Coding without Barriers: Designing a Day of Code for Visually Impaired Students

CSB 2024 AT Forum

Allison Mello �MEd, California School for the Blind

Jenny Wheeler

American Printing House for the Blind

Allison Mello

Assistive Technology Specialist

California School for the Blind

amello@csb-cde.ca.gov

Jenny Wheeler

Regional Outreach Specialist – Southwest Region

American Printing House for the Blind

jwheeler@aph.org

Objectives

• Discuss the 5 W(s) and How needed for designing a Day of Code event.
• Discuss the areas of success and need for improvement in events hosted at the CA School for the Blind
• Discuss the future of Day of Code planning, where is the field of CS moving next?

What?

Sounds Cool, But What Is It? (1 of 2)

• Interactive, social opportunity for students to experience and learn foundational principles in computer science
• Emphasis on play and exploration
• Something for everyone, no matter their ability or skill level!

Sounds Cool, But What Is It? (2 of 2)

• Students move through several activities during the day that focus on skills
• Sequencing
• Computational thinking
• Logic
• Cause & effect
• Spatial reasoning
• Problem-solving
• Unplugged and plugged activities
• Campus-wide! Get everyone involved!

Why?

Still Need Convincing??? (1 of 2)

• Proliferation of technology
• Computer science principles can be incorporated into general education core and elective subjects including math, science, English/language arts, and music
• CS principles can also integrate into the ECC areas of AT, DLS, O&M, and compensatory access

Still Need Convincing??? (2 of 2)

• CS is quickly becoming part of common core curriculum
• Jobs Jobs Jobs!
• Those who use accessibility can design accessibility

Day of Code In Action

Who?

Looking at You! Yes, You! (1 of 5)

Assistive Technology Specialists/TVIs: The Leaders

• Lead the charge!
• Organize the day
• Decide which activities you will include
• Select your supporters
• Train staff
• Support and guide activities throughout the day

Looking at You! Yes, You! (2 of 5)

TVIs/Classroom Teachers: The Supporters and Cheerleaders

• Help to lead activities and teach concepts/skills
• Support students during activities
• Prepare and debrief students - discuss STEM prior to and after the event

Looking at You! Yes, You! (3 of 5)

Students: The Participants and Benefactors

• Explore
• Learn
• Have fun
• Ask for more!

Looking at You! Yes, You! (4 of 5)

Administrators: The Gatekeepers

• Set in motion all you need for the day
• Purchase/requisition supplies
• Provide recognition of campus event
• Permission slips (if needed)
• Communicate with teachers, service providers, and volunteers about day-of logistics
• Be a presence throughout
• Levels of admin support that are needed will vary according to circumstances

Looking at You! Yes, You! (5 of 5)

Vendors: The Star Power

• CSB has partnered with organizational vendors to lead activities using their own tools
• Humanware micro bit projects
• APH Snapino, Code Jumper, DNA/Protein Synthesis Kits, and Code and Go Mouse
• Apple
• Whether you want to consider vendors or special guests depends on the nature and scope of your event

Where?

Let’s Talk Prime Real Estate

• Is your event campus-wide?
• Will it take place in 1 location?
• Auditorium, tech lab, gym, cafeteria, outside lawn?
• Will it take place in individual classrooms?

When? And What Time?

Let Me Check My Calendar

• December has National Computer Science Week.
• The same time as the APH National Coding Symposium!
• But when works best for you?
• Consider any other campus-wide events your school holds, or professional responsibilities like conferences and assessments that can take up your planning and execution time

How?

Day of Code Toolkit: A Tour

Day of Code Toolkit

• Guidance on how to design your own Day of Code event from start to finish!
• Templates and examples designed with you in mind, for your individualized use
• Embedded resources

Resources, We’ve Got Your Resources (1 of 2)

• No need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to activities
• Unless of course you have an out-of-this-world design for the wheel! (we want to hear about it)
• CSB has created a Computer Science Curriculum that teaches foundational computer science principles
• Many of these activities have been used during our Day of Code events
• Unplugged activity ideas (no screen necessary)
• American Printing House for the Blind’s Road to Code
• Scaffolded sequence of instruction accompanied by adapted kits and toys
• All materials are federal quota-fund eligible

Resources, We’ve Got Your Resources (2 of 2)

• Want some solidarity?
• Paths to Technology has a CS lesson reference page with activities that AT professionals and TVIs have used with success
• CSB has just released the Day of Code Toolkit
• Set of templates and checklists to walk you through the design of your own coding event
• The Code Jumper website has an outstanding coding curriculum with both unplugged and plugged lessons
• Plus, always feel free to reach out to the AT team at California School for the Blind or APH Outreach to help brainstorm!

Questions?

Discussion

Looking Toward the Future (1 of 4)

1. What are the populations you work with?
1. Teachers?
2. Students in the STEM field?
2. What do you see as the most critical technological and academic needs of that population when considering computer science education?
3. Are you noticing any disparities in knowledge for teachers who are entering personnel prep programs?
• For example, lack of knowledge about coding text languages, math languages, and assistive technology, or familiarity with computer science vocabulary

Looking Toward the Future (2 of 4)

4. What do you observe is the largest areas of interest for students in personnel prep programs? How can these areas be used effectively to include computer science preparation for teachers in these programs?
5. What do you believe is needed for students with disabilities, and specifically students with visual impairments, to thrive in computer science programs, courses, and learning?
6. What could we improve or change to better prepare our students in grades K-12 to have in interest in computer science and succeed once their interest is piqued?

Looking Towards the Future (3 of 4)

7. Are there tools or applications in the computer science space of which you are aware, that we should test for accessibility and introduce our students to early in their educational programs?
8. As content experts, what effective strategies have you found for introducing computer science vocabulary and concepts to non-experts to better adopt tools or shifts in mindsets?
9. How would you make the idea of teaching computer science less intimidating for those new and veteran teachers of students with visual impairments who do not have any background or experience in computer science?

Looking Toward the Future (4 of 4)

10. What successful activities and lessons have you seen or administered at the K-12 level that encourage both students and “non-techie” instructors to be more involved in general/assistive technology and computer science education?
11. How can we get university students in fields not related to visual impairment involved in events like Day of Code?
1. As the leaders in development, is it better to get aspiring engineers and developers thinking about access before they are hired?
2. Exposure to our events could benefit their future endeavors and ours
12. What do you anticipate will be the future of “Day of Code” events? How do these need to evolve to maintain pace with changing technologies?

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Thank you!

Allison Mello

California School for the Blind

amello@csb-cde.ca.gov

Jenny Wheeler

American Printing House for the Blind

jwheeler@aph.org