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Coding/Computer Science

Discover coding and computer science resources for educators. Explore tools, tips, and activities to inspire students and develop digital skills.

Texas SBOE Moves CS Policy Forward

by Jennifer Bergland May 3, 2018

written by Jennifer Bergland

Texas teachers and districts have been asking for more options for students who want to take computer science courses, as well as asking the state to establish some interoperability standards for digital instructional materials. The Texas State Board of Education responded to these requests at their April 2018 board meeting.

Substitute Computer Programming for LOTE

Donna Bahorich, SBOE Board Chair, Champion of CS.

In 2013, the Texas Legislature enacted HB 5 which provided a new graduation requirement option of substituting two credits in computer programming languages for two Language Other Than English (LOTE) credits. In January 2014, the SBOE designated Computer Science I, II, and III as the courses that could satisfy this new option. At the April board meeting, the SBOE broadened this list to include AP Computer Science Principles, AP Computer Science A, IB Computer Science Standard Level, and IB Computer Science Higher Level (19 TAC, Subchapter 74.12, b, 5, ii). In addition, the board approved a provision that allows a student who successfully completes AP Computer Science A or IB Computer Science Higher Level to satisfy both one advanced mathematics requirement AND a LOTE requirement for graduation (19 TAC, Subchapter 74.11, k). The student would not earn two credits, but could use one of these two computer science courses to satisfy two graduation requirements.

SBOE These changes will give more options to districts as they decide which courses they can staff. Many districts offer Computer Science I, Computer Science II, and AP Computer Science A. However, because many districts only have one teacher who is certified to teach computer science courses, some districts must choose whether to offer Computer Science II or AP Computer Science. Since AP CS was not on the list of courses that a student could take to satisfy the LOTE graduation requirements, students at these schools were precluded from substituting a computer programming course for a LOTE graduation requirement. This change will eliminate that barrier.

Hal Speed, the past-president of TA/CS-SIG (Technology Applications/Computer Science Special Interest Group), advocated on behalf of TCEA to make this change. It has taken several years to gather the necessary support for it. However, his hard work has resulted in additional options for students. This is an excellent example of the difference one individual can have in changing policy.

Recommended Prerequisites for AP CS

In addition to these changes, the SBOE changed the recommended prerequisites for AP Computer Science A from Computer Science I and Algebra II to only recommending Algebra I. The board enacted these changes upon the advice of the College Board (19 TAC, Subchapter 126.62, a).

Interoperability Standards

The SBOE also took some positive steps toward adopting interoperability standards for digital products. TEA has worked with school districts to create standards for machine-readable TEKS. The board adopted rules on April 13 that will require companies that submit digital instructional materials for Proclamation 2020 to use these new standards. This will make it much easier for districts to import the TEKS into their LMS. Over time, the TEA-created machine-readable TEKS will also be incorporated into digital products purchased by the district, which again will aid a district’s implementation of instructional materials.

sboe In addition, the SBOE is requiring publishers who submit digital instructional materials for Proclamation 2019 to complete The Report on Interoperability and Ease of Use. This report will provide the SBOE with valuable information about what standards the different companies are using, which will help them decide which standards are the most common. This will aid in deciding which interoperability standards they should adopt and require for future proclamations. This has been a huge headache for districts. They have invested countless hours uploading and downloading student information. Each company uses different file formats for inserting and changing student data. Therefore, when students enroll or leave a district, someone has to upload and download many different files just to ensure that the date is accurate. Districts have been clamoring for this type of action for several years. The state is one step closer to adopting interoperability standards, which, I’m sure, will be greeted with much applause.

TCEA applauds the Board on the changes they made at the April meeting. The elimination of these barriers will enable districts to offer students more opportunities, both in the field of computer science, but also in the ease of use of digital materials.

Photo of man on the floor typing on a computer taken by Alex Kotliarskyi on Unsplash. Photo of two laptops on table taken by Marten Bjork on Unsplash.

May 3, 2018 0 comments

Coding/Computer Science Robotics STEM/STEAM

Collaboration, Creativity, and Teamwork at State Robotics Contest

by Joe Vasquez April 10, 2018

written by Joe Vasquez

Students from across the state gathered this past weekend to participate in the annual TCEA State Robotics Contest. Teams had the opportunity to put their collaborative critical-thinking skills to the test as they showcased their inventions and went head-to-head with other state finalists in the Arena division. Two hundred teams of up to four students each gathered in Hutto to test their skills. Each team had already competed at the Area level against more than 1,400 teams.

Arena Contest

This year’s challenge, Mastering Mars, allowed students the opportunity to task their robots to prepare the Martian environment for human settlement and iron mining. Each team’s robot had to complete as many tasks as they could within the two-minute time frame. Teams were allowed to use one LEGO Mindstorms programmable processing unit, LEGO-branded motors and sensors, other LEGO-branded devices, and non-LEGO parts not to exceed the five dollar limit.

It was impressive to see both Intermediate (grades 4-8) and Advanced (grades 9-12) state teams put their problem-solving skills to the test as they attempted to complete each task on the game field. Anticipation mixed with excitement filled the room as teams watched in awe as their robots performed. One contestant in the Arena Pit mentioned being able to test the robot’s capabilities and see what it can and can’t do as part of the thrill of competing. Overall, a great sense of teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity radiated throughout the groups.

Inventions Contest

As Arena contestants battled it out for the top spot, Invention participants exercised their creative-thinking skills by designing a robot to solve a real-world problem of their own choosing. From iPotty toilet assistance for the elderly to oil pipe sealing robots, students of all ages let their imaginations run free to create exciting solutions to make the world a better place. Other solutions offered to save lives, assist entomologists to gather insect specimens, and collect dangerous metal objects, among others.

In addition to providing functional prototypes of their creations, Inventions teams had to keep a detailed logbook of their progress and come up with polished presentations and marketing plans for their ideas. When asked what was their favorite part of competing at the state level, an intermediate team agreed it was the ability to create new initiatives through their inventions while being able to assist others in the process.

I hope this insider’s look into this year’s competition encourages you to incorporate robotics into your classroom while allowing your students to develop their problem-solving and critical thinking skills further. If you’re interested in learning more about our program and how your students can join other robotics teams next year, click here. You might also want to check out the amazing EV3 robotics workshop TCEA is offering July 16-20. This five-day robotics workshop will show you how to use LEGO MINDSTORMS to help your students develop a love of STEM along with valuable critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills. Whether you’re an educator, librarian, or administrator, this week-long learning opportunity will give you the knowledge, resources, and best practices to introduce a successful robotics program at your school this fall.

April 10, 2018 0 comments

Coding/Computer Science STEM/STEAM

3D Printing Projects for Micro:Bit

by Miguel Guhlin March 26, 2018

written by Miguel Guhlin

Ready to explore 3D printing projects for the incredible micro:bit mini-computer? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Learn about micro:bit 3D printed peripherals. Before we jump into 3D printing, let’s take a moment to revisit what a micro:bit is.

See main features

Meet Micro:bit

“The Micro Bit (under $24 to start) was designed to encourage children to get actively involved in writing software for computers and building new things, rather than being consumers of media,” says Sebastian Anthony. The process is simple. You could summarize it in this way:

Create code
Save code
Get (a.k.a. download) code
Copy code to the device

You can watch a getting started video series from SparkFun on the device. SparkFun has tons of activities, such as this weather:bit example. Since the micro:bit has been available since 2015, there are many exciting projects and video tutorials available already. The device features its own website, so if you get stuck, you can find assistance. Get the free Microsoft Micro:bit curriculum shared April, 2018.

Want to see a simple project idea? See this Rock-Paper-Scissors game via Matt Moore:

micro:bit

Ready to go bananas over micro:bit? Try this next. As you may have noticed, you will need to learn some coding. Wait, wait, don’t hyperventilate.

The web-based MakeCode editor open on a GNU/Linux computer. See? The editor is cross-platform.

Make Code, Create Magic

Micro:bit is a test kit for various types of coding. Although there are various code editors that work with micro:bit, an excellent choice is Microsoft’s MakeCode. Note that you can use MakeCode, a web-based code editor, on Chromebook and iPad (for iPads, you can use the Bluetooth connection to copy code to the device). MakeCode works in a variety of settings and relies on both block and text editors. As I mentioned in my Codeate with Minecraft Coding Projects blog entry, MakeCode can be used to build and execute actions in a virtual world. The implications are awesome.

Minecraft’s MakeCode window

What your students learn in one environment (e.g. micro:bit) are transferable to the other (e.g. Minecraft). For teachers getting started with Minecraft and MakeCode, there’s a course (get the HTML version or OneNote Notebook) written for teachers new to computer science or those who have never taught it. Students learn about events, coordinates, variables, iteration, conditionals, functions, arrays, and more.

Join a BBC:Microbit Community? Are you a teacher and interested in connecting with a vibrant community? Join the BBC micro:bit Facebook group (Hint: The micro:bit has 25 programmable LED lights).

Make Games

“Dad, when I grow up, I want to be a game programmer,” said my son. If micro:bit had been around, the journey might not have ended in failure. From games like FlappyBird to LEGO to Traffic Lights, there are many opportunities for students to succeed (and fail) while making games. Won’t you consider introducing students to coding and making with MakeCode and micro:bit? There are many benefits and the research is just starting to come in.

Photo of Deepah Gandhi’s micro:bit emoji character. This was made at the Microsoft E2 Conference.

Micro:bit and Coding Research

Wondering why even do this? Check out this research from the BBC, which deployed one million devices in the United Kingdom at the seventh grade level:

Get the full infographic here via Microsoft’s blog, What’s New in EDU?

70% more girls said they would choose Computing as a school subject after using the micro:bit.
90% of students said the micro:bit showed them that anyone can code.
86% of students said the micro:bit made Computer Science more interesting.
85% of teachers agree it has made ICT/Computer Science more enjoyable for their students.
Half of teachers who’ve used the micro:bit say they now feel more confident as a teacher, particularly those who say they’re not very confident in teaching Computing.

Creating with the micro:bit and coding editors is possible. You can combine it with other inexpensive technologies like 3D printing.

Micro:bit 3D Printed Peripherals

Now that you’ve had a chance to revisit all the awesomeness that is micro:bit, let’s take a quick look at 3D printed peripherals. Like a naked baby, in its raw form, the micro:bit can be a bit awkward to handle. Wouldn’t it be neat to 3D print a case for the micro:bit? Take a look at some examples below.

Curious about these MyMiniFactory creations? Get the STL file for 3D printing online

You can find these examples online at the MyMiniFactory. Per their website, “MyMiniFactory is a community platform for the sharing of 3D printable files and is the official 3D printing partner for the micro:bit.”

One of my favorite examples includes the egg timer for hard boiled eggs. Like the other examples, you get access to the STL file needed for 3D printing as well as the hex file needed for your micro:bit. Consider these instructions, abbreviated for space.

Step 1 : Print your egg timer

Simply download the STL file of the timer on this page.

Step 2: Flash your micro:bit !

You can download the code by clicking on the link below or on the zip file on this page. Click on the button “Compile” to download the code on your computer. Then, drag and drop the file into the micro:bit icon on your computer section.

microbit.co.uk/lwphmuidyq

Isn’t that amazing? Not to be left behind, Thingiverse also features a micro:bit collection.

micro:bit

You can save and open these designs in child-friendly tools like Tinkercad, LeoCAD, or, for older students, AutoDesk’s Fusion 360 or SketchUp Pro (available free via TCEA to public schools). Other tools are available that rely on block coding (just like Scratch and MakeCode), such as BlocksCAD.

Get Started Now

What are you waiting for? The convergence of cheap mini-computers like the micro:bit, web-based code editors like MakeCode with free tutorials, and 3D printed peripherals make classroom learning engaging, educational, and exciting. Perhaps your classroom or school might be interested in creating a smaller version of the micro:bit display shown below?

Featured Image Source

Curious about the 3D printed micro:bit watch case? Learn more here.

Updated: Note that this blog was updated with new resources on 04/05/2018.

March 26, 2018 0 comments

Coding/Computer Science Microsoft

Codeate with Minecraft Coding Projects

by Miguel Guhlin February 25, 2018

written by Miguel Guhlin

Ready to leave a path of petals in your wake? Do you like chickens flying from the sky? Then you may be experiencing Minecraft coding goodness. Teachers in TCEA Area 2 (Corpus Christi, Texas) laughed as they learned to code. How did they make coding possible? They relied on Minecraft: Education Edition‘s built-in support for coding tools. Let’s take a quick look at those and see what’s available.

Check Your Readiness

Let’s review the checklist of what is needed to begin.

Windows 10 computer?
Minecraft: Education Edition license?
External mouse?
Ready to have fun coding?

Getting started with coding need not be impossible. Microsoft’s Minecraft revision makes it easier to create with code. Participants in my session embraced frustration. They accepted failure as an opportunity to grow and learn. Now that you have checked your fixed mindset about failure being bad at the door, so to speak, we are ready to go.

Code Connection for Minecraft

A final component needed is Code Connection for Minecraft, a free download. Code Connection makes it easy to transfer your code from the tool (e.g. Tynker, Scratch) to Minecraft. Here’s a visual walkthrough of how to get connected.

codeate
Once you have copied the connect code to put into Minecraft, switch to Minecraft:
codeate

To establish the connection, press [ENTER] on your keyboard or click the button with the right arrow on it shown on screen.

codeate

Once you have success in the connection to the Code Connection, you will see the various editors available (e.g. Code.org, Make Code, Scratch, Tynker). You may want to minimize your Minecraft: Education Edition window so you can see both of them on the screen. Note that you can switch between the two programs using Alt-Tab on your Windows 10 device.

I Create with Code, So I Codeate

A portmanteau of the words “code” and “create,” students and teachers can now create in virtual space. Instead of arcane characters typed into a text window, students can now realize their vision through graphics. Let’s explore various ways to create with code. Ideas appear with short website excerpts below.

Minecraft: Education Edition offers several ways to begin coding. Let’s take a look at two to start with.

Tool #1: Tynker

With Tynker, you have access to a rich variety of tutorials. These tutorials help you, step by step, to achieve success. Tynker relies on block coding, an approachable tool to use for beginners. This serves as an easy entry point for teachers learning to use coding in their classroom.

codeate

Tynker does the heavy lifting, keeping the fun in the creative process. The goal is to introduce students to Minecraft mod creation with Tynker. A variety of tutorials keeps learning fresh and exciting.

codeate

Tool #2: MakeCode

Ready to embark on deeper learning? Microsoft has provided a MakeCode curriculum appropriate for grades 6-8 that offers projects and tutorials specifically designed for students.. MakeCode works in a variety of settings and relies on both block and text editors, so what students learn is usable beyond Minecraft. This makes it ideal for learners at different levels. And, like Creative Coding Through Games and Apps (CCGA), it is a course written for teachers new to computer science or those who have never taught it.

The curriculum includes access to materials two formats. The first is the universal HTML (web page). The second, more valuable, is the OneNote Notebook format. Here, students learn about events, coordinates, variables, iteration, conditionals, functions, arrays, and more.

codeate

There is a final project that looks something like this:

You and your Agent are setting off on an adventure. You can only program four tools to take with you. What would you take? Create a backpack of tools that any Minecraft adventure would need.

MakeCode and Micro:bit

Microsoft’s commitment to MakeCode means that you not only see MakeCode working on Minecraft, but also with the Micro:bit. You’ll want to read this blog entry about 3D Printing and the Micro:bit to see more resources, but one announcement worth sharing now is that you can find an entire curriculum for Micro:bit available for free.

Codeate for Success

Ready to start on your own great Minecraft coding journey? Become Minecraft: Education Edition certified through this online course. You can also request an onsite workshop.

Update: This blog was updated with additional resources on 4/5/2018.

February 25, 2018 0 comments

Coding/Computer Science Robotics

Trashbots: Affordable STEM Kits Ready to Change the World

by Susan Meyer February 5, 2018

written by Susan Meyer

If you’re joining us at the Austin Convention Center this week, I want to extend a warm welcome to the 2018 TCEA Convention & Exposition! I also have an excellent suggestion for how to spend part of your afternoon. Come check out the Experience at the Digital Square in the Palazzo today from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. for a demonstration by the creators of a remarkable new company called Trashbots. For those readers who aren’t able to come to the convention this year, read on to learn about an innovative idea that’s turning one man’s trash into STEM treasure.

What Are Trashbots?

Trashbots is a company that is creating affordable robotics kits that let users use anything from their local environment to add to their robot—even things that a less creative mind might throw away. The kits work with open-source platforms and are designed to be accessible—a computer and a continuous power supply are not needed. This makes the kits idea for rural and remote places where STEM learning is limited by access to infrastructure.

Another advantage of the Trashbots platform and accompanying curriculum is that they are scalable across grade levels. Students in kindergarten can use Trashbots to learn the basics of building with the kit without the electronics. In fourth grade, kids can begin to work with tablets to design simple scripts and make the robot move. As one Trashbots founder describes, “You can see their enthusiasm when the program does what they want it to do and the motor functions as intended.” Older students can use existing textual programming languages such as Javascript or Python to code the kit and create even more complex creations. As students develop greater skill and programming knowledge, the kit can grow and adapt with them. Their only limit is their own creativity.

The Minds Behind the Bots

The story of Trashbots’ founders and how the company came to be is just as interesting as the end product. The company was the brainchild of two brothers, Rohit and Sidharth Srinivasan, who are themselves still high school students. Starting from when they were in middle school, they began volunteering and teaching robotics in orphanages in Southern Asia. They also consulted with Science in a Suitcase, an Austin STEM startup that works to bring robotics to underserved communities globally. From these experiences, they learned about some of the limitations of how STEM is taught in developing nations. As students of robotics themselves, when they saw limitations and issues, their immediate thought was “How can we engineer a solution?” This was the beginnings of Trashbots.

The pair partnered with Paul Austin, formerly of National Instruments, who helped them to officially start the company in May of 2016. The company did their first demo at SXSW 2017 in Austin, Texas. Since then, they’ve taken their ideas abroad to provide STEM and robotics help to rural and developing towns. The team made trips to both Mexico and Peru with their products. In Peru, they visited a remote school in a town of 15,000, three hours south of Lima. The school contained around 80 kids, some of whom would walk up to an hour to get there. While the school system didn’t have a lot of money or resources, what they did have were students who were intellectually curious and excited about learning. It is in schools like this where Trashbots can truly shine.

Discover Trashbots for Yourself

If you’re on site in Austin, you will definitely want to check out the Trashbots demonstration today at 2 p.m. in the Experience at the Digital Square. The founders will be on hand running an interactive session and explaining the pedagogical and curriculum possibilities of their robotics kits. You will also get the opportunity to take part in a fun build challenge using the kit. Tablets will be provided for programming the robots and all levels are encouraged to attend!

If you’re not at convention, you can learn more about Trashbots at their website.You can also find details on their IndieGoGo page.

Bargains!

Trashbots is now going into full production and has a great deal on their Indiegogo funding site. You can get the complete Early Bird Maker Pack with the maker kit with pucks, gears, and “trash” for making, along with cool stickers, for just $100. Or, if you want more than one Trashbot for your classroom or campus, you can buy the Educator 5-Pack for $500 or the Educator 10-Pack for $900. I know that your students will love these!

This blog was updated with additional content on May 4, 2018.

February 5, 2018 0 comments

Coding/Computer Science Content Areas Educational Trends STEM/STEAM

Happy DeSTEMber!

by Dr. Bruce Ellis December 19, 2017

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

It’s that time of year. Well, yes, of twinkling lights and gifts and snow. But I was thinking of that time of year when we consider some great sites to check out for engaging STEM ideas, resources, and lesson plans. I’ve gathered a few for you to explore. I’m sure you will find plenty of great ideas that you can incorporate in your classroom throughout this next year…or, better yet, share with your peers so they can enjoy increasing their focus on STEM in their classroom! Happy DeSTEMber!

STEAM-Powered Family

You will find lots of easy STEM (and STEAM) ideas that you can use with your students at this site. You’ll find most of the activities are great for the elementary through the tween years. To make these STEM activities even better, the author has several that are food related. After all, who doesn’t enjoy chocolate now and then! Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter for more activities and ideas right to your inbox. Even if you choose not to use these in the classroom, you can definitely share the ideas with your students’ parents to encourage family time that is STEM-based.

The STEM Laboratory

This is the place to go if you are looking for addictive activities to get students in pre-kindergarten through second grade into science, technology, engineering, and math! Though the site charges for many activities, you will be able to find enough freebies to make it worth your while to check out. Activities are neatly organized by grade level and by content (science, technology, engineering, and/or math) to make it easy for you to locate that perfect STEM activity for you to do next in your class.

How to Smile

If you are one of the special teachers who service students in non-classroom environments, then you will find this website perfectly-designed for you. It has awesome search filters that let you filter by age (4 years old to 18 years old), subject, learning time, prep time, and more. Wow! And, if you know of a resource that they don’t have listed, you can share it with questions@howtosmile.org to be considered.

eGIF

Though it has an odd name, this site is managed by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), which is committed to promoting and enhancing efforts to improve K-12 STEM and engineering education. So if you find that engineering may not be your strongest suit when it comes to promoting STEM, check out this site for lesson plans, class activities, outreach programs, and more!

The Periodic Table of Tech

This isn’t just your normal periodic table. This table identifies how each element is used in the making or using of technology. Chemistry teachers will find this site a great addition to add some relevance to what might otherwise be abstract elements.

100+ STEM Websites & Webtools for Teachers

Last, but definitely not least, is this Livebinder by Letia Cooper. After looking through the resources that she’s gathered for you, you won’t be surprised that her livebinder has earned the Top10 designation.

Enjoy these DeSTEMber resources as you explore activities, ideas, lesson plans, and more that will help you infuse even more STEM into your classroom. If you have a resource that you would like to add to our list, share it in the comments below; we’d love to have your input! Here’s wishing you a Happy DeSTEMber!

December 19, 2017 0 comments

Coding/Computer Science

Hour of Code at the Texas Capitol

by Jennifer Bergland December 17, 2017

written by Jennifer Bergland

On December 4, 2017, students came to the Texas State Capitol for the first Hour of Code held on the floor of the Texas Code House of Representatives. Students from Richardson, San Antonio, Austin, Pflugerville, Spring Branch, Leander, Hays County, and Lufkin came to the Capitol to demonstrate the different ways students gain coding experience in their elementary, middle, and high schools. They also came to teach state legislators and their staff members how to write their first line of code.

Code The Hour of Code is a national effort to help demystify computer coding and broaden participation in the field of computer science. The official Hour of Code takes place each year during Computer Science Education Week, which is held December 4-10. The Hour of Code at the Capitol was hosted by the University of Texas at Austin’s WeTeach CS project, TCEA, TechNet, and CS4TX to help promote the need for more support for computer science education in Texas schools.

Hands On Coding

The legislators and their staff had great fun learning how to program a robot from Pflugerville ISD middle school code students and listened to some San Antonio elementary students read a story they wrote, as their pre-programmed robots acted out the plot line. In fact, there were a variety of different robots roaming about the floor of the chamber, including: Lego, Sphero, Dot and Dash, Makeblock, Mircobits, and Ozobots. One of the participant’s favorite activities was test driving the code written for a virtual reality experience by the Richardson ISD high school students.

Several teachers who brought students to the event had recently participated in the University of Texas’ We Teach CS program which is aimed at assisting inservice teachers in obtaining a computer science teaching certification. These teachers currently teach science, view computer science as a natural complement to their curriculum, and are looking for ways to help students learn to code as they learn science.

Exploring the Job Market

Code The students also got to hear what it takes to work at Facebook, Google, and Uber. Representatives from these companies spoke to the students over pizza and soft drinks. They highlighted the benefits of working in the tech industry and what it takes to land a job at one of these three companies. It won’t be long before these students will be polishing their resumes and knocking on their doors. The likelihood of these students getting jobs is strong since there are currently over 40,000 unfilled high-tech jobs in Texas. And yet, only 3 percent of high school students took a computer science course last school year.

Strategies to Increase Enrollment in CS

Code This is why this day was so important. Educating policy makers on the benefits of computer science is critical to enacting policies that can effectively change the dismal statistics. Some of the strategies to increase the opportunities for students to gain computer science skills are:

Develop a comprehensive plan to expand K-12 computer science education statewide.
Incentivize school districts to offer computer science courses. Computer science and technology applications courses should be placed under the umbrella of Career and Technical Education (CTE) to unlock weighted funding through the CTE allotment.
Invest in professional development programs to train a corps of teachers to lead these courses. The key to this effort will be providing additional funding for computer science certification grant programs.

Code

For more information about hosting an Hour of Code at your school or district (or city hall, county court house, etc.), check out this blog post. You can host an Hour of Code anytime. Happy coding!

December 17, 2017 0 comments

Coding/Computer Science STEM/STEAM

STEM Coder: Future Ready Learning

by Miguel Guhlin December 12, 2017

written by Miguel Guhlin

Are you ready for a STEM future? This morning as I listened to the local news, KSAT12 in San Antonio, Texas, the newscast highlighted the importance of STEM. Texas school districts like Bryan ISD, Crosby ISD, Killeen ISD, and Little Elm ISD are embracing STEM programs in their districts. In addition, there are female-friendly programs for enhancing learning through the STEM subjects, such as Women in Science Endeavors (WISE) in Amarillo. Let’s take a closer look why STEM learning is important and what we can do about it as educators.

The Stats

No matter where you look, blending STEM into classrooms is critical. Consider these sources:

In 2015, there were nearly 8.6 million STEM jobs in the United States. That number is growing every year. In fact, STEM job growth in the past 10 years is three times that of any other field; but by 2018, it is projected that 2.4 million STEM jobs will go unfilled. (Source: eSchool News)

Or, as quoted in this STEM guidebook, The Big Guide to STEM, compiling multiple data points:

STEM professions earn 26% more than non-STEM professions.
There are 26 million STEM jobs in the United States.
Twenty percent of all US jobs are STEM-based jobs.
STEM occupations are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations and wages in these occupations were generally higher than the median for all occupations.

As amazing as those statistics are, the statistics relevant to girls/women in STEM are even more so:

Women make up less than 25% of the workforce in STEM professions.
Seventy-four percent of middle school girls express interest in STEM yet…
Only 0.4% of high school girls choose to pursue STEM in college.

These numbers mask an unsettling truth. Growth in STEM is primarily in the technology sector, focused on programming (a.k.a. coding).

STEM Coder

As cited by the New York Times, “In the decade ending in 2024, seventy three percent of STEM job growth will be in computer occupations,” such as coding, cloud computing, data mining, statistical analysis, and writing smartphone applications.

Becoming a STEM Coder

What does it take to become a STEM coder? If you examine the numerous Hour of Code resources and tutorials, it will take introducing students at an early age to coding tools. You can find a list of TCEA Hour of Code resources. To reach a more diverse set of potential coders, you will need to embrace more than just math and science.

STEM skills development needs to be introduced and encouraged earlier in children’s education, the panelists agreed. However, success in the digital economy requires more than ramping up STEM capabilities — it requires participation from people with a variety of backgrounds, skillsets, and perspectives…Rather than confine innovation the way it has always been, “what you really need to do is get people with diverse opinions in a room with diverse education and skills in a room to brainstorm, and figure out how to best solve the problem and be creative,” said Abrams. “If you’re gonna get diverse skills and interests and backgrounds that ultimately means diverse people need to be in that room. That’s a key challenge.”(source)

Specific observations from research for helping students, including girls, become coders include the following:

Make coding a creative and collaborative activity: Some suggestions for making this happen include having students using Minecraft: Education Edition’s built-in coding tools, working together to control drones using the iOS Tynker app, or introducing them to coding with Hopscotch.
Teach computational thinking: This is a future-ready skill. Learn more about computational thinking and teaching algorithms; you may know more than you think.
Add real-world problem solving: Check out project-based or problem-based learning resources available.

STEM Improves Test Grades

If STEM was not a worthy goal in and of itself, rest assured that it also improves performance on high stakes tests. “Standardized assessments revealed that students who used PBL by Defined STEM outperformed their peers by over +5 points,” reports MIDA Learning Technologies.

I Want to Help Students Become STEM Coders

If you want to assist students of all ages become STEM coders, then I invite you to attend the 2019 TCEA STEM Academy. Indicate your interest with this online form. This learning event will maximize STEM results for your students.

December 12, 2017 0 comments

Coding/Computer Science

How to Host an Hour of Code

by Jennifer Bergland November 27, 2017

written by Jennifer Bergland

The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science to demonstrate that anyone can learn the basics of coding. The effort was also designed to demystify computer coding and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. The official Hour of Code takes place each year during Computer Science Education Week. The 2017 Computer Science Education Week will be December 4-10, but for all practical purposes, you can host an Hour of Code all year round.

Organizing an Hour of Code event at your school or in your community is easy. Their website provides step-by-step instructions on how to pull off the event, complete with activities your participants can use to learn to code in an hour. They also provide ideas to get your community involved and a FAQ page that will answer almost every question you have about hosting an Hour of Code.

To assist you in your efforts, I reached out to several school districts who have participated in the event in the past to discover the best practices to follow when hosting an Hour of Code.

Strategies to Increase Participation

Photo courtesy of K.W. Barrett via Flickr.

Spring Branch ISD sends emails to district and campus leadership, posts planned Hour of Code activities on their website, and encourages community members to be “code buddies” with their students. They also use the #SBHourofCode hashtag to promote their efforts. To create some extra excitement, Karen Justl of SBISD, dresses up during the week as a Storm Trooper and visits several sites handing out stickers. How cool is that?!

Seguin ISD incorporates coding activities into all of their elementary and middle school technology application classes. And while students engage in coding lessons all year, there is a special emphasis during Computer Science Education Week.

Strategies to Involve the Community

Randy Rogers, Director of Digital Learning Services at Seguin ISD, invites numerous district and community leaders to come to campuses and participate in coding activities with their students. To facilitate this, elementary campuses submit a schedule of times that visitors can join students, and the dignitaries are assigned to various schools based upon their availability. In the past two years, SISD has had their state representative, mayor, city council members, county judge, chamber of commerce president, school board members, and more participate in an Hour of Code with one of Seguin’s students. What a great way to educate your elected officials about the need for more computer science!

How the Hour of Code Highlights Your District

Photo courtesy of K.W. Barrett via Flickr.

Spring Branch ISD includes pictures and stories about their Hour of Code activities on their district’s blog. Seguin sees the Hour of Code as an opportunity to have community members see and experience what their students are learning and a valuable opportunity to build relationships within the community. Rogers made clear the value he places in the Hour of Code when he said, “Our students are our best advertisement, and the interactions as our kids teach our community leaders how to use Scratch or Code Combat or Code.org is priceless!”

Computer science is foundational. It is changing every industry, which means every student should have the opportunity to learn how to create technology, not just use it. Participating in the Hour of Code will enable your students to experience the fun of creating a simple computer program and possibly encourage them to want to learn more. The sky is the limit!

November 27, 2017 0 comments

Coding/Computer Science

Spotlight on TCEA Member and Rockstar Educator Christi Coplin

by Susan Meyer November 15, 2017

written by Susan Meyer

Christi Coplin At TCEA, our members are what make our association so successful. Without the passion, innovative ideas, and diverse viewpoints of our members, we wouldn’t be what we are today. Each month, we like to feature some of our incredible members to share ideas and show what’s possible when you get creative and embrace using technology to fully engage students and transform learning.

Today, I want to introduce you to Christi Coplin, a veteran teacher serving Texas for 20 years and constantly striving to find new, more effective ways to use technology in the classroom. She is also continually educating herself by attending technology events all over the country. Here’s a little more about Christi and her teaching philosophy that will shed some light on why she is such a dynamo both in and out of the classroom.

What Keeps Her Going Through Long Days

Christi’s day starts at 3:30 am so she’s able to get ready to drive a school bus (she obtained her class B drivers license last year) before starting her busy day as a teacher at Commerce High School in Commerce, Texas (north east of the Dallas metroplex). At Commerce, she teaches a number of classes to provide students with digital literacy skills. “I have taught a combination of career and technology courses ranging from Business Information Management to Web Technologies. This year I am teaching Video Game Design, Computer Programming, and Principles of Information Technology,” says Christi about her current schedule.

After a long day of teaching and then driving the kids home on the bus, Christi goes to her home to look over student work and get ready to start the marathon all over again the next day. However, she’s doing what she loves. When asked what the best part of her job is, Christi is quick to answer: the kids. “I want to instill a love of learning into my kids. After all, they are the future, and they are the reason why I get up every morning,” she explains.

Always Learning and Transforming

Christi is constantly striving to improve her knowledge base and gain new strategies and resources to better teach her students. This is never more evident than when she describes how she spent the past summer:

“I applied and was awarded the Oracle Academy Scholarship for first timers to attend the Computer Science Teachers Association annual conference. I learned so much that week. Plus, I got to build a robot and program the robot for the first time. When the week was over, I flew to Boston, Massachusetts to attend an educator’s weekend at Harvard University where I learned about Harvard’s CS50 course for the high school Computer Science Principles AP course. From Harvard, I flew to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to attend Carnegie Mellon University’s summer educator’s bootcamp where I learned the Alice 3D Animation program. I then ended my summer at The University of Texas at Austin where I took an Oracle Academy Java Programming class. I am so excited about all my knowledge that I acquired this summer, and I look forward to having students compete in different contests, both in the UIL Computer Science category as well as different contests in the technology industry.”

Outside of her summer of learning, Christi makes sure to attend the TCEA Convention every year. To extend her learning all year long, she listens to TCEA Lunch and Learn webinars.

Christi’s Favorite Tech Tools and Tips

Christi shared her best technology tip for educators who are nervous about encountering new or unfamiliar technology: “Don’t be afraid to learn as you are teaching your students. You would be surprised at how understanding the students can be if you let them know beforehand that you are learning the software at the same time they are. Students understand that it is impossible to stay up to date on every new website or new software program.”

And when asked her favorite tech tool for the classroom? Christi is all about the power of social media to connect teachers and share solutions: “Believe it or not, it is a combination of Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+. I follow topics that I am currently teaching or topics that relate to what I am currently teaching. On Twitter, this is how I find out about student competitions and teacher scholarships for the different conferences I try to attend. Google+ has great resources for everyone from new teachers to veterans like me. I use Pinterest to help me come up with bell ringers. For instance, I might want a motivational saying to be showing as the students come in the classroom. Or I might want to use something from Pinterest that could help me brag on my kids. Brag Tags are a hit, even at the high school setting.”

I hope you enjoyed getting to know one TCEA’s valued members. To learn about other innovative educators doing incredible things, you can read some of our previous member spotlight posts here, here, and here.

November 15, 2017 0 comments

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