yond the Hour of Code: mplementing an Elementary Coding Curriculum Terry Smith www.STEAM-In.org Havens School – Piedmont USD [email protected] @steamterry Entire presentation can be found here – later today…
Jan 20, 2016
Beyond the Hour of Code: Implementing an Elementary Coding Curriculum
Terry Smithwww.STEAM-In.orgHavens School – Piedmont [email protected]@steamterry
Entire presentation can be found here – later today…
Google Expeditions – Happy to Share Our Experience
Video Link
Plan for Today
• Brief Introduction• Why Teach Coding?• Nuts and Bolts
• How to Get Started• What We Did and What We Learned
• Scope, sequence and differentiation• Monitoring student progress• Student engagement
• Where We Go Next• Tips and Tricks• Available Resources
Goal:Give you a jumpstart implementing a Computer Science/Coding curriculum at your site(s).
Some Quick Background• Programmer, Systems Engineer, Project Manager• 20+ years teaching coding to kids• Classroom teacher – 5th Grade• Science, Math specialist• District adopted CSTA standards 2 years ago went 1:1 in 4/5, 3:1 in lower grades• Technology Coordinator as of last year• Implemented 1st-5th grade CS/Coding curriculum with 450+ students• Coming soon… STEAM-In.org• Disclaimers
Terry Smith
Why Should We Teach Coding?Language of Technology
• Jobs• Equity in Access• Socioeconomic Diversity• Survival in a Technology Infused World• Necessity to be ‘technologically fluent’• Early exposure/success leads to accessibility
(USA Today photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press)
“…programming is the most powerful medium of developing the sophisticated and rigorous thinking needed for mathematics, for grammar, for physics, for statistics, for all the "hard" subjects.... In short, I believe more than ever that programming should be a key part of the intellectual development of people growing up.”
Seymour Papert
Why I WANT to teach coding…
Computational Thinking Practices
These are useful skills across the curriculum
And across LIFE…
IN
Nothing to do at that point but….
The Tools
Now called:Computer Science Fundamentals
Why these?• Free• Comprehens
ive• Web based• Well
supported• Reliable• Kid Friendly
Oh and robotics….
Strengths
• Self Paced • Independent
learning• Differentiated• Frequent
Instructional Videos embedded
• Teacher Dashboard for tracking progress
Weaknesses
• Student Account setup• Offline activities
unwieldy – often need adaptation for classroom environment
• English only• Few places where kids
tend to get stuck and need better strategies
Why move on to Scratch and Robots?
Open Ended Opportunity to Apply Coding Skills
Getting Started With Code.org
Online Teacher Training Course
K5 Online PD Course Link
Local One Day Trainings
Link to Training Page
Just open an account and get started with your students’ course
New Course 4In Beta
Code.org - Curriculum Overview
Course 1 Grade Levels
Course 2 Grade Levels
Course 3 Grade Levels
Course 4Grade Levels
Year 1 1 & 2 3-5 Some 4 & 5Year 2(proposed)
1 2 & 3 Start4 & 5 continue
4 & 5 as they finish #2
Some 4 & 5
Course Progression -- Code.org CS Fundamentals
1st Grade – Course 1 8 Sessions
2nd Grade – Course 1 6 Sessions
Student Progress
1-2 students per class finished and went on to Course 2
3rd Grade Class – Course 2 6 Sessions
4th Grade Class – Course 2 8 Sessions
About 10% went on to course 3
5th Grade Course 2 8 sessions
5th Grade Course 3
About 25% went on to course 3
Moving on to Open Ended Coding in Scratch
Open Ended Opportunity to Apply Coding SkillsCreative
For Teachers: Harvey Mudd Course with Colleen Lewis
Follow up activities to apply and expand coding skills
1st – Beebots2nd – Beebots3rd – Animated conversation or greeting card or multi-media collage4th – Maze game5th – Documentaries – BrainPop style
Robot selection and testing
1st and 2nd Grade Beebots
• Can you figure out how it works?
• How long is a Beebot step?• Get the bee from hive to
flower and back• Grid challenges with stories
3rd Grade Animated Stories & CardsIn Scratch or multi-media collages
LinkLink
Scratch Maze Game Sample Link
Scratch Maze Game – Scaffolded Instruction via Video Tutorials
Learning Pathway – Self Paced Tutorial Format
link
4th Grade Maze Game – Variety of Solutions
• ‘Learning Pathway’ format with tutorials to create a game• Tip: At beginning of project -Create a Scratch Studio and
have all students place their projects inside – that way you can watch progress easily
‘BrainPop ‘ Movie on NikeDocumentary on Fashion History
Steph and David on the Statue of Liberty
5th Grade – DocumentariesProducts from i-search and Genius Projects
Math Connections in ScratchPolygon Patterns and Coordinate Based Drawing
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/50385040/#editor
Robot Research & Evaluations in 5th Grade
Robot Experimentation in 5th Grade
Figure it out – create a ‘Quick Start Guide’ for the next group
Introduction to Coding and Computer Science for Kids – Start
Offline
For the little ones – 1st & 2nd - I just tell them that we’re going to learn to code which means learning how to make the computer do things…
Importance of Understanding Technology:It will infuse their world
Technology gets smaller and faster all the time
Computer Programming BrainPop
Computer Science Education Week Hour of Code
Link to Youtube Video
Real Life Algorithms
Automatic Realization Machine
Graph Paper Programming – 3rd Grade and Up (modified)
A.R.M.
Algorithm Writers orProgrammers
You will take turns being:
Link to Student Work Link to Practice Form
Available Instructions:
Move One Square RightMove One Square LeftMove One Square UpMove One Square DownFill-In Square with color
Graph Paper Programming
How would you direct your A.R.M. toMake this pattern?
1. Move one square right2. Fill-in square with color3. Move one square right4. Move one square down5. Fill-in square with color
This is the algorithm to make this pattern
Graph Paper Programming
Now let’s do this pattern with our code all together
We turned our algorithm into a program or code
Directions
1. Write the code for this pattern
2. Then fold the paper on the line
3. Trade with a partner
4. Partner draws the pattern from the code
5. Unfold6. Does it match?
Document Link
Steps in Computer Programming: An algorithm…
1. Understand the problem2. Write Code3. Test Code4. Fix any bugs5. Go back to Test Code
Did we follow the steps??
Make your pattern then trade to test your code
• Design pattern on blue sheet
• Write program to match on pink sheet
• Trade ONLY pink sheet with partner
• Draw on a new blue square • Compare and fix any
Bugs…• repeat
Link to Documents
Computer Scientist Vocabulary:
AlgorithmA list of steps you follow to finish a task.
ProgramAn algorithm that has been coded to be done by a machine
BugA mistake found in a program
Debug find and fix the bugs
LoopThe action of doing something over and
over
Setting up Student Accounts
wordpictureemail
Highly Recommend just using
the picture password format
Managing Lessons with Code.org
Mini-Lessons on key concepts – likely hang ups – help a lot
Code.org - Course 1 puzzle / managing the screen
https://studio.code.org/s/course1/stage/4/puzzle/1
Code.org - Teacher Home Page
Code.org Teacher Dashboard
https://code.org/teacher-dashboard#/sections/292571/progress
https://studio.code.org/s/K5-OnlinePD/stage/4/puzzle/4
‘Be the Bird’ or bee, or zombie… - strategy
Step button allows step by step debugging
https://studio.code.org/s/course1/stage/7/puzzle/1
Importance of reading the directions
https://studio.code.org/s/course2/stage/4/puzzle/1
Understanding Angles physicallyand using the strategy ‘turn – draw – test’ ask yourself ‘Did the ‘pencil robot’ turn enough or not enough? – Should s/he turn more or less?’
https://studio.code.org/s/course2/stage/4/puzzle/6
• Helps to Discuss things students do everyday that repeat
• Like brushing teeth – up/down motion
• Often students bring up things that don’t repeat in the same sequence – good opportunity to discuss
• Example: getting out of bed each day – but the rest of the day isn’t a repeat
Steps in Computer Programming: An algorithm…
Understand the problemRepeat until done
Write small amount of codeRepeat until no bugs
Test CodeFix any bugs
Nested Loop
Introducing Loops – ‘try it the long way’ strategy
https://studio.code.org/s/course2/stage/6/puzzle/8
Introducing Conditionals
If – Else logic
Difficult for 5th grade students once you start nesting – also know that lots of kids don’t know how a deck of cards is laid out so you may need to spend some time on that..
Introducing Conditionals
https://studio.code.org/s/course2/stage/13/puzzle/4
Scratch resources:
Scratch Maze Game Tutorial
Link to course
#csk8 Twitter Chat – once a month on Wednesdays
Beyond the Hour of Code: Implementing an Elementary Coding Curriculum
Terry Smithwww.STEAM-In.orgHavens School – Piedmont [email protected]@steamterry
Entire presentation can be found here