Coding in the Common Core: How to teach computer science in the classroom

[mozfest-bot]

[ ID ] 0ca5b3af-8802-4fd7-a5d2-1fdf43cd9746

[ Submitter's Name ] Ann Marie Ms.

[ Space ] demystify [ Secondary Space ] youth

[ Format ] demo, learning-lab, hands-on

Description

In my session, I will be demonstrating my project, Coding Core (http://cc.esntee.com), an open source lesson plan tool that teaches common core subjects through digital literacy exercises. Based on interviews with over 24 teachers and school administrators, my website allows schools to easily implement computer science coursework that goes beyond the videogame lessons of Code.org, but can be easily understood by teachers or parents with no tech or CS background. During the session, I will demonstrate the features of the site and then allow participants to either create their own lesson plan or choose a lesson topic of their own to try.

Agenda

For a lightening talk, I would just demo the product. For a learning lab, I would follow my brief demonstration with an audience participation exercise, allowing small groups or individuals to try a particular lesson such as practicing a probability exercise using Scratch (http://cc.esntee.com/project/probability_with_scratch/).

For a hands on workshop, I would do both the demo and lesson plan execise and then lead a group in an app inventor demo through the sites lesson plans.

All the software and websites in the lesson plans are free to use and I will be sure to have them downloaded on any laptops participants will be using.

Participants

For 3 participants, I will do a hands on demonstration and then allow them to explore the site and try a lesson of their choosing.

For 15 or more participants, I will likely put people into groups and select a "teacher" in the group to try and teach the material in the lesson plan. This will hopefully demonstrate how easy the material can be both taught and understood by people with little or no background in computer science or coding.

Also, if people are too shy to speak or work with others, I will provide materials for them to test the site on their own.

Outcome

While I have presented this resource at a number of education events in Chicago (and am in the works of building the project to a larger scale for certain schools in the area), my hope is that Mozfest could be a true international launching pad for CodingCore; that teachers, parents, and kids alike will walk away excited to finally have a resource that pulls everything from the ever expanding world of ed tech and delivers it on a platform that anyone can understand and implement no matter their budget.

[omnignorant]

Noting that this is being merged with another session w/ @techkim

[marcwalsh-zz]

@omnignorant - Once this has been merged, can you make sure all the details are placed in a new issue and this one is closed please?

[omnignorant]

Um, I'm not sure we need to worry about it too much. If y'all are looking to close issues, just go ahead. @techkim & @annmarie123 know what's going on.

[marcwalsh-zz]

@omnignorant - Sure, it's to ensure that everything is captured on the schedule app as the information is pulled from github.

Closing as merged with another session.