Today I attended a couple presentations sponsored by the ISTE Computing Teachers Network - CS Firehose 2017.
Presentation 1: Neal Manegold - Get to Know Minecraft: Education Edition with Code Builder
This is a brand new feature where students and teachers can create new worlds using 3rd party apps like Tynker, Code.org, and Scratch.
This level of creativity is more advanced, but the presenter used it with 3rd graders.
The cost is $5 per student yearly, but there are volume licenses available.
Presentation 2: Ryan Torbey - Expanding Computer Science in Grades K-8
Ryan taught Computer Science Fundamentals, 3 times a week, to grades K-5
He belongs to to the Computer Science Teachers Association. It's free to join: www.csteachers.org.
He just created a new consulting company: Code in Common: www.codeincommon.com to help schools integrate Computer Science in the curriculum.
He suggested to bring guest speakers in Computer Science to schools during the Hour of Code.
He also recommends using a variety of ways to present computer science:
Early Elementary (K-3)
Standards Resources:
Illinois CS info: https://code.org/advocacy/state-facts/IL.pdf
Computer Science for All:
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2016/01/30/computer-science-all
K12 Computer Science: https://k12cs.org/
Standards Grade Bands: https://k12cs.org/framework-statements-by-grade-band/
Presentation 1: Neal Manegold - Get to Know Minecraft: Education Edition with Code Builder
This is a brand new feature where students and teachers can create new worlds using 3rd party apps like Tynker, Code.org, and Scratch.
This level of creativity is more advanced, but the presenter used it with 3rd graders.
The cost is $5 per student yearly, but there are volume licenses available.
Presentation 2: Ryan Torbey - Expanding Computer Science in Grades K-8
Ryan taught Computer Science Fundamentals, 3 times a week, to grades K-5
He belongs to to the Computer Science Teachers Association. It's free to join: www.csteachers.org.
He just created a new consulting company: Code in Common: www.codeincommon.com to help schools integrate Computer Science in the curriculum.
He suggested to bring guest speakers in Computer Science to schools during the Hour of Code.
He also recommends using a variety of ways to present computer science:
- Computer-based Learning
- Unplugged Activities
- Robotics
Early Elementary (K-3)
- CS through play (K)
- CS Basics (1st)
- Introductory Programming (1-3)
- Codeapillar
- Tux Paint
- Color patterns, then directional patterns
- Practice sequence
- The Foos: http://thefoos.com/
- www.code.org
- Bee Bots: https://www.bee-bot.us
- LightBot: https://lightbot.com/hour-of-code.html
- Finch Robots: http://www.finchrobot.com/
- Basics of Scratch
- Advanced Scratch
- Web Design
- Scratch
- Scratch Creative Computing Curriculum: http://scratched.gse.harvard.edu/guide/
- Google's CS First: https://www.cs-first.com/en/home
- Thimble: https://thimble.mozilla.org/en-US/
- CS Discoveries (through code.org)
- Special Topics - Game Development, Mobile apps
- Special Topics - Cybersecurity, JavaScript
- CS Discoveries: https://code.org/educate/csd
- Choose your own adventure
Standards Resources:
Illinois CS info: https://code.org/advocacy/state-facts/IL.pdf
Computer Science for All:
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2016/01/30/computer-science-all
K12 Computer Science: https://k12cs.org/
Standards Grade Bands: https://k12cs.org/framework-statements-by-grade-band/