Write for a global computing community with Hello World magazine

Gemma Coleman

Editor, Hello World

Access this presentation at helloworld.cc/writingworkshop

By the end of this session, you will:

• Have a strong understanding of what makes a good Hello World article

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• Have a draft outline of your own article for the magazine

Session outline

1. Intro to Hello World

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• What makes a good Hello World article?

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• Complete your own outline for an article

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The magazine by computing educators, for computing educators

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Subscribe for free today at helloworld.cc/CSTAsubscribe

What makes a good Hello World article?

Add your ideas to the jamboard here.

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How do you know you’ve read a good article?

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How do you want to feel when you’re reading it/when you’ve finished it?

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How do you feel when there are concepts/language that are not explained in an article? Do you carry on reading?

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Do you find examples useful when someone is explaining an idea? Why/why not?

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Do you just want to hear about what went well? Why/why not?

What makes a good Hello World article?

In pairs, read through either Article 1 or Article 2.

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Discuss with your partner what you think are the strengths of the article, and what things could be improved.

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Add your ideas to the jamboard here.

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Article 1

Article 2

Planning your own article

Make a copy of the writing template.

What do you want to share?

• A lesson/activity you’ve done in your classroom that you would recommend

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• A novel approach to a topic

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• An activity that cleared up a misconception

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• Something that didn’t go well that you’ve taken away learnings from

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• A tool that you found useful

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Introduction

• Key info: Who, what, where, when!
• Draw your reader in: An interesting stat, a rhetorical question, an anecdote
• Offer structure: Let readers know where your article is going

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Top Tip:

Write your intro once you’ve written the rest of the article - it will be a much easier task!

How did you do it? What inspired you?

What did the activity look like?

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How did you introduce it to students?

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How did you structure the activity?

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Why did you choose to run the activity you did?

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Benefits

What did your students learn?

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What did they find engaging?

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What did you learn?

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Challenges

What obstacles did you have during this activity?

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How did you overcome them?

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What would you do differently next time?

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Top tip

Honesty is refreshing! Readers don’t want you to sugarcoat everything.

Boxouts

Is there any useful additional information that deserves highlighting, or doesn’t fit in the main flow of the article?

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Examples:

• List of useful resources/links
• Definitions of key terms
• Tips for readers to try out the activity themselves
• A list of equipment

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Conclusion

Wrap your article up - it needs to feel finished!

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Ideas:

• Top takeaway
• How readers can get involved
• How readers can bring these ideas into their classroom
• Your future plans
• Recommendations

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Top tip

Can you return to an idea/story/question that you mentioned in your intro?

The writing process

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STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

Submit your idea. Gemma will get in contact and suggest ideas for structure and focus, and pass on supporting docs.

You will write and submit your first draft. Gemma will make edits and send on feedback.

You will take in any feedback and write and submit a final draft.

STEP 4

Gemma will send back a designed proof for you to check pre-publication.

Supporting docs

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Writing guidance doc

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2-page feature template

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Subscribe for free: helloworld.cc/CSTAsubscribe

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Write for us:

helloworld.cc/writeforus OR gemma.coleman@raspberrypi.org

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