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.
If you are participating, don’t forget to include the hashtag #csk8 on all tweets during the chat so that everyone participating in the chat sees your posts.
Casey from Ontario. I work with students in grade 7/8. We explore robotics and their relationship to computational thinking, numeracy and language #csk8
Sarah here. I'm in MA, working with @ECEP_CS on CS ed policy reform focusing on #equity. Prior to my policy work I developed programs for K-8 students in informal ed/out of school time and facilitated PD for educators. #csk8
Hi #csk8, Saber in NYC. Teach multiple MS classes. 5th, 7th, and 8th. Also moderate #ethicalCS, where @VisionsByVicky was a guest expert last month. And put on free and inclusive coding events for MS students and teachers via CC Fests - https://t.co/TMwWVWV4WG
#csk8 is a structured chat so questions are numbered Q1 for Question 1, Q2 for Question 2 and answers should start with A1 for the answer to Q1, A2 to answer Q2, etc.
#csk8 A1 I teach general ed 4th grade and am the building technology coach. Beginning work to embed computational thinking and CS learning into my own and other gen ed teachers practices.
#csk8 When CS learning is computational and embedded with other academic standards then assessment is conceptual. Effective assessments are an art and skill that can be challenging to do.
When assessing students work, I have only done work with correcting worksheets, etc... in class. We are taught several ways to assess. I feel as though assessing children's development is the most important with a growth mindset always in mind. #csk8
A1: I'm not great at assessment. I am reluctant to turn my CS class into a rigorous math or science class via anxiety-filled assessments. When I do assessments it is usually via projects and presentation, which can feel a little vague. #csk8
Hi, I’m Alicia from St. Louis. I am new to the education field. I’m excited to join the #csk8 chat and learn about some of the assessments used in K-8 computer science.
A) I trust in the process. We use assessment to tell us where S's are and what we need to improve on. The students receive speedy feedback and have opportunity to improve. Recently, we have started to focus on soft skills (collaboration) . #csk8
A1 #csk8 Supposedly both, but the college and career thing still baffles me for say a 6th grader. We do ask if they hope to go to college and enter the field, pre and post
One of my biggest fears for #CSforAll is turning it into "another subject" just like all the others. Assessment can fuel that worry, but we also have to know what our students know and be able to use that to drive instruction right? #csk8
Q1: What do you assess and how do you choose what to measure? Do you assess concept development, practice, both? #csk8
A1: Observations, projects - individual conversations/questioning strategies, targeted tasks (exit ticket), process is just as important as product, self assess
A reply from @techteacher suggest something I wonder about. How tied to grades should assessment be? Is assessment more about grades than understanding what students know? Should be the same but are they? #csk8
Q2: What formative assessments have you found helpful in assessing the CS understanding of 5-14 year old students? Share examples, rubrics, links, etc. #csk8
Agreed. We worked with middle schools a number of years ago and developed an instrument (STEM-CIS) based on Lent's social cognitive career theory to assess student interest (and other factors) related to careers #csk8
It can be baffling, especially when I reflect, I had no idea what I wanted to do or be at that age, I found it took trying many things and making mistakes to figure out where I was going. #csk8
Yes - I pick 2 or 3 standards to assess each quarter that are CS related, and 2 that are learning behaviors . Use many different projects/quiz/observations/presentations to decide where they are on each CS standard #csk8
#csk8 Being elementary, we don't have the side of the debate about GPAs and college prep. Grade conflate various factors, tests, daily assignments, even attendance. Sharing with Ss and Ps about what the Ss learned is assessment.
I have started to add in some multiple choice questions as formative assessment to figure out if kids are getting it. Looking at https://t.co/xfkKisKPCT right now. Have used Google Forms & Kahoot in the past. #csk8
Hi #CSk8 I'm Angie, a Technology Integrationist in central MN with a kindergarten heart who works in a k-12 public school district. I'm doing my best to integrate Computational Thinking into K-5 classrooms across the curriculum. Here us a #snapshot from my day!
#csk8 This is a challenge. Important gen ed teachers teach CS standards. Often they are embedded coteaching lessons with media tech, makerspace and STEM teachers. The CS standards aren't at the forefront always in these cases.
Earlier grades do have some capacity to focus a bit less on the grades, but as they move up grades it becomes more and more focused on the grade. Is there a formula that fits all? #CSk8
In reply to
@alfredtwo, @VisionsByVicky, @techteacher
Yes but it is a lot more work - combining many different assessments to decide the std based grade - much easier to leave it alone as 'points'. Also I try to add a comment on every student! Takes a long time but I think it is worth it. #csk8
A2: I am a big fan of the Studio Art that I have in college and art school, where you work on a project, present, get feedback, incorporate some and keep going. Not finding a good link for this. Any know what I am talking about? #csk8
Q2: What formative assessments have you found helpful in assessing the CS understanding of 5-14 year old students? Share examples, rubrics, links, etc. #csk8
A few years ago I used the framework to assess science fair projects students converted to Scratch projects but the framework still needs something to help us understand student projects (and the tool they used only works for Scratch 1.4 projects) #csk8
Welcome, we are just finishing up Q2: What formative assessments have you found helpful in assessing the CS understanding of 5-14 year old students? Share examples, rubrics, links, etc. #csk8
#csk8 Agree with you. We used to have a std based elementary report card. Now we report on the strands. That for example reduces math to 4 scores. Less work harder to give meaning to the number.
I guess it depends on your audience at the time or at least having the options available for our students to look at on their own so the ones who are interested, are exposed. #CSk8
In reply to
@VisionsByVicky, @alfredtwo, @stem_citadel, @mlmiller
I mostly give them prompts for presentations:
1) What were hoping to do or make?
2) What part of the code or project are you most proud of?
3) What would you do with more time? #csk8
Yes, I agree that it is something that needs practice! I like to use Pair Programming in all grade levels starting from the beginning! Here is a resource that @jmenth22 and I collaborated on for young learners. https://t.co/5DUa1yRuiY#csk8
In reply to
@VisionsByVicky, @RonSchaeffer, @Todd_Lash, @alfredtwo, @jmenth22
A2: #csk8 since CS is new(ish) in K-12 and we are all figuring this out it feels very similar to work in informal ed. I really like assessment work frm @PEARImpact Their tools are worth a look as you design assessments that are as creative as your students & subject of CS and IT
In my first teaching gig, our school did narrative based report cards. I wrote about 4-5 pages about every student each quarter. A ton of work, but it made me very reflective and gave parents a ton of info. #csk8
A2) https://t.co/wkYOrVJYmZ is a great resource for any educator in CS. It talks a lot about the needs of the 21st century learner without being preachy. The educators in the videos are great, and I find I learn something new in every module #csk8
#csk8 In 4th grade we talk often about careers. It's more like trying on mindset hats. Actually more fun and less deterministic than when you are older and need to start choosing a path. 4th graders open and close career doors based on interest and exposure.
In reply to
@alfredtwo, @stem_citadel, @GJFScience, @mlmiller
A3: We do a Tech Expo where we present projects from all the grades in the school. The community comes through and sees what everyone has worked on through the year. It helps give me a sense of where are and where we should go next as educator. #csk8
A2: For me, summative assessments are about the process and my students need to document what they did, share their work, and reflect on it. For example, this would be graded against a rubric https://t.co/mwgbl2TjLe#csk8
I have used versions of this. Have peers review project work and make suggestions. Then make improvements or find things they may not have thought of that their peers can see. #csk8
A3: Group or individual project with a presentation. I also do a few multiple choice quizzes for Python where they have to read code and predict what is next - and sometimes I do a timed debugging project #csk8
Oh yeah, I spend hours doing that too. Students take self-reflective surveys. I look at completion of tasks. And use both to write narrative reports #csk8
In my first teaching gig, our school did narrative based report cards. I wrote about 4-5 pages about every student each quarter. A ton of work, but it made me very reflective and gave parents a ton of info. #csk8
Definitely. I give multiple questions for each reflection and ask them to add a screenshot of the output of their favorite project. If I list out a lot of questions - keeping them all optional, they tend to spend more time on their reflections. #csk8
#csk8 Narrative based report cards. Takes a lot of time, but is worth it for the parents to see where their students are at and what is going on at school. A2
@GJFScience@mspottergrade7 and I just used this. We were fortunate to have @mraspinall come and join about 90 grade 7's and talk about why CS education is important for all students #csk8.
In reply to
@MarkNechanicky, @mrskalthoff, @Todd_Lash, @stem_citadel, @GJFScience, @mlmiller, @GJFScience, @mspottergrade7, @mraspinall
Maybe someone from @codeorg can provide a better version of this doc https://t.co/43lzUGwK2e but it has some prompts for debugging. These prompts can be used before a bug is encountered to help with reflection. #csk8
In reply to
@techteacher, @VisionsByVicky, @codeorg
#csk8 Our last speaker was on fabfems and also a member of the society of women engineers. Amazing Skype with so many Ss heading to be 1st gen college Ss.
In reply to
@GoodgameCarol, @mrskalthoff, @Todd_Lash, @stem_citadel, @GJFScience, @mlmiller
I haven't used it this year, I'm having trouble getting Ss to come anywhere near finishing even the earlier projects, assessment isn't really on my radar for this year #csk8
nope, having Ss give feedback on each other's work in Classroom or on Scratch has not been successful yet, don't think a more formal peer assessment will work for me yet #csk8
Definitely. The reflection of what was difficult/challenging will help them enjoy their success and help them remember it ... especially important at the end of a coding challenges - what project was difficult, what did they learn #csk8
Very true. Have you tried an anonymous Google Form where students can submit questions and periodically you have an "answer the questions" time in class? #csk8
#csk8 I have just ordered a large quantity of plastic bugs, to revive my "bug of the day winner" awards. They must name the bug, describe it, and explain how they found and fixed it.
In reply to
@VisionsByVicky, @MarkNechanicky, @mrskalthoff, @techteacher, @codeorg
#csk8 A4 #growthmindset and other soft skills I think are best assessed when T obs and S self assessment are talking in a 1:1 conference. I learn a lot from the Ss that way. At least as a start.
Some of my students would do the coding challenges of #khanacademy Processing/JavaScript and collect the badges - not sure if having badges made them get more, or it was just a side benefit. I don't use it in my class #csk8
A4: Our research group is using a tool called the Collaborative Computing Observation Instrument to track student collaboration w/ screencast video. Creates a visual map of student collab & perseverance. https://t.co/aIXIPTLzlr#csk8 Opening it up to others eventually...
A4: This is such a tricky question. I would prefer to think abt assessment could support collaboration, communication &persistence. To me this all about community first followed by metacognition as @Todd_Lash said. So rubrics that kid-built disconnected from grades #csk8
Actually, I do have a form set up, butthey are not fully utilizing it. I have also tried Slides projected on the wall so the questions pop up when they type them in. needs some tweaking still. #csk8
In reply to
@VisionsByVicky, @owenpeery, @Todd_Lash
2/2 then when I checked it I gave them a computer and had them go to studio to give comments, they still typed LOL Hiiiiiii etc so I'm spending more time letting them work on projects and might cut the feedback part this year #csk8
A4) Setting up a success criteria as defined by the students. What does successful collaboration look like? How do we know it is working? When do you think we have mastered it? Explicitly teaching students what soft skills look like can go a long way. #csk8
#csk8#growthmindset is comlex. Persistence with mistakes, mistakes that change strategies, collaboration to do something you couldn't do alone. Having short/long term goals. Knowing your brain isn't even built yet. Soft skills are nuanced.
Here is an example of a 2nd grade classroom. Students are working in @ScratchJr to make their story of what would happen if their teacher fell asleep. 1/2 the class is revising their work w/teacher the other half is working on their story. 2 students, 1 iPad. #csk8 +
In reply to
@VisionsByVicky, @owenpeery, @Todd_Lash, @ScratchJr
#csk8 Thanks--this sounds like a great idea for our building wide mixed K-5 "families" we are doing computational unplugged activities twice month. Will have to check this out.
In reply to
@mrskalthoff, @techteacher, @VisionsByVicky, @codeorg
I have such a limited time w/Ss and am not getting buy in from classroom Ts, so S time w/me is all the CS they get, so hard to dedicate that much time for feedback, bc then they need time to read it and act on it to iterate, imp but hard to spend all that time #csk8
+ Two kids on 1 iPad take turns building their stories but talk through what they are doing and they could do as they build. We break 1/2 way through to share discoveries and things we think others would like to know with the group then get back to work! #csk8
In reply to
@VisionsByVicky, @owenpeery, @Todd_Lash, @ScratchJr
#csk8#growthmindset is complex. Persistence with mistakes, mistakes that change strategies, collaboration to do something you couldn't do alone. Having short/long term goals. Knowing your brain isn't even built yet. Soft skills are nuanced.
A5 #csk8 formative (however informal) helps differentiate instruction. We use self-paced activity guides on iPads so easy to change which one a student is doing
A5 Use the data to reflect on my teaching practices and how I can improve. Also make notes of where the misconceptions seem to be and then implement material into the next cycle (if spiralling) of curriculum. Have 1:1 conferencing/interviews with s's to discuss next steps #csk8
A5) We do an activity as a class where we stress what we did well, what we did poorly and what our next steps should be. I use S's assessments to evaluate where I may have went wrong. Did the students miss a concept I thought they had? What do I need to do to improve? #csk8
A5: I ask students to evaluate me and give me feedback about the class at different points. Also, I try to make the narrative reports collaborative. Grades can get in the way so I try devalue them. #csk8
#csk8 A5 I think CS lessons for gen ed teachers collaborating is a great opportunity to reflect with the Ss on how things went. Ss can see Ts dealing with things that didn't go as planned (e.g. our particular chromebook models don't work with spheros) and show Ss adults learning.
usually it comes down to, what is the utility of doing a feedback activity right now when I know most of the S projects are not in a place where they want to share them, so they get angry and defensive no matter how kind the feedback is #csk8
A5: To me this is WHY we have assessment. I need to use the data from it to inform my instruction. If Ss aren't getting nested loops, I need to reteach! #csk8
A5: Assessments inform my next lesson - how to differentiate and support specific students. Definitely impacts next session and I keep updating the curriculum based on assessments and student surveys to get better each time. It can never be done! #csk8
#csk8 Like Tom Wujec's marshmallow challenge Ss need to know most of life is protoyping. Most of teaching is formative. Mistake redo mistake retool mistake refine.
Great quote! And it shows our students that we are human and also allows us to model resiliency as well as create that environment where it's ok to ask questions and make mistakes #CSk8
In reply to
@VisionsByVicky, @MrCWells, @MarkNechanicky
Yes it is hard to make the time in class for feedback - I sometimes do it at the end of a unit or only for the major projects. It has to be quick - a sticky note in 5 mins or less can work #csk8
In reply to
@owenpeery, @VisionsByVicky, @Todd_Lash
If we can. Sometimes we make the missed skills part of the success criteria. If it is a soft skill, it is a theme that can run through the entire year. #CSk8
My gut feeling is Ss get excited about the fun stuff we do, but when they encounter stuff they don't get immediately, they just stop and play around, and never make it through that challenge, so they are not feeling that aha growth moment #csk8
Not a challenge (I have many of those though) but wanted to ask if anyone has done the Bebras Challenge with their students? https://t.co/03htJjZ92A#csk8
A6: Oh so many. First of all settling my philosophical questions about assessment. I do want to better understand how assessment can support community and culture in my classroom. And how to make it meaningful and not punitive for the students, do it without grades #csk8
A6: Time ! Always the biggest challenge. Time in classroom to do assessments, and time after class to go over projects and reflections and analyze these assessments. #csk8
An archive of this chat will be posted in the K-8 Computer Science Teachers g+ Community at https://t.co/Pun3ZoWtgN Please continue the conversation there or on Twitter using the #csk8 hashtag
6) I think that the biggest challenge is having staff buy in. It is hard to learn new things and CS takes time and patience #STEAM learning and #HourOfCode has made it easier, but there are some who may still be hesitant. How do you build a K-8 program without everyone? #csk8
and not even bad behavior per se, just they click around and look like they are doing something but they are not, then refuse to turn something in to a studio bc they know it's nowhere near done, and prob why a few extra days doesn't produce better work #csk8
Summer will be here before we know it. Lots of PD opportunities are happening this summer including the CSTA Conference. https://t.co/kduD3KpB5r We hope to see you there! #csk8
