Pflugerville schools will join in the global movement to get students coding. The Hour of Code events are part of Computer Science Education week, December 5-11. Students in more than 180 countries around the world will once again try coding for one hour. While the field of computer science continues to grow, the opportunity to try an hour of code helps students with other skills as well, including problem-solving, logic, and creativity. To help teachers plan for this event Hour of Code has a How-to Guide and a wide variety of activities. Teachers and students can go to https://hourofcode.com/us/learn to find an activity. The many activities provide opportunities for self-led tutorials or full lesson plans. You may be just starting out or looking to expand your coding knowledge. Teachers can even sort by subject area to find activities that reinforce curriculum (besides improving those problem-solving skills). You don't even need a computer to join in on the coding movement; options include the use of hand-held devices and unplugged activities (no technology required). Join millions of students and teachers and try an Hour of Code! Pflugerville ISD sign-up Need more help, contact Instructional Technology. A few of the many possibilities:
Pflugerville ISD will participate in the Hour of Code from December 5-9, 2016. Last year, 8,000+ PfISD students participated in the Hour of Code nationwide event. This year, the PfISD goal is 10,000 students. More students, more campuses and more participation challenge prizes are on the way. Event information will be delivered to Campus Digital Literacy Lead during the November meeting. Look for more details after November 15, 2016.
The 'Hour of Code™' is a nationwide initiative by Computer Science Education Week[csedweek.org] and Code.org[code.org] to introduce millions of students to one hour of computer science and computer programming.
Many teachers, myself included, have responded to a student's request "Can I go to the bathroom?" with "I'm not sure; can you?". I've learned the use of the word "can" in this context is acceptable, according to the Oxford Dictionary, while "may" represents a more formal request. But we'll leave that argument out of this post and address the often heard phrases in technology "I can't", "they can't". The topic came to mind after hearing and reading several blogs/podcasts regarding similar statements of perceived ability affecting effort and therefore outcome.
Often we respond to an inquiry about our experience with technology in the form of ability; "I can't", "don't ask me", "that's too hard". When a better choice might be "I haven't tried it", "Could you show me", "I'd be interested in learning". Perhaps we should all think of ourselves as students in our own classrooms. How do you respond to a student that seems to be giving up and claims they just can't do it? Sorry, if I've just made some of you a bit uncomfortable; but isn't that just what we need and want to do with our students. Let's take them and ourselves just a little outside of the comfort zone and expand our knowledge and abilities. We in technology want to introduce something new and provide teachers and students the possibility to discover abilities they did not know they had.
This year the Instructional Technology team looks forward to sharing new ideas, tools, and resources in technology integration. We know that it takes time to learn and be comfortable with integrating these new laptops/iPads. We also know there are many other demands on your time. Our goal is to guide you through the process and support you along the way.
So, CAN you integrate technology and use new tools? Now that you have increased access to technology in your classroom...of course you can! You MAY now implement all those great ideas you read on the internet somewhere (now go find the bookmark you created).
Students at Timmerman use a Dash robot to combine computer science and their math lesson.
Dash is a robotics unit from Wonder Workshop that introduces children to programming. Activities can be as simple as having Dash follow a path to complicated decision matrices. This 3rd grade class demonstrated collaboration and problem-solving skills while they learned about adjacent figures in geometry. (I'm not sure I understood half the words in that last sentence when I was 8!)
Computer Science education has been increasingly highlighted as the technology in our society expands. Often we see examples of coding and robotics in courses dedicated to the content. All the while we know things learned in isolation do not typically present the best return. The work of non-profit organizations like Code.org, major corporate supporters, and innovative companies such as Wonder Workshop have provided opportunities for us to integrate computer science into the regular school curriculum.
"Coding just doesn't fit my subject." I've heard it said many times. I'll let you in on a secret...I said it myself once upon a time.
Coding can provide so many opportunities for our students not only in the future, but TODAY! Knowing how to code allows them to create something unique, to make something rather than have it made, students can carry this skill far beyond our classrooms.
Alice Keeler describes in her blog "Kid's Start Coding Their Vocabulary" how your students can code tomorrow! I'm sure your class has some set of vocabulary students regularly learn. Why not combine the boring task of writing definitions with writing code.
Ms. Keeler also provides a Google Slide set of instructions that teachers can use. You don't have to be an expert at coding to help students learn. Learn with them!
Sometimes the vocabulary is just over our heads; but what if we relate those words to our experiences? An algorithm - that must be some kind of new music beat.
Not to students at Rowe Lane Elementary. Teacher Kate Balducci provided definitions for some of those words and students realized they were already thinking like a computer scientist. That algorithm, it's just "a list of steps you follow to finish a task". If I can tell you the steps to make a PBJ sandwich am I starting to think like a computer scientist? YES!
What about decompose; isn't that just something from science class?
When you think like a computer scientist you "break a problem down into smaller pieces". Now instead of complaining about your lunch everyday; you work through the problems. Now you won't miss pizza day and mom isn't sending gross ham and american cheese wraps. You make your own turkey, cheddar and lettuce and have a calendar for school lunches you like.
Even better you build and program a robot to make your sandwich from the calendar upload. BAM! You ARE a computer scientist.
Keep trying, keep dreaming, keep innovating. You got this!
Disclaimer: The bloggers views on food are not necessarily those of Pflugerville ISD and in no way are the statements for or against certain types of food meant to influence readers :-)
Shout out to Dessau Middle School! Wonderful posters designed by 6th graders in Mr. Abeyta's Tech Apps class. The posters were created in recognition of Black History Month. They will be on display during Dessau's Black History Month celebration this evening, February 18th, from 6-8 p.m.
The students used Easel.ly to lay out their work. These students showed a great eye for design and had the opportunity to be creative in presenting the information. Give your students the chance to shine and show their creative side by trying something new for your next student project.
Try a social media stream for your class discussion. Have students respond in Instagram or Twitter format, including hashtags. Start a unit brainstorming hashtag possibilities; add to your list as the students discover more information. No need for an actual social media account. Students can "post" in a collaborative document or if technology access is limited have them write posts on a bulletin board.
Get creative and have students write from the perspective of a historical figure or personify a unit subject.
Napoleon Bonaparte @EmperorNapoleon 17 June 1815 @MichaelNey Heavy rain falling tonight at Waterloo. May let the men sleep in for the morning. #cantstopme #franceismine
Deoxyribonucleic Acid @DNAhelix 25 April 1953 I think I have a future as a model. Lots of x-ray pics by @RosieFranklin #doublehelix #watsoncrick #imightgetcancer
