#caedchat is for California educators, by California educators. All are welcome as moderators and participants discuss issues that emerge in California education, which are generally applicable to other regions of the United States.
Hi all...Kim from SoCal...Digital Learning Instructional Coach for PYLUSD. I am hoping to gain more knowledge about integrating CS standards/concepts #caedchat
Hi! I am an administrator from Northern CA - I have led the #HourOfCode in my county for 5 years, since it started! I am super excited to be your moderator for tonight's chat. I want to learn how you code with kids. #caedchat
REMINDERS: Moderators will post questions with Q1, Q2, Q3. Participants respond with A1, A2, A3, etc. Use TweetDeck and be sure to include the #caedchat hashtag on every tweet!
Hi, everyone. Kristin from SoCal - TK-5th Technology TOSA. First time leading multi-grade #Hourofcode activities, so I'm looking to get some ideas! #caedchat
Good evening #caedchat I'm Vicky, a K-8 Technology Teacher in the Los Angeles area. We have celebrated #csedweek for 5 years and it's always a kickoff into our Computer Science semester. I love hearing about everyone's #HourOfCode plans!
Hi! My name is Hannah Reese, and I am a senior from the Ohio State University. I student teach at a nearby urban school in a 6th grade math and social studies classroom. Tonight, I hope to learn how I can implement coding to engage and challenge students. #caedchat#osussmce
A1 I am going to totally date myself here, but I used to use BASIC in the late 80s in high school. Teachers would forget their passwords and I would run the program list to find them. (Hint: They were the words in " ".) #caedchat
A1 I'm old. I learned BASIC on an Atari 400 in grade school. Since then I have worked in Pascal, HTML, PHP, and now Python with my Raspberry Pi projects. #caedchat
A1: I'm even older than @kfairchild6 I first heard of programming back when I was in college in the mid-70s - the era of mainframes & punched cards. My roommate was a computer science major. #caedchat
Q2: The 5th annual #HourofCode is this week! Teachers have created awesome coding experiences for their students over the past 5 years. What are your favorites or have you seen any ideas that you would like to try? #caedchat
I learned about coding and programming back during the time I was working in the tech industry. I have a basic understanding of how it works. #caedchat
A2 We launched a mini grants for Spheros grades 3-6. I am amazed at the ways coding can be used to meet content standards. I am so impressed with the creativity of teachers. #caedchat
A2 I love how Scratch and other block coding programs can expand coding beyond doing math calculations. Ss can tell stories or explain concepts in any subject using programming. #caedchat
A2 My most recent favorite came from @lovelearninglit who had her students replicate the journey of Odysseus by having them program Ozobots. Brilliant and creative! #caedchat
I got Ozobots for my #SPED classroom last year and the kids had so much fun with those. It's really amazing what the students can do when given some creative tools. #caedchat
Q2: The 5th annual #HourofCode is this week! Teachers have created awesome coding experiences for their students over the past 5 years. What are your favorites or have you seen any ideas that you would like to try? #caedchat
A1: Honestly, the first time I learned about coding was this year! I am taking a math methods course, and my professor had us experiment with https://t.co/W6GlB38UiW, so we could be comfortable enough to use it in a classroom. Fun AND sparked creativity. #caedchat#osussmce
Hi! Cathy, 5th grade #caedchat A2: I went to a @srvedtech training the other day and got to dive deeper into @codeorg ‘s updated curriculum. Love the unplugged lessons and the plugged ones that follow!
Q2: The 5th annual #HourofCode is this week! Teachers have created awesome coding experiences for their students over the past 5 years. What are your favorites or have you seen any ideas that you would like to try? #caedchat
Q3: The CA State Board of Education adopted Computer Science Standards in Sept. 2018. What do you think the impacts of this will be on K-12 schools? https://t.co/bI62xspxHC#caedchat#CAedchat
A3: I think that with proper teacher training, we have a great opportunity to help our students engage with coding. I am very afraid it will be seen as “one more thing” and teachers won’t be equipped to integrate it into their already full day. #caedchat
A3 As the wife of a computer teacher on a job hunt, I'm hoping it means REQUIRED courses, both for him to have more job options & for Ss to learn! When hubby taught in Kansas, computer courses were required & Ss worked on Microsoft certification. #MicrosoftEDU#caedchat
A3: I am hoping it will be the impetus we need to start getting CS into all schools in CA ... I'm afraid, since they aren't "required", that they will be ignored. #caedchat
Agreed, that training is needed for districts and teachers to properly implement these and to show they can be integrated into existing subjects especially in K-5. #caedchat
A3: building on what other have answered already... if it’s not required, will is create an even bigger gap between those who are willing and excited to teach CS and those who aren’t?#caedchat
A3: The dilemma: "The computer science field has a shortage of engineers and programmers and an increase in computer science education is vital to fill this need." ... but only 5% of schools offer CompSci AP #caedchat
I teach at least a semester of CS to all my classes, K-8. I just have only used that specific debugging activity during #hourofcode - I need to incorporate in regularly. #caedchat
Check out this map, how does your state rank? Maybe the new standards will get a foot hold in our schools. See how many states are setting aside money for PD, adopting CS standards and requiring CS for high school graduation. #itsastarthttps://t.co/JwiN8FR8Au#CAedchat
Q4: There are significantly more Computer Science jobs each year than there are students graduating with CS degrees. How can K-12 schools help address this need? #CAedchat
A3: although- the @codeorg curriculum has been updated and labeled by grades k-12. This may be helpful to teachers who need a place to start with implementing standards. #caedchat
A4 I think we need to take a critical look at what and how we teach concepts. We need to find coherence in the volume of standards we have in front of us. (especially K-5) #caedchat
A4: Schools need to start offering courses for CS. But Ts also need to start learning & experimenting with it in their classrooms...otherwise, Ss will never learn the excitement that it can bring. #caedchat
A4: I'll be honest, I really dislike the "jobs" reasoning. We don't teach students to write because we want them all to be writers. They don't learn science b/c we expect them to be scientists, etc. Computing impacts almost everything; they need to know about it! #caedchat
A4: I think the key is to establish partnerships with professional programmers who can help K-12 teachers teach nuts and bolts programming. Perhaps Java or Python. #CAedchat
A4 A question might be, also, how many employers are requiring degrees? With so much available online, how many Ss are teaching themselves? #experience vs. #education#caedchat
Q4: There are significantly more Computer Science jobs each year than there are students graduating with CS degrees. How can K-12 schools help address this need? #CAedchat
A4: I'll be honest, I really dislike the "jobs" reasoning. We don't teach students to write because we want them all to be writers. They don't learn science b/c we expect them to be scientists, etc. Computing impacts almost everything; they need to know about it! #caedchat
It is true, but most teachers who enjoy coding often don't feel proficient enough to teach an entire class in it. They need some expert help. #caedchat
But ... if teachers must show standards if they are teaching something, there now ARE CS standards that can be shown for those teachers who want to embrace it. #caedchat
When I taught elementary, we had a full-time computer aide who knew computers. Most of those positions have been cut. Would be nice if they could be brought back! #caedchat Or, fully credentialed teachers in the computer labs! #dream
A3: I would expect these standards to greatly benefit K-12 students and teachers alike. Students need guidance in navigating the digital world, and teachers will be encouraged to address these issues if they are required standards. #caedchat#osussmce
On the other hand (can you tell I'm a Libra?), if we want to encourage students to major in CS (not just learn how to code), starting early can help. They can't major in something if they don't know it exists. #caedchat
I understand the sentiment, but I think that's not a good model anymore. I think that just reinforces the idea that coding is something "special" or "extra", not part of everyday life. #caedchat
In reply to
@Filibuster3, @VisionsByVicky, @KVoge71
A4: I'll be honest, I really dislike the "jobs" reasoning. We don't teach students to write because we want them all to be writers. They don't learn science b/c we expect them to be scientists, etc. Computing impacts almost everything; they need to know about it! #caedchat
A5 I guess it needs to become more than an #hourofcode There is a sense of urgency for some of us to get durable skills integrated into what we do to meet the needs of students. create > consume #caedchat
Absolutely. But your writing analogy is spot on. We teach Ss to write well because it is a skill they can use no matter what job they have. Same with coding. #caedchat
True. I just wish Ts had more support in this area. Some don't feel "techie" enough to introduce coding, though the kids get so excited about it, they all help teach each other. Also, not all schools have 1:1. #caedchat
In reply to
@kfairchild6, @VisionsByVicky, @KVoge71
A5: something about those unplugged lessons from @codeorg helped me to understand coding in a different way. Maybe we need a balance of plugged and unplugged cs experiences for our Ss #caedchat
A5: If the educators who teach the hour of code help it to live beyond the hour…. This isn’t new. As a science teacher I helped students see math and ELA as tools for life AND science. #caedchat
I agree. Supporting Ts is my job, and I do everything I can, given that there's 4 in my dept for 33 schools. We also try to give Ts the confidence to try things *even though* they're not "techie" or 100% sure how it works. Modeling learning for Ss is great! #caedchat
In reply to
@Filibuster3, @VisionsByVicky, @KVoge71
It definitely needs to be incorporated for many reasons, but especially so Ss see how it integrates in real world situations AND Ts don't feel like they have to "move things around" to "fit in" coding, so that it doesn't become "another thing" on their plate. #caedchat
In reply to
@RaeFearing, @kfairchild6, @VisionsByVicky, @KVoge71
2 students per device can be better than 1:1, in my opinion. We're not 1:1 & I'm in the lab. We don't have the infrastructure to support it in the classrooms. I wish we did. I would be working myself out of a job by getting the teachers to do it! #caedchat
A5: #HourofCode can support creating and thinking logically by increasing its frequency. It is a great model. It needs more of same, with the addition of coaching and smart feedback #caedchat
Unplugged activities are some of the best, for any level of S. It gets the "magic computer" out of the way and focuses on the problem solving and critical thinking skills. #caedchat
I try to encourage them that they don't have to be the sage on the stage, just don't be the doom in the room. Tech fails, it glitches, even when you are "techie". (Just ask me about my #NatGeo certification final lesson last week!!!!) #caedchat
In reply to
@kfairchild6, @VisionsByVicky, @KVoge71
I have coding cards that are a lot of fun. You can lay them out on the floor for people to follow and see if you "coded" correctly to move them around the room. #caedchat
A6: Here is my Code to the Core doc https://t.co/WOKRJzJhYG We are shooting for 100% of students coding at least an hour this month, we have hit 75% in the past. Teachers and students win prizes if they hit the goal. #caedchat
A6 I am very impressed with the #CSFirst kits from #GoogleEdu They provide supported lessons for teachers to teach without being the “expert” and they are engaging and standards aligned. win-win #caedchat
Yes! I can't tell you how frustrated I get when teachers tell me they are teaching the @codeorg CS courses but they skip the unplugged lessons? WHAT? That's where the learning is. #caedchat
In reply to
@kfairchild6, @cmontong, @codeorg, @codeorg
A6: Follow the hashtag #csk8 if you are or want to be a K-8 CS teacher. There are chats on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of each month during the school year. The next one is on Wed, 12/5, at 5pmPT #caedchat
It reminded me of a lesson from when I was in jr. high. Our English teacher had us write directions on how to make a PB&J sandwich and then she followed them EXACTLY! #caedchat
In reply to
@HannahKReese, @kfairchild6, @cmontong, @codeorg
Q7 At the #G20 summit last week, policies were endorsed by the Education Minister that add computing and coding skills to curriculum for all students. What might the impact of this be in CA or in US K-12 schools? #caedchat
A7 I think it will be challenging to add more without refining what is already part of the adopted standards and curriculum How do we do it all? #caedchat
Yes, however, it is typically an elective so you only get certain students. #hourofcode can be a great way to "sell" other students on how fun CS can be. Hope to see you at #csk8 chats. The hashtag is used all the time. #caedchat
A8 I am offering support and training for the #CSfirst lessons. I am pretty sure Santa is bringing me a #raspberrypi to help me learn more about coding. #caedchat#hourofcode
A8 We've got a Padlet where Ts are sharing lesson ideas, specifically for those who want to start but don't know how. And we're giving away coding books to those who submit an idea to the padlet. #caedchat
A8: I try to present on CS as often as I can. Doing a poster session on What Computer Science looks like in K-5 at the CUE Conference this spring. To support my own learning, I like to play with new "toys" (uh, tools) as much as I have time for. #caedchat
I can't let this discussion on #ComputerScience end before recommending @udemy for folks who need some structure in their own PD. Inexpensive and effective. #caedchat
Thank you to everyone who joined the chat tonight and shared your thoughts. You are what makes #caedchat great! See you next Sunday! Have a great week of coding with #Hourofcode@codeorg
A8 I offered an online course for Ts last year on Coding and Scripting. I might have aimed it too high for beginners, but it's something we might try again. #caedchat
A8: Plan to come to the CSTA (Computer Science Teacher's Association) Conference this summer. Great CS learning there. It's in Phoenix. https://t.co/t5TTAXRtrC#caedchat
