CS & Coding @ CP

Mike Staum

Technology Specialist

Cedar Park STEM

Dec. 2nd, 2016

My Goals for you today ...

1. Awareness: understand why teaching CS/Coding is important in K-12 classrooms.

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• Action: During our coding stations, choose a supplemental Coding activity to do with your class (at least once a week) during our Month of Code (Nov. 28 - Jan. 6th).

Why teach CS & Coding in K-5 or even K-12?

• Life Science
• Earth Science
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Psychology

• Sociology
• Geology
• Geography
• Space/Astronomy
• Mathematics

Where’s COMPUTER SCIENCE???? �The US is behind!

*CS includes all STEM components

CS = equity for all STEM learners

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CS & Coding = promotes STEM Learning & more!

• Many CS activities include all facets of S.T.E.M.
• Promotes equitable learning opportunities for all learners (especially female & kids of color and poverty)!
• Promotes a growth mindset in students.
• Promotes “grit” and perseverance in students.
• Promotes effective & efficient teamwork & collaboration skills.
• Promotes computational, sequential & logical thinking skills.
• Promotes creative problem solving skills!

Why is there a CS Push in K--12?

MN Facts from CODE.org

Bottom Line:

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1. US is in great need of computer scientists.
2. US is behind in CS education.
3. Currently 80% of computer scientists are male and white/Asian.

The positives: Take Action for Coding Facts:

1. This is the fourth consecutive year of the National Computer Science Week Celebration called “Hour of Code”. Over 33 million kids coded last year.
2. CP’s second Month of Code where all kids participate in a variety of Coding activities for four weeks to sustain interest in Computer Science for their future in middle & high school (VMS, AVHS) and beyond!
3. ** Coding activities give all kids equitable opportunities in STEM (especially girls and kids of color and poverty).
4. State and ISD 196 Coding Cohorts are helping!

ISD 196 Pathway is already starting to change this!

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Take Action: Cedar Park (K-5th)

• Teaching & promoting the basic fundamentals of Computer Science which is …

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Computational Thinking

What is Computational Thinking?

Unplugged Computational Thinking!

1. Computational thinking: solving a problem in such a way that either a computer or human can effectively carry it out. *Or carrying out a sequential task by thinking & acting like a computer (creating basic to advanced Algorithms).
2. How do we teach this? with our Coding apps, websites, unplugged activities & programmable Robots!

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Code scaffold: symbolic commands >block > sequential values > authentic code

What Coding activities did you do in the past?

Talk to anyone near you for 2-3 mins and consider sharing out with our group:

Idea starters:

• “What coding activities have you done with students in the past?”
• “Have you done: Hour of Code websites, Code Apps on iPads, Robots, etc.?”
• “What did you like about the activity?”
• “What was challenging about it?”

Review: Goals for you today

• Awareness: understand why CS/Coding is important in K-12.

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• Action: Choose a supplemental Coding activity to do with your class (coding sites with laptops, iPad apps, robots) once per week during our Month of Code (Nov. 28 - Jan. 6th).

Today’s Hands-on Coding Stations: 7 min rotations

1. Coding Websites - Mike (K & 3rd start here)

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• Coding Apps on iPads - Kelli (1st & 4th start here)

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• Coding in the MakerSpace - Ryan (2nd & 5th start here)

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Wrap- up!

• Did you get one or a few ideas for Coding Activities to bring into your classroom for the Month of Code?�
• During Month of Code lessons I will check in with you if you need help or like to share ideas..

THANK YOU!