InnEdCO 2017 -- Snapshots

Infusing Engineering into a Science classroom
Paige Dersham
Presentation link

Create your own Coding Club Using Google CS First
Megan Cosmos
Presentation Link

Google CS First

Tips & Tricks:

• Use Google Forms
• Record logins asap
• Get parent permission
• Encourage sharing & discussion
• Logged into Google CS First and Scratch
• Prepare - Plan - Play

Their materials:

• are completely free and available online
• are targeted at students in grades 4th-8th (ages 9-14)
• can be tailored to fit your schedule and needs
• involve block-based coding using Scratch and are themed to attract students with varied interests
  
  
   

Computer Science framework

A national committee of state reps, school districts, teachers, technology companies, and organizations have taken to creating a K-12 computer science framework. Their work is scheduled for release during this summer and could be a game changer for technology teachers. Sign up to review their work as they go.

Learn to Code

Interested in learning how to build a website? Codecademy recently updated their "build a website" course to include HTML5 and CSS3. I personally enjoy Codecademy and find it a helpful way to get started with coding.

Girls Who Code

Here's a cool program: Girls Who Code. They have summer immersion programs and other great resources. We need more girls interested in learning computer programming!

Hour of Code

The week of computer programming is next week:

Dec 7-11

Learn more at Hour of Code

Coding for Kids

Here's a new website out of Boulder, CO, Bitsbox, allowing users to easily create Apps by writing code. You can even sign up for their newsletter and they'll send you codes every month to try with your students.

Makerspace Resources

Here's another fantastic resource for Makerpsaces, Coding, Video Game Creation, and Video Creation: Lewis and Clark Elementary School. Living up to their school's moniker as explorers!

STEM websites

As a technology teacher, I have a ton of students interested in makerspaces and coding. My goal is to collect as many resources as possible for both students and parents. Information Week posted an article covering 8 STEM websites students can use. I've had them work on a few including code.org but am excited to see the other ones as well.

Sphero -- Connected Toys

I was just introduced to Sphero by our 5th grade science teacher and my teaching coach. Basically, it's a sphere about the size of a baseball/softball, and a user can program it to move through a FREE iPad app. If you have students into coding, they love the Sphero!

Scratch for iPad

Finally, the MIT Media Lab released an iPad app for Scratch. It's more geared towards younger elementary students (the iTunes store states it's for 5-8 year olds), but it's helpful for building games and other exciting activities. Here's a review of the app on Free Tech for Teachers.

Free Coding Programs

StackSocial is offering HTML, Javascript, JQuery, CSS, and HTML5 courses for free.  That's right! Learn 5 different computer coding languages for completely free.  All you have to do is following this link, create an account, and share the promotion to social media to receive the free courses. Normally, it would cost $150 for all 5.  Any other great deals out there for National Computer Science Week?

11 Resources for Coding

December 8-14 is Computer Science Education Week. In the spirit of this week, I've been searching for resources that could be beneficial to my students. eSchool News posted an interesting article titled:
 

11 Coding Resources for the Hour of Code

I'm always looking for more resources.  Are there any other coding resources you use with your students?

Hour of Code

The week of Dec 8-14 is considered the week to celebrate and learn computer programming.  Code.org has what they call the "Hour of Code" during this week.  It's an initiative introducing students to computer programming by completing at least an hour of coding during the week.  I also found an article on Edutopia explaining how parents can get involved with learning right along with their kids. 

I usually spend the last 2 weeks before winter break and the last 2 weeks before summer break teaching computer programming.  How do you fit coding into your curriculum?

Coding

Here's an interesting article I discovered on TeachThought.  It discusses the need and importance for teaching computer programming in schools.  The article states," It is estimated that over the next ten years there will be 1.4 million computer science jobs created in the U.S., with only 400,000 qualified professionals to fill them."  Wow. That statement on it's own supports the need for coding in schools, but the article also lays out a plan for teachers to advocate for adding more computer programming classes in their buildings.  As an elementary tech teacher, I've used Scratch in the past, but the article introduced me to a few more I will try: Hopscotch, Kodu, and Lego's Mindstorms.  How do you teach computer programming?

Learning to Code

From the New York Time's educational blog, The Learning Network, comes a post written about coding bootcamps popping up around the country.  Students can learn computer programming through these short, instructional courses.  Would you consider taking a coding bootcamp class?

Advanced Coding with Scratch

Edutopia released advanced coding lessons using the excellent website, Scratch, created by MIT students.  The blog post it titled:

Advanced Level Projects with Scratch

I use Scratch at the end of the year (and during Week of Coding) and will definitely be referencing this blog post.

Do you have a child who shows interests in computers/technology?

Edutopia (an educational blog everyone should follow) recently posted an article titled, "Teaching Your Kids to Code."

It shares 6 resources for introducing kids to the world of computer programming.  I personally use Scratch in my technology classroom.  Which resources do you use?

Computer Science Education Week

What are you doing for Computer Science Week?

Check out these sites to learn the basics of computer programming and writing code:

Code.org

Khan Academy

What sites have you used?