All Means All: Computer Science for ELLs
By Samantha Basile
Boston International Newcomers Academy
MATSOL 2018
With support from
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Outline
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Purpose of Session
Explore highly effective strategies for teaching Exploring Computer Science (ECS) to English Language Learners (ELLs).
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What is ECS?
Exploring Computer Science (ECS) is a high school computer science course.
It was originally designed for Los Angeles Unified School District, with sponsorship from the National Science Foundation, University of Oregon, and UCLA.
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Units of Study
Unit 1: Human-Computer Interaction
Unit 2: Problem Solving
Unit 3: Web Design
Unit 4: Programming
Unit 5: Computing & Data Analysis
Unit 6: Robotics
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Rationale for ECS (and ECS for ELLs)
“Computer science education has been involved in the production and reproduction of inequality, and we are dedicated to changing that” (Margolis 2018).
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Rationale (2)
21% vs. 79%
Percent of female vs. male AP computer science students in USA
58%
Percent African American and Latinx K-12 students (California)
8%
Percent African American and Latinx AP Computer Science testers (California)
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Source: Computer Science Education Week
Race / ethnicity
Gender
Rationale (3)
Less access to computers / technology at home
Exploring Computer Science curriculum is not adapted for ELLs
Not a national priority
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Language Status
Overview: ECS for ELLs
*modelling, sentence frames, realia, visuals, pre-teach vocabulary, time, translation*
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Language Goals + Objectives
Receptive → Expressive
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(Listening + Reading)
(Speaking + Writing)
ECS (original) and Adaptation for ELLs
Daily Overview Chart
(original)
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Daily Overview Chart
+ Language Skills, Objectives (adapted for ELLs)
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Lesson Plan (adapted for ELLs)
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Lesson Plan (original)
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ECS (Original)
ECS (adapted for ELLs)
Objectives
Outline
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ECS (Original)
ECS (adapted for ELLs)
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ECS (Original)
ECS (adapted for ELLs)
Activity 1
Sample Lesson: Unit 3 Web Design
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Activity 2
ECS (Original)
ECS (adapted for ELLs)
Resources
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Thank you!