TNedchat is a way for educators in Tennessee to share thoughts, resources, and information. The weekly chat is moderated by Jessica Warner (@jessawarner) and Samantha Bates (@sjsbates).
A1: If we are asking Ss to be 21st century thinkers and learners, they have to be able to use the tools available, and right now computers are critical everywhere. Let them get comfortable right away. #tnedchat
A1: Maybe as a related art or elective. I know the standards go pretty deep, but tools have gotten way more usable in the past 10 years. Additional instruction isn't always necessary #tnedchat
Yes, talking to Instructional Tech folks from a district of six schools... there are two of them. I'm in a department of one, but I do love it. #TnEdChat
A1: This is a tough question, but there's an equity issue here with regard to our low-income students of color... and not just in computer science, but advanced courses writ large https://t.co/Z2ZWYMGrLJ#TNEdChat
Agreed.This will also require a Praxis certified teacher right? I'm not sure we have programs for that. This has been biggest hurdle to effective CS education in K-12. #tnedchat
Quite true. I remember this article. I worked at an inner-city school that offered no advanced classes like its suburban counterparts. CS would probably go the same way. #TnEdChat
A1: This is a tough question, but there's an equity issue here with regard to our low-income students of color... and not just in computer science, but advanced courses writ large https://t.co/Z2ZWYMGrLJ#TNEdChat
A2: Absolutely certificates are important! Each endorsement and certification allows us as professionals to expand our horizons beyond the classroom, yet still in the education world. #TNEdChat
A2: YES! Everything seems to be about additional certs and badges and microcredentials right now, but this is one that would be helpful to any teacher at any level - implementing tech effectively in THEIR class. #tnedchat
A2 If it is by an entity that is all about tech then yes, if it has to be praxis, then no. Some of the requirements to be certified in other areas are pretty crazy. #tnedchat
A2 As an edu who was pursuing that degree in Georgia, I think having a defined certification gives the position value that is seen by others, and recognition for the work involved. #tnedchat
A2: Absolutely certificates are important! Each endorsement and certification allows us as professionals to expand our horizons beyond the classroom, yet still in the education world. #TNEdChat
Our friend @oran_jenny told me you were coming! Are you part of that group coming to visit my class in January? Or are you going to be an extra surprise? #TnEdChat#gettinmyboxesready
A2: YES! Everything seems to be about additional certs and badges and microcredentials right now, but this is one that would be helpful to any teacher at any level - implementing tech effectively in THEIR class. #tnedchat
A2: If the certifications were handled like IT certifications, we might be on to something. Otherwise, the tech evolves too quickly to function like a traditional add-on endorsement. I'm not sure universities can keep up. #tnedchat
A2 Yes... Certification is not just about the paper but about the experience that comes with it. However, if you can demonstrate the competencies without the classes, you should be able to take the "test" anyway. #tnedchat
A2: If the certifications were handled like IT certifications, we might be on to something. Otherwise, the tech evolves too quickly to function like a traditional add-on endorsement. I'm not sure universities can keep up. #tnedchat
A2: If the certifications were handled like IT certifications, we might be on to something. Otherwise, the tech evolves too quickly to function like a traditional add-on endorsement. I'm not sure universities can keep up. #tnedchat
All for it! I'm good with micro-credentials too. Would hate for someone to have to take college classes so they can pay several hundred dollars to take a test so that their license can reflect an extra endorsement #tnedchat
A2. Certifications yes - secondary teachers have been taught content - need educational technologist to help them develop instructional pedagogies to DI/PL #TNedchat
A2: #tnedchat's Q2 is worth a thousand words. So. Much. To say on this one. And how... This Q could have been the entire chat. For a lot of different reasons.
Ideally yes. But post-secondary has NO true accountability to anyone but their own enrollment. Independent professional organizations or private companies are able to remain more agile with the constant shifting sands of the 21st century. #tnedchat
Content is not near as important as it used to be (in my opinion), it is important but there needs to be increased emphasis on pedagogy for the secondary folks #tnedchat
A3 There are some standards that should just be a part of every classroom at every grade level and then there are CS standards that seem more applicable to a stand alone class at all grade levels that seem like it should be: Choice for 6-12, curriculum prek-5? #tnedchat
A3) I think it depends on the teachers and leaders of the school, many try to embed Science and Social Studies some are brilliantly successful where as others are not. #TnEdChat
A3: All curriculum at all levels! comp sci should be seen as a part of the learning process, not just a thing to learn. There are digital tools for every subject we should get Ss familiar with NOW. They will be expected to already know in the real world #tnedchat
A3 With some work you could align CS from Pre-k to 12th Grd. Littles could focus on #csunplugged activities to build coding skills, etc. I could see an alignment for many subjects. #tnedchat
A2- I think this is very important because it can give a teacher an opportunity to help the students and give them a chance to play a sport they might have never had the chance to play. @barbersclass#barbersclass#tnedchat
A3 Logic should be embedded N2 every curriculumn. A key & important component of CS is understanding complex & simple systems and combining & using logic & design. Presented in a way 2 enhance "other" classes W/O creating more work === Competent & engaged CS teacher. #tnedchat
A3b: Ss are the first to say "why do I need xyz... I'll always have a cell on me!" Oh yeah, do you know how to use it to blah blah blah? Do you know where to look?
#micdrop#tnedchat
I was Google certified, at the time it was a friendly competition but it didn’t advance my pedagogy&tech integration, sadly I’ve seen some solely focus on certification over integration & they forget the learning objective&Ss goals should drive the integration #tnedchat
A3: to me, cpu should be standard integration when it supports the curriculum & learning goals, but no Ss should enter high school w/o cpu basics #TnEdChat
A3: Teachers who have little understanding of CS probably shouldn't be trying to integrate it into their curriculum. It would be like asking students to write, perform, and record music in Social Studies if they didn't have any foundations in music theory. #tnedchat
A3 Digital literacy and citizenship should be seamlessly integrated at all levels by all teachers. At the secondary level it can get a little more complicated - it could be linked with other curriculums #TNedchat
I think that reflects one person’s journey. Some edus greatly benefit from the programs bc they get the extra support and excitement that comes with the endorsement. #googleet#googlece#bettertogether#tnedchat
A3: All standards should be embedded in all learning. It's called learning. Where we run into disagreements about what's best for kids is when we go to every extent to silo ourselves as educators. Integration can be a beautiful experience. #tnedchat
A3: Additional standards in an already stuffed content (core subjects)? I don’t think that’s wise. Perhaps, implementing safe computer use practices or perhaps segmenting specific standards relevant to that content matter. #TNEdChat
A3- I think that all age groups should learn about CS and that it will help them and can be helpful for them in the future. The more we familiarize ourselves with this the better we will be able to teach our students. @barbersclass#barbersclass#tnedchat
A3: This is one of the negative effects of the #HourofCode movement. It has misled a lot of educators into thinking that CS can easily and authentically be integrated into any subject area because 'technology is everywhere'. Working software developers often agree. #tnedchat
A4: I am thrilled that I learned keyboarding, especially since AOL had just started getting around at the same time - offered lots of practice! I learned in middle school. Any younger, my hands would have been too small to do it right #tnedchat
I hear you. But I have to wrestle with the motive. Are we earning #GoogleCE and #GoogleET for us or for kids? If those certs make us better educators, how are we proving it? What evidence have we shared to show how our certs are being applied to make learning better? #tnedchat
A4 I taught it for years and now we "UNTEACH" to teach it. Still value in making sure all students are able to type faster than they write but times are changing! #tnedchat
A4) Taught a group of third graders yesterday, some had skills others did not. I think students should access to keyboarding lessons by third grade. :-) #TnEdChat
A4b: Most of my Ss were not taught, and their slower speeds hinder their ability to get down their thoughts, esp when the Ss already has writing disabilities #tnedchat
A4- I think teaching children how to type correctly on the keyboard is very important. I think it can be started at first or second grade depending on what you're trying to do. @barbersclass#barbersclass#tnedchat
A4b FYI the new Tennessee standards suggest kindergarten students be familiar with home row and touch screen method and hit keyboarding in 4th grade #tnedchat
Better yet, all students should take keyboarding with Mrs. Frazine, electric typewriters and correct type...that's where I got my typing skills. #tnedchat
I think that this is not a one size fits all situation. The motivation to get the certs could be that you don’t know what you don’t know. After I got the google certs I was aware of so much more that was possible. And oh the amazing connections. #TNEdChat
A4: Keyboarding should begin as fun time, while including safe practices, as young as pre-k. If children can play a piano at 4, they can play to learn on another keyboard. #TNEdChat
Students need keyboarding now more than ever. Our students are picking up touchscreen phones and tablets and skipping right over computers. They aren’t prepared for the work force. #tnedchat
A5: Not sure. There are the AP CompSci and Microsoft business classes, and then digital arts, etc. Idk what else is, if anything, is out there. We're trying to do a Cyber Security program, but I don't know what that would look like - sounds relevant tho #tnedchat
I'd have to dig around. Somebody brought it up in another chat years ago. I started developing carpel tunnel when I was a web designer. I used to be very pro-typing for elementary until i read and thought about the ergonomics of it all. #tnedchat
Vendors take educators to the 50-yard-line. That's it. That's all they need. They got us doing advertising and marketing research for FREE, so that we can feel good about having a badge (I'm a proud #googleCE, btw). But that's it. They got what they wanted... 1/2 #tnedchat
A5. I still use some parts of the HTML language today. Yes, I think learning the basics of some programming languages helps you quickly learn others. I also think students should learn how to build apps. #TNedchat
A5 I think there is value in the broad concept AP exam but I'm not convinced there aren't better CS things to be teaching in regards to other classes. This is a curriculum that needs constant revisitation. #tnedchat
But what I want to see is that educators have to share (at least) three videos from their learning spaces about how their newfound learning is directly benefiting students in standards-based learning experiences BEFORE earning badges or ambassadorships...Touchdown! 2/2 #tnedchat
A5: I think it depends on the needs of the local developer community. However, I remember reading in the first #hourofcode year that our HS programs were not adequate. I'm not sure if much has changed. #tnedchat
Q5: Nope. They are absolutely not relevant, especially with teachers who aren’t transparent about the point that learning this current skill is NOT learning the specific content rather learning how to learn the programs. #TNEdChat
Q6: Technology standards are about teaching a mindset, look at the ISTE Standards for Students? Can you teach these with no tech? Low tech? High tech options? https://t.co/TzPRJGvCyS#TnEdChat
If educators don't demonstrate follow-up, follow-thru, application, extension with their certs, badges, micro-credentials, ambassadorships, then what have we really learned? How have our students really benefited? What if these were starting lines--not finish lines? #tnedchat
A6: Absolutely! My school does not have a lot of devices, but our teachers are hitting so many ISTE standards because of their student-centric approach to blended learning! #tnedchat
a6: Yes you can! I can teach how to empower a learner, dig cit, knowledge construction, innovative design, computational thinking, creative communication and global collaboration mindsets no matter how much tech is in the room! this can be transferred forward to tech #tnedchat
A6 Concept, process, design.... mostly no tech needed. Create dialogue and open communication. Share often. It is easy to get enveloped and disappear. #tnedchat
A6 You could lay the foundation for all the ISTE standards even with low tech. Then when the tech is there they have the background to be successful. #tnedchat
A6 Concept, process, design.... mostly no tech needed. Create dialogue and open communication. Share often. It is easy to get enveloped and disappear. #tnedchat
A5- I feel like with time everything can be upgraded and be better. I feel like with time the computer science classes that are being offered will be different then what we were taught. @barbersclass#barbersclass#tnedchat
A6- I say yes you can still teach them. Just becuase you dont have the technology doesn't mean that you cant make it fun and interesting for the children to learn. You can get creative and do different lesson plans to make it fun. @barbersclass#barbersclass#tnedchat
It's not about giving more weight to any badge of which someone else has created expectations. It's about how any cert makes learning experiences better for kids, and how educators are sharing how their newly-earned certifications are making learning better for all. #tnedchat
I guess I see lvl 1 & 2 #googlece as the entry levels to get edus excited about tech integration. And you have to get recertified after a few years to keep the credential. #tnedchat
