#csk8 Archive
This chat includes a discussion of topics of interest to K-8 teachers who teach and/or integrate computer science.The Computer Science Teachers Association is a membership organization that supports and promotes the teaching of computer science and other computing disciplines. CSTA provides opportunities for K–12 teachers and students to better understand the computing disciplines and to more successfully prepare themselves to teach and learn.
Wednesday June 1, 2016
The CSTA K-8 Task Group welcomes you to tonight’s chat. Our moderators will be &
Our topic tonight is Summer Plans for CS Educators
Before the chat starts, we’d love to know who’s joining us tonight. Please take a minute to introduce yourself.
Don’t forget to include the hashtag on all tweets during the chat so that everyone participating in the chat sees your posts.
Hi - I'm Vicky, a K-8 Technology Teacher, in the Los Angeles area & one of your moderators tonight.
Myra a high school CS teacher from OC, Calif. - on summer break!
I am Sheena, a CS teacher in California for 5+ years, CSTA K-8 board member.
Peg from grade 2 in PA. Countdown is on and ready for summer!
So you're out already? I'm not done until next week.
When's school out for you?
Yes, and we have 80+ temperatures here in CA to remind us of the summer! Looking forward
Hi, I am a Retired CS Teacher from Houston.
Yes, and I finished jury duty yesterday!
Welcome. Glad you could join us tonight.
School is out June 14, but the temps are warm for the classroom! Soon!
Hi Karen, nice to see you. Has summer arrived in Houston?
- Yes summer in Houston, hot and raining... raining. School is out and looking forward to fun with grandkids.
The chat is a structured chat which means questions will be numbered Q1 for Question 1, Q2 for Question 2, etc.
Answers should start with A1 for the answer to Q1, A2 to answer Q2, etc. matching the question being answered.
Question 1 is coming right up.
Q1: Before we get to our summer plans, let’s share & celebrate our biggest coding/Computer Science successes this year.
My Hour of Code was a big success with the elementary students!
A1: Launch of a new CS elective for our 7 and 8th graders using Python. Learning a little Python 😃
How many did you have attend, Myra? What specific things did they go?
How did your students like Python? How do YOU like it?
About 50 and they used Hour of Code materials. I set up a smore so they could continue at home.
Did your students do any of the curriculum?
Absolutely love Python and it is the perfect language for teaching.
- Helped with a MS code course and ES Code Club - Student coded digital flowers -learned power projects. https://t.co/B3lkeiGIPA
No semi-colons! :) RT : Absolutely love Python and it is the perfect language for teaching.
A1: I also piloted CS Principles and have a whole class signed up for next year.
That is wonderful Myra. This will be their first CS class right? What language?
Which CS Principles course did you use?
Q2: What can we do to help keep CS learning going for K-8 students over the summer? Any camps or online resources to recommend?
A1: I used https://t.co/RnklMgCSiI code studio (java script) but next year it looks like pencil code and processing.
Hi, just entered. I teach Tech, Media, and AVID.
So any reason you're not using the Code Studio again?
A1 - Myra or others - did you sign up to be a https://t.co/PLGJpVuveV faciliator for CSP or the other MS & HS courses?
Hi! We are on Q2. What can we do to help keep CS learning going for K-8 students over the summer?
A2: I just saw Itch today that is Scratch based. It looks like a tutorial. Haven't researched it yet.
A2: I would love resources (online probably unless you're in the San Fernando Valley). I have a parent wanting classes not a camp.
I was asked but I was just too overwhelmed this year to apply. I also will be using UTexas materials next year.
It's something where you can set up courses for Ss and track progress. Not free, though.
Hi I just joined. This will be my first year teaching cs to k-5
A2: I always have a Summer Learning page on my blog & I post resources there. Thinking about bi-weekly Scratch challenges.
A2: My school district is hosting Camps in the lower-income schools. Trying to get public libraries to have Hour of Code once a week.
Welcome, Felisha. Where are you located? Any resources to keep CS learning going for students during the summer?
I got a offer today for $9.
A2: Suggest coding resources to our students at the last class-project ideas,online resources for them to try over the summer.
: A2: My HS students completed an AppInventor project as their final. I hope they will play with that.
Great idea. Am sure my students would love something like that - both Ss and parents are asking me what to learn next
a2. suggest coding apps for the younger Ss
Thinking of using APP Inventor with middle school next year. Think feasible?
Myra has exciting plans. She’s meeting w/Sec of Ed John B. King, Jr. & other Ts at the end of June to talk about
Q3: If you were invited to this conversation, what would you want to ask about ? https://t.co/cyMJFbjgex
Myra has exciting plans. She’s meeting w/Sec of Ed John B. King, Jr. & other Ts at the end of June to talk about
I teach in KY. I'm new to teaching cs so I'm all ears tonight lol
Kodable - runs on most platforms. You can set up a teacher account and track progress.
Yes. I started with tutorials from Mobile CSP. They have videos and walk through the code
I went to one in May...awesome!!!
This is exciting? What are you going to ask the Sec of Education?
ScratchJr is great, too - iPad, Android Tablet, & Chromebooks.
A3: ask: How will we provide support for CS teacher PD in a consistent, affordable way for ALL schools/teachers.
The conversation is centered around "Why should we have CS in all schools"
Am sure you will have lots of stories from your classroom to share. Hope there is also some of the How and not just Why CS
Definitely needs some "how" or it won't happen, IMO. https://t.co/TvudDKlH1h
Am sure you will have lots of stories from your classroom to share. Hope there is also some of the How and not just Why CS
A3 Materials for SP ED mainstreamed into CS class.
Question 4 coming right up from
Q4: How about you? What are your professional development plans for the summer?
That is an excellent question. I feel that we need more help with how to differentiate instruction if we want CS4All.
That is an important one or it's not really RT : A3 Materials for SP ED mainstreamed into CS class.
A3: Getting support for classroom teachers to integrate - trying to figure out how to leverage my champion on change voice.
Yes it is a struggle with CS - all Ss do not learn this content in the same way/pace. Differentiation is key
a4. teaching CS at camp, reading coding books, and hopefully creating website about makerspace
What books? RT : a4. teaching CS at camp, reading coding books, and hopefully creating website about makerspace
A4: Finishing my https://t.co/iiZpQy3z0U course so I experience it like kids; map out my tech time; get partners on board too!
A3: I will attend a week PD from UTexas for CS Principles. Also, CSTA conference.
A3: Why are they still asking why we should have CS? Need action plans to implement and stop wasting time on talking about this
A3: Attend the CSTA conference in San Diego in July. Teach CS PD at our local community college, and learn from other teachers there
Oh and I have a Raspberry Pi that I need to learn about with my son!
A3: I am also working on my Google Certification and revising my processing intro assignments for AP Computer science....
.. attending AP scoring for AP Computer Science A, always PD there.
I think there is still a struggle for buy in some places, unfortunately.
Yay! Anyone else there who wants to connect with other CS educators - you absolutely must attend the CSTA conf July
just received coding games in scratch by jon woodcock and Hello Ruby adventures in coding linda liakus
Ah, yes, I want to finished some Google Teacher stuff myself.
A4: Planning Computing teachers playground at ISTE - who is going? Also presenting at Texas CS Summit https://t.co/Gs9s04mVmg
A4 Bought an Ozobot to incorporate with Mod to Severe students mainstreamed into class. Want to create lessons for it.
Wish I could attend ISTE, but too expensive and my district does not reimburse
Wonderful. Glad you get to do this at ISTE again - it is a good way to reach many educators
Would like to figure out why there is still a struggle for buy-in. What are the real roadblock? https://t.co/NBdOHn5FbV
I think there is still a struggle for buy in some places, unfortunately.
I would love to go to ISTE but since my PD is paid for by me, it's not happening this year.
They are coming to California! UTexas has a partnership with UCI.
Maybe that is something that can be discussed at this thing in June. Why are we still talking why & how can we get beyond it
In my district it would be access to tech.
Due to support from outside funding, this workshop is very affordable. I will have 2 CS teachers co-teaching with me.
I think it's also the case of how to fit it in to the already crowded curricular requirements.
or Ts certified to teach CS
There aren't certifications in a lot of places. RT : or Ts certified to teach CS
Last q coming up for chat on Summer plans for CS educators from
This needs definition as well I think. RT : or qualified...
Q5: What new resources will you explore over the summer? How do you plan to use these in the new school year?
- Time - we need to build more integrated lessons - math, science and code in one minute, saves two. https://t.co/HRM4XfJult
Probably aging myself. Supplemental in Computer Applications and Procedures anymore?
A5: My new , and perhaps few Kickstarter projects (that may reach in time?).
A5: I would like to use Seesaw for my students to keep a portfolio.
Agree. We have much easier buy in from other teachers/admin when CS is integrated into core content. Even in K-5.
That has been revised recently in CA.
What did you get on Kickstarter? I have at least one of those coming in the summer as well I think.
A5: Utilizing Pro-Bot as a pointer for skill activities. OSMO's new coding game; Rasp.Pi
A5: I need to work more with the Finches I have so I can have the students use them.
A5: Building code buddies, have training set up for our community mentors who help lower income students; and getting parents engaged.
A5: I really want to plan better lessons with the robots I have. This yr ended up running out of time.
I just got the Osmo coding set. Need to play with that myself.
Laurie from San Marcos sneaking in way late ;)
A5 Ozobot to use with moderate to severe students mainstreamed into class. Color base first and then hopefully to ozoblockly. 😸 Rey
Hey Laurie! What new resources will you explore over the summer? How do you plan to use these in the new school year?
Sounds awesome. I'd love to know how that goes.
A5: I'll be working with my new projector. Thank goodness I bought on sale, my mini grant was turned down :(
You can also answer Q4: How about you? What are your professional development plans for the summer?
A5: Continuing the people resource, Ruth Farmer of NCWIT will be working at the White House on - share ideas with her.
Does anyone have experience with the Lego Wedo robotics? If so how do you like them?
Plumduino and got a Makerbot but for some reason it has not reached.. and a mCookie ...Can not remember what else!
Bummer on the grant. That projector looks cool.
The older version, yes. We like them but I want the 2.0 now. They look very cool.
love them with my little guys, great for 2/3 rd grade!!! allows for collab, prob-solving, comm, and coding
Kickstarter is dangerous!
We love them- use them in 3-5 grades in our 7 elementary schools. Great way to introduce coding and connect to motors etc
A4: and I are planning our training for local teachers. And I'm teaching tech/stem classes.
A5: Really over the summer I need to figure out how to convert computers in the lab to Unix boxes since we're on XP right now.
Do these work well in the classroom - durable/battery etc? Look very nice and portable definitely
students are already developing uses and I used for training today.
Love MaKey MaKey as well to teach circuits along with coding.
I just received the install disk for Windows. Did you say XP? I'll have my Ss install it on our practice boxes.
yes, XP - older machines, limited memory, no $$. So we're going with Ubermix - I think anyway.
I'm going to look into Makey
and I will organize and crowdsource resources for it
A5: I plan to work on developing more free unplugged lessons, as that is best way to integrate - Vendorless.
Anyone using Hummingbird? Have one of those to try too... will be a busy summer I think!
did some amazing things with it!
I would love one. Don't have. RT : Anyone using Hummingbird? Have one of those to try too... will be a busy summer I think!
Yeah I caught that as I was typing. I'm hoping to have my EL Ss wipe and reinstall OS, Apps, networking configurations
Good idea. Unplugged lessons have so many advantages - and we need more choices. Look forward to see what you make
Just got it. Mod to severe struggled this year with Mindstorms. Differentiating to see if this works. Did drop it. Ok 👍
Great idea. I haven't ever tried that with Ss.
Mike from MD eavesdropping EL Library Media Specialist.
Eavesdrop or join right in! RT : Mike from MD eavesdropping EL Library Media Specialist.
I have my Ss (1/2nd -6th) Tear them apart & rebuild in Computer club.
Hi Mike.. tell us what you will work on during the summer on CS?
OS and Apps are next steps
Has anyone used Tynker? Trying to convince my admin to purchase it. Is it worth the investment?
I've had Ss put a computer back together but the OS was installed.
No, will not be at ISTE. Sorry to miss it
Part of my reg curriculum. Show how easy to create own. https://t.co/R8GjOsOg9m
I have my Ss (1/2nd -6th) Tear them apart & rebuild in Computer club.
Use free version. RT : Has anyone used Tynker? Trying to convince my admin to purchase it. Is it worth the investment?
Thank you for coming to tonight’s chat. The chat & CSTA K-8 task group is going to be taking break for the summer!
We encourage the conversations to continue on Google+ at https://t.co/Pun3Zpe48l & here on Twitter using the hashtag.
We hope to see some of you at the CSTA conference in July in San Diego. https://t.co/qiGmaNyqve Online registration closes 6/16!
Erm. Nothing? :) I'm taking 3 courses b/t now and end of June Looking more robots & Open ideas
