learn how this technology can be applied in their lives.
Binary system and radix sorting algorithm (Jenny)
Discover the magic behind how computers think and organize data! This interactive lesson dives into the world of binary numbers, the building blocks of all computing. You’ll learn how to count in binary, perform binary arithmetic, and explore the clever Radix Sort algorithm. Hands-on activities make it fun and engaging, as you build your own sorting model to see an advanced computer science concept in action!
Cybersecurity (Hannah)
Cyber Security is necessary in many areas of everyday life. Ciphers are just one of the prevention methods that are used daily to protect the systems we use and our data against various threats. In this lesson students will learn how to use ciphers effectively and how to encrypt and decrypt simple ciphers. Additionally, they will start to explore the topic of encryption and how the various levels of complexity.
Registration
Interested in attending?
We are currently booked out, but we keep a rolling list of interested schools.
If you are a secondary school teacher, and would like to bring a group of pupils
to our campus for a Computer Science Taster Day, please reach out to cs-outreach@liverpool.ac.uk!