cracking the code: a beginner's guide to coding with elementary students

Cracking the Code

A Beginner’s Plan to Coding in the Elementary School

Classroom

Link to Presentation

https://goo.gl/VyFOPQ

Hello!

I’m Allison You can find me @athomp526 and

www.mrsktechnology.com

http://tinyurl.com/whatscode

Session Overview◎ Why?◎ Process◎ Resources◎ Practice

“What Most Schools Don’t Teach”

Why Teach Coding?

◎ Skills Reinforced:◉ logical

thinking◉ problem

solving◉ collaboratio

n◉ persistence

◎ Standards-Driven◉ International

Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

◉ Computer Science Standards

◉ Common Core State Standards

Research and

Information Fluency

Critical Thinking, Problem

Solving, and Decision Making

ISTE Standards

Creativity and

Innovation

Computational Thinking

Computers and

Communication Devices

Computer Science Standards

Computing Practice and Programmin

g

English Language

ArtsMathematics

Common Core State Standards

Creativity & Critical

Thinking

About Us

About Cavanaugh STEAM:

◎ Lansing, MI◎ Pre-K through 3rd◎ Year 1 of STEAM

implementation◎ Newly Identified

Priority School◎ After-School Coding

Club for 2nd and 3rd grade students

Getting StartedGoogle CS First makes it easy!

1

Starting a Coding Club

Assess available resources

Decide on a resource Play around and get

familiar with selected resource

Generate excitementEstablish a scheduleCreate expectations

Establish and maintain routines

Allow time for student reflection

Provide opportunities to share projects

Starting a Club

◎ Sign up using Google account at cs-first.com

◎ Request club materials ◎ Set schedule & begin

marketing◎ Review materials prior to

start of club◎ Free!

CS First Resources

Typical DayLesson plan, videos, and

sample project for a normal club day

2

Typical Day◎ Login to CS-First◎ Choose Club Day ◎ Watch First Video◎ Open Scratch Starter

Project◎ Practice Skills Taught in

Video◎ Share on Scratch

Student Projects

Sample projects from Digital Storytelling and Game Design

Sample Student Work

Resources to Teach Code

Lessons Learned

-Basic computer functions

-What is Computer Science?

-Time Management

-Culminating Event/Accountability

-Direct teaching of explicit computer skills

-Frontloading and addressing misconceptions -Chunking, setting mini-goals

-Have a purpose for learning how to code

Challenges Solutions

Resources to Teach Code

Resources to Teach CodeDaisy the Dinosaur◎ Free◎ Beginner

(PreK and older)

◎ Drag and drop

Resources to Teach CodeLightbot Jr.◎ Free◎ Beginner ◎ (PreK and

older, suitable for prereaders)

Resources to Teach CodeHopscotch◎ Free◎ Intermediate◎ Drag and drop◎ Social/sharing

component

Resources to Teach Code

Move the Turtle◎ $2.99/app◎ Beginner ◎ Intuitive

design, artistic options

Resources to Teach Code

Puzzlets◎ $99/kit◎ Coming

September 2015

◎ Beginner, recommended for first coding experience

Resources to Teach Code

Bitsbox◎ $20+◎ Ages 6-12◎ Monthly

subscription◎ PDF or physical

box delivered ◎ New projects

each month

Extension

Hour of Code ◎ http://code.org/learn◎ During school or

evening event with families

◎ Learn the basics of code in one hour or less.

Your Turn!

Scratch Jr App (iPad or Android)Try any of the Apps mentionedScratch.MIT.edu (laptop)

Click on “Try it Out”

Questions?Ideas?

Reflections?

Wrapping Up

Interested in Learning More?

1-Day Code.org Workshops coming to Lansing beginning mid-August

Interested in learning more? Click HERE

Thanks!

You can reach me at @athomp526 or via email at: mrsktechnology@gmail.com

Sources Referenced

◎ National Science Foundation◎ ISTE◎ Bureau of Labor and Statistics◎ Bay Area Council Economic

Institute◎ AP College Board

Credits

Special thanks to Code.org for their awesome graphs!◎ Minicons by Webalys◎ Presentation template by

SlidesCarnival◎ Photographs by Unsplash