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TCEA Announces All-New Scratch Computational Thinking Course

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Make coding more than a programmer’s tool. Teachers can now learn how to use Scratch, a block coding tool, across the curriculum! This course allows you to learn how to use Scratch to teach computational thinking. Teachers can use it to present, animate, and gamify their lessons. The online, self-paced course (Scratch Computational Thinking) is available through TCEA.

An infographic with an orange cartoon cat and a talk bubble with a red heart and TCEA Scratch course logo. Behind the cat is a screenshot of Scratch code. To the right of the cat is information on cost, course structure, and what is included with enrollment. Above the cat is the title "TCEA's Scratch Computational Thinking" with a brief course description.

What Is TCEA?

If you don’t know us, we’re a nonprofit education association. Our mission? Advancing teaching and learning through the use of technology. Improving education with teachers and ensuring student success is our goal!

What You’ll Learn in the Scratch Course

Participants in the Scratch course watch videos to learn how to create animations, make mathematical instructional resources, and create games. And the course shows teachers how to pose and solve computational thinking problems.

TCEA Course Developer James Abela says that teachers will make lessons that encourage literacy and writing. Abela assisted in the launch of the Raspberry Pi at Cambridge, and he is also the course developer of TCEA’s Swift Programming course.

Abela says he loves teaching computer science, and with this course, teachers can take first steps into coding. “You will be able to create interactive animations. Teachers can support learning across all subjects!” he says.

Screenshot showing the block palette, code area, and stage in Scratch.
Image Source: Scratch Wiki

What Are the Scratch Course Details?

Once you complete the course, you will be able to create learning experiences for students with Scratch. “You can click things together just like Lego, so it’s a great way to get things started. It enables us to teach real models like the input process and output model,” says Abela.

The course includes five modules:

  • Module 1: Getting Started with Scratch
  • Module 2: Sequence
  • Module 3: Selection
  • Module 4: Iteration (Repetition)
  • Module 5: Interactivity

Enrolling in the course gets you a free TCEA membership, and once completed, you receive 12 CPE credits, and a digital badge. What’s more, you’ll get a digital certificate of completion! Course access lasts for one full year from a your date of enrollment in the course.

What Are the Scratch Course Prerequisites and Requirements?

This course is for teachers of students ages 7 – 14 and is an introductory course to computational thinking using Scratch. More sophisticated techniques shown here are suitable for older students. Scratch is also featured in Harvard’s CS50 course, which shows learning Scratch can benefit adult learners.

How To Sign Up

The course is available for $39, but for groups of 10 or more, the price is discounted to $34 per person. Contact Miguel Guhlin (mguhlin@tcea.org) for pricing quotes for 10 or more people. Large groups can also pay via TCEA Credit Card Authorization Form. Interested? Go ahead, enroll now!

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Coding/Computer ScienceContent AreasDigital LiteracyEducational TrendsGood Teaching

Tips, Tricks, and Tech Tidbits: Fire Safety, Halloween, Hybrid Learning, and More

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

I’ve discovered some really cool tech tools and tips to share with you this week, including a couple of must-see ones for fall. So let’s dive right in.

Fire Safety and Prevention Resources

This site offers lots of fun resources for elementary students about Fire Prevention Week (October 4-10, 2020) and fire safety. It includes two different ebooks, choice boards, videos, and more.

Halloween Scratch Lesson: Spooky Clones

This cute lesson plan for upper elementary to middle school students includes an opening video for engagement and then four lessons to help students create a “scary” game. Note: You must request the lessons via email from the creator (form included in the website).

Six Requirements for Successful Hybrid Learning

Mark Anderson, the ICTEvengelist, shared what has to be in place in order for hybrid teaching and learning to be successful. If any one of the eight items below are missing, then failure may result. How are you making sure to provide all of these if you or your teachers are leading hybrid teaching?

tips

Noise Canceling App

If you need to record a video for your students or staff to watch, but find that the noise in your classroom or at home is interfering, then check out Krisp. The app is available for Macintosh and Windows computers and will mute both microphone noise and background noise for 120 minutes/week for free. There are examples of how good the app is on the website that let you hear what it sounds like with and without muting. It works on 800+ communication programs including Zoom, Teams, and Meet.

Weekly Tech Tips

K-2 technology integration specialist Traci Plitz provides a fabulous weekly tip sheet for her teachers. You can scroll through them and see the past weeks, as well as the current one. While they are designed for use in primary classrooms, many of them can be applied K-12.

Have Your Students Publish to the World

The Global Writing Project is a free weekly writing experience for all ages, a place where learners can write about the world with the world. With a weekly prompt, students can submit their writing via Flipgrid, Buncee, or Wakelet and be provided with an authentic global audience and an opportunity to be showcased as part of their weekly “Global Write” Champions Corner.

Release Your Inner Artist

I admit to being old enough to remember fondly the hours I spent creating with the Spirograph, a fabulous drawing tool for those of us who can’t draw. Now there’s a free, online version available called Inspirograph. Since you’re using your mouse instead of a pen or pencil, it’s a little bit harder to maneuver. But it’s still tons of fun and very relaxing in these stress-filled days.

A New Tech Tool to Improve Your Virtual Self

David Jakes shares his new favorite tech tool, mmhmm. “This is a tool that provides a series of new options to improve your virtual presence – in my case Zoom (it also works with Google Meet, and Chrome or Firefox only). The basic idea of mmhmm is that it provides a virtual camera interface for Zoom that gives you some interesting new features.” The tool is currently in private beta, but you can request an invitation here.

Student Avatars

TCEA’s own Lisa Monthie offers this cool tidbit that she picked up from Tammy G. Neil (both are great educators to follow on Twitter!). Have the students create an avatar with https://avatarmaker.com/ and “then use a tool such as https://gifmaker.me/ to make a GIF of all the students.”

Halloween Videos for Elementary Students

Celebrate each day of October leading up to Halloween with a different video. This article provides 31 cute and learning-filled shorts for younger students.

Getting Your Students Moving

We know that movement is crucial for learning, and here’s a fun way to put it into practice. Spin It is a random movement and exercise generator. At its default, it includes some very tough exercises like planks and wall sits. But the really cool thing about the spinner is that you can customize it for your students to be much simpler and less exhausting. Put in silly things like hopping five times on one foot or rubbing your stomach and your head at the same time. Mix it up, get students moving, and get them laughing!

That’s all of the tidbits for this time. If you missed any of the previous tips, you can find them all by searching our blog for “tips, tricks, and tech tidbits.” Let me know if any of today’s or earlier tips helped you.

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ChromebooksEducational TrendsGood TeachingGoogle Tips and TricksSTEM/STEAM

Tips, Tricks, and Tech Tidbits: Science, Assessment, Math, and More

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

I’m back with more interesting tidbits that I’ve picked up around the web and through emails and conversations with dedicated educators. I hope that you find some useful nuggets to use! (By the way, you can find the previous goodies here, here, here, and here.)

Science Journal for Kids and Teens

If you’re looking for non-fiction articles that are scholarly but also appropriate for students, take a look at the free Science Journal for Kids and Teens. The website includes hundreds of articles approved by scientists written for kids. While most of the articles I found were best suited for secondary students, there are a few for elementary. The site also offers a very nice filtering system, allowing you to search by reading level, scientific field, scientific methodology (a world of learning there for high school students), and more. There are even a few articles written in languages other than English.

Seven Little Words Strategy

Educator Erica Ramirez provides a powerful formative or summative assessment of student learning using Google’s Jamboard and the Seven Little Words strategy.

A Simpler Wikipedia

If you or your students are using Wikipedia as a starting point for research on complicated topics, there is a way to get a simpler version of most of their content. This link (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_mechanics) provides their normal article on quantum mechanics, definitely a tough topic to get through. But by just replacing the “en” with the word “simple” in the URL, you get a much easier to read and understand article (https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_mechanics). This works for almost all of their topics and would be a good trick to teach your high school students.

How to Have a Trouble Huddle with Students

It’s easy to get so bogged down in all that we have to accomplish in the classroom each day that we don’t really see the students. One technique that can help with that when problems arise is a trouble huddle, explained very clearly in this blog.

Using Google Slides in Virtual Math Classes

Personally, it would take a lot to make math interesting to me. I just never grasped all of its basic points. But I might have learned more about it if my teachers had access to Google Slides and these ideas for virtual learning. The article offers “five ways to teach mathematics online with Google Slides while promoting student collaboration and maintaining the integrity of effective mathematics instruction.”

An Alternative to the Bitmoji Classroom

High school teacher Emily Huff didn’t want to do the “cutesy” Bitmoji classroom for her older students. So she created a Netflix-like landing page for her Spanish class. She downloaded the original template from this blog and then changed it up to better fit what her students are familiar with.

Zoom Games

If you’re looking for a quick brain break for your students to help combat “Zoom fatigue,” try one of these 20 fun (and fast) games. Ranging from short movement breaks to fun learning activities to silly games versus the teacher, these can be done in any virtual learning platform and are sure to bring a smile.

#ScratchPals

Wouldn’t it be great for your students to collaborate with students around the world to “Code the World You Wish to See?” You can by joining in this free event that starts October 1, 2020. Students use Scratch as a platform for creative expression, #TeachSDGs for inspiration, and #DigCit to respectfully collaborate. You can register here or learn more about it here.

Online Whiteboards

This article offers three free online whiteboards that you can use with your students or in professional development that is held either face-to-face or virtually. All three offer great collaboration opportunities.

I hope that you find that these tips and tricks can help you in your daily journey to be the best educator you can be. Let me know in the comments below if these are “spot on” or if there are other topics that I need to be researching.

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EV3 robot on the Race for Time Mat at a TCEA Arena Contest
Robotics

Changes Are a Comin’ for Programming an EV3 Robot

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers
the word change with a double arrow circling the word.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

When Apple releases the sixteenth macOS, Catalina, this fall, the Silverlight application will no longer be supported. Silverlight is a 32-bit application and Catalina will be the first version of macOS to exclusively support 64-bit applications.

What Is Silverlight and Why Should I Care?

Silverlight is an application framework created by Microsoft and designed for running rich media on the internet. The LEGO MINDSTORMS Education (LME)  software will not run on your Mac computer if and when you upgrade to Catalina.

What Do I Need to Do?

If you don’t upgrade your macOS, you can continue using the LME software on your Mac.

In November 2019, a fully functional EV3 Scratch application will be available for macOS only. The units will include: Getting Started with EV3, Robotics Camp, Engineering & Science, and Space Challenge.

In March 2020, a fully functional EV3 Scratch application will be available that contains the units for Getting Started with EV3, Robotics Camp, Engineering & Science, and Space Challenge for Chrome, Android, and Windows 10.

Is This a Good Thing?

Right now, when your program with the LME EV3 Mac/PC software, the programming looks different than the Chromebook/iPad. With the Scratch app, the programming will all look the same.

Answers to More Questions

  • Does this affect WeDo 2.0?  No.
  • Will the iOS and Chromebook app still work the same way? Yes.
  • Will I be able to use the data logging with the new Scratch app? No.
  • Will the EV3 Scratch app look similar to the new SPIKE Prime? Yes.
  • Can I preview the Scratch app now? The new Scratch application for macOS will be available for download in November 2019.

Can I Start Programming with Scratch Now?

Yes, to start programming with Scratch and EV3, simply download the EV3 Scratch link from MIT to a Windows 10 version 709+ or MacOS 10.13+ laptop. Please note this app is from MIT and does not include full curriculum support and teacher resources.

Where Can I get a Peek at the New Scratch App?

Well, TCEA has the answer. LEGO Education is holding a Coding and Scratch Academy at TCEA headquarters in Austin on November 12, 2019 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The cost is just $25 and lunch will be provided. Topics will include WeDo 2.0, Ev3 and SPIKE Prime Scratch apps, EV3 and Python programming, and a sneak peek of the new SPIKE Prime STEAM robotics system releasing early 2020. Registration is limited, so please register soon. 

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coding applications
Coding/Computer Science

Four Apps for Teaching Students Coding Skills

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Why should we learn coding? All technology that is used in the world has code as the driving force. Students are more engrossed in technology than ever. They’re active on social media or glued to the latest video game. The issue is that our students are simply acting as consumers. How can we transition them to become creators of their own applications? How can we empower students to engage in self-directed learning?

By learning essential programming skills, students will gain significant computational thinking capabilities. They will learn how to analyze problems, break them down into smaller chunks, and create multiple solutions. They will learn to collaborate with peers, communicate their creativity, and gain a broader understanding of the impact coding has on the world.

Recommended Programming Applications

This article shares four coding applications I’ve found to be effective at providing self-guided learning experiences in my classroom. There are a vast number of coding applications out there. One can become easily lost in the forest of options if I were to list them all. I am hopeful that this blog will provide educators enough knowledge to effectively choose which applications they want to implement in their own curriculum.

1. Lightbot: Introduction to Programming Concepts

When I was ready to introduce coding to my students, even those that were not in my programming class, the first activity I had them engage in was Lightbot. Lightbot is an application that is featured as a part of the Hour of Code activities and is designed to serve as a one or two-hour lesson. Lightbot engages students in a game that tests their logic and problem-solving capabilities. It introduces the most basic concepts of coding: iteration, procedures, and loops. At first, my students thought the game was too childish, but they soon realized their own struggle to solve some of the more complex problems. This game is easily accessible on the computer and all major mobile platforms. I have used this program as a recruiting tool to expand my rapidly growing Computer Science program.

2. Scratch: The Block-Based Coding App

After Lightbot, the next logical step is to introduce block-based programming to the students. Scratch is a great program for introducing coding concepts to students. First, Scratch is free. Second, it is known as a block-based program because students literally drag and drop blocks of instructions in the code editor. There is very little typing involved. Scratch is simple, but it can become complex if a student really gets in-depth. During my first year of teaching Computer Science, I had my class complete a project with Scratch to create a visual story or a game. Half of my class chose to create a game while the other half chose a story. The students truly valued the openness of the project, and they enthusiastically created their own applications.

I believe Scratch is one of the easiest applications to implement across the curriculum. Also, Scratch contains a host of freely-accessible, community-built programs that can be used in lessons. As an educator, you can even create your own content or quiz using Scratch. Below are a few examples of projects utilizing the program across the curriculum:

  • ELA – Creating a visual poem; book report
  • Math – Probability (dice rolling); fractions game
  • Science – Formula balancing; report on the brain
  • Fine Arts – Creating music; animated drawings
  • Social Studies – Historical biography; quiz game

Eventually, the students grew weary of Scratch and are ready for the next challenge. This is the point when I introduced CodeCombat that gets students more engaged in typing code.

3. CodeCombat: The Coding Game 

CodeCombat introduces students to typing code instead of dragging and dropping. They first choose from several characters and are then guided in the lesson content through gaming “quests.” CodeCombat offers a fully-planned curriculum and a grade book. Students can work through at their own pace. The programming languages taught are Python, JavaScript, and HTML. If a student struggles through a level, they are automatically assigned additional practice to complete. Meanwhile, those students who prefer to move at a quicker pace can jump ahead to more challenging levels.

The first set of levels is offered in a free version. I have used this free version to introduce coding to my students in both my programming and non-programming classes. The paid version promises many game development activities, ranging from beginners to more experienced coders. CodeCombat was recently endorsed by the College Board for their Computer Science Principles course. I am hopeful to be able to explore their setup for this curriculum one day. Even though CodeCombat is a wonderful resource, I utilized another coding application known as CodeHS as the primary learning tool for my students.

4. CodeHS: The Individualized Learning Platform

CodeHS is the current driving force in my ever-growing Computer Science program. Like CodeCombat, there are free and paid versions of this self-contained platform. Students can learn a variety of coding languages, including JavaScript, Python, HTML, and Java. The CodeHS paid version provides educators with curriculum, professional development, and an abundance of tools and resources to create an engaging and student-empowered classroom. CodeHS is also College Board Certified for their AP Computer Science Principles course. There is also room for growth for both educators and students as the program offers the AP Computer Science Applications course and additional preceding courses. This is the next step in building my Computer Science program to engage my advanced students further.

My students have loved being able to work at their own pace. They have enjoyed building a website, creating pixel art, and learning the basics of cybersecurity. They love that the content is fully open and that they can perform many trial and error tests. My students were recently actively engaged in creating an application for their AP tasks, and I had the privilege of acting as a coach in the classroom where I actively monitored progress and provided aid where needed. I even had one student excel beyond the scope of the course. He gleefully pressed forward into his own personalized learning.

Examining the Results of These Coding Applications

Each of these programming applications has been a great asset as I took charge of the Computer Science content area on my campus. In the 2016-2017 school year, which was my first year of teaching Computer Science, my total number of students was eight. This number doubled during my second year. As for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year, I am already expecting the number of students to nearly triple in size based on current enrollment data.

I warn my students that coding can be their worst nightmare, but also their greatest addiction. There is much to learn with coding, and I am hopeful that my Computer Science program continues to grow. I truly believe that the students who take a programming class will walk away with more than just a good coding skill set. They will walk away with the knowledge and understanding that they are empowered through coding and are capable of tackling their own learning experiences.

This is a guest blog by James D Turnage. James is a Computer Science and IT teacher formerly at Ball High School in Galveston ISD who will begin teaching Computer Science and Video Game Design at Clear Falls High School in Clear Creek ISD in August.

 

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Microsoft update
Coding/Computer ScienceEducational TrendsMicrosoft Tips and Tricks

Creating Worlds of Tomorrow: Microsoft Update

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

“To predict the future, invent it,” said Alan Kay. The quote perfectly describes Microsoft’s successful May 2, 2017 event, Learn What’s Next , and some of the  innovative teaching and learning possibilities Microsoft has created. Let’s take a moment to quickly review what those updates are and how they approach creating worlds of tomorrow. You can also watch the event on demand and follow the buzz via the Twitter hashtag, #MicrosoftEDU.

Innovation #1 – $189 New Windows 10 Education PCs and Software

create worlds

Photo Credit: @Surface

Creating worlds of tomorrow involves new technologies, including 3D ways of looking at the real and virtual world. Microsoft announced a new version of Windows 10 known as Windows 10 S, where the S represents security, simplicity, and superior performance. Paired with an offer available for all schools, Windows 10 S is free for installation on current Windows Pro PCs. If you need apps that are not in the Windows Store, you can still get them if you have Windows Pro on your device. Microsoft Intune for Education, an easy way to manage Windows PCs, is also now available and will make it easier for district IT staff to manage the devices. Intune will sell for $30/license. Curious about the new Windows Surface laptop? Check out the specifications for the $189 Surface laptop.

But wait, there’s more! The free Microsoft Office 365 for Education now integrates Teams, Microsoft’s newest chat-based workspace, for use in Microsoft Classrooms via an incredible update. This will allow for greater and easier collaboration among students and staff.

Innovation #2 – Minecraft (MCEE) Adds a Coding Agent

Microsoft updateWish you had a digital assistant to help you build a virtual world? Now you do. Minecraft: Education Edition (also known as MCEE and in use in 100 countries) now has a mod known as Code Builder, which makes building and creating in the online virtual world as easy as drag and drop. In the on-screen demo, students use block coding strategies with Tynker (Scratch is also available) to direct the Agent, which appears on the screen as a robot. The robot can be programmed to build and create structures in virtual space. This is absolutely mind-blowing! Over 50 million instances of Minecraft Hour of Code have already highlighted how budding coders are learning to create and manipulate their virtual environment in real time. Now you’ll be able to combine Tynker and/or Javascript (for more advanced coders) with MCEE without having to leave the virtual world. Minecrafters simply type /code to connect to Tynker or Javascript. And all new Windows 10 education PCs now come with a free one-year subscription to MCEE. Both of these updates offer fantastic opportunities for schools, taking MCEE into the realm of coding to solve real-world problems.

Innovation #3 – Free STEM Projects and Lessons

Control a robotic finger made from a straw, stream data into MS Excel, and design a moving dragon. These are only three examples of newly available pop-up STEM experiences that will appear in May, along with summer programs, at select Microsoft stores. Add these to the existing library of content available via Creative Coding through Games and Apps (CCGA) and K-12 schools have access to an array of learning possibilities.

Innovation #4 – Windows Mixed Reality Brings 3D into Classrooms

create worlds

Image Source: 3D4medical.com

“Learning is an endless pursuit,” says Panos Panay (@panos_panay), Microsoft Surface engineer, as he lovingly describes engineers seeking to design new Surfacebooks and tablets. These words are echoed in every aspect of Mixed Reality, a new technology that models field trips to space and places students into a 3D reality. This is the power of mixed reality that merges physical and virtual worlds. See it in action via this video.  Mixed Reality works with any Windows 10 computer equipped with a built-in or external webcam. Even better, it is available at no cost.

Another incredible addition is 3D4Medical, which transforms medical learning using the Microsoft Surface laptop (available June 15 for $999; pre-order today). What’s more, Microsoft, 3D4Medical, and Pearson have combined to make a variety of other innovative courses available.

Innovation #5 – New Surface Laptop with 14.5-Hour Battery Life

One of the stunning announcements of the morning included demonstrations of the new Surface Laptop, available in multiple colors and boasting a 14.5-hour battery life (outperforming Apple’s Mac at 10 hours of life). This incredible device appears light, sleek, and powerful. It’s great for use anywhere and by anyone. It is available for purchase beginning today at a price point just shy of $1,000.

Microsoft update

Photo Credit: The Next Web

Implications for K-16

Wondering how these revelations impact K-16 education? While new technology is always exciting, Microsoft Intune brings new mobile device management tools to Windows 10 S devices, making them a solid option for cost-conscious education leaders. The free, albeit for one year, Minecraft:Education Edition with Code Builder, the no-cost Mixed Reality, and pop-up experience STEM lessons and curriculum make today’s update a visionary and breathtaking view of what’s possible tomorrow.

 

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Scratch Day
Coding/Computer ScienceRoboticsSTEM/STEAM

Celebrate Scratch Day and a Decade of Fun, Free Coding

by Susan Meyer
written by Susan Meyer

This month, it’s time to gather together to celebrate your favorite coding language: Scratch! (And if it isn’t already your favorite, you’ll definitely want to read further and discover what you and your students could be gaining from this fantastic, free programming language). Every May, people around the world hold Scratch Day events. These are free events that anyone can join (or even host their own) to learn and share the exciting possibilities with Scratch.

Why Scratch?

The ability to code is quickly becoming a required part of modern digital literacy. When students learn how to code, they are also learning problem-solving strategies and critical thinking, as well as how to creatively communicate their ideas.

Scratch is a great first programming language. It’s completely free to use. It’s also a visual programming language, making it easy to grasp for first time coders. In Scratch, you move and snap together colored blocks to create the code. The organization of these blocks provides instructions to control characters called sprites. Young children can begin to understand the basic principles of coding without having to remember and write out lines of code. They can see immediate results and discover how adjustments in their code can change the resulting outcome. For more information on getting started with Scratch, check out this blog.

Scratch is specifically designed for learners ages 8 to 16. However, it is used and enjoyed by millions of people of all ages. Scratch isn’t just fun for new coders, but more experienced coders, too. As students gain more confidence in their coding skills, they can create more in-depth interactive stories and complex games and bring them to life through animation. They can also collaborate with others and share their creations in an online community. In fact, the Scratch community has over 21 million projects shared. These are great resources for programmers to get ideas, be inspired, and see the incredible range of what can be created using Scratch.

A Quick History of Scratch

I believe that the best way to help people understand the world is to provide them with opportunities to actively explore, experiment, and express themselves. 
–Mitchel Resnick, Creator of Scratch

This year isn’t just any Scratch Day time; it’s also the 10-year anniversary of Scratch. That marks a whole decade of millions of children and adults learning to code in a fresh new way.

Scratch was created by Mitchel Resnick through a group called Lifelong Kindergarten in the MIT Media Lab. The mission of Lifelong Kindergarten is to encourage learning through active discovery. Their philosophy is that people of all ages learn best when they are engaged with designing, creating, and inventing things, a premise that TCEA and all of our members strongly agree with and practice.

Resnick developed the earliest versions of Scratch while working with the students and staff at Computer Clubhouse. This is a network of after-school learning centers where students from low-income communities can use technology to express themselves. The name “Scratch” comes from the idea of collaboration and building off the work of others to create something new. “Scratching” in computer science means to reuse and re-purpose code and share it with others so that they can do the same.

Lifelong Kindergarten continues to grow and improve Scratch to match new technology. The first edition of Scratch was intended for people to download and use on their home computer. Scratch 2.0 allowed coders to design and share their projects directly in their web browsers. Scratch 3.0, which is expected to be released in 2017, will allow students to code on mobile devices and even integrate with Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Get Scratching

Scratch Day is a global network of events that celebrate all things Scratch. There are already over 400 projects planned this year. These events are designed to allow members of the Scratch community to come together in real time to share projects and ideas and learn from each other.

To find a project or event near you, go to the Scratch Day website. You can search by your city, town, or zip code to see what events are nearby. Don’t see an event near you? You can always host your own! The Scratch Day organizers provide resources for how to host a Scratch Day event including a planning checklist, sample agendas, and tips for effective facilitation.

Are you attending or planning to host a Scratch Day event this May? If so, we’d love to hear what you have in store in the comments section below.

 

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Laptop with code displayed on screen
Coding/Computer ScienceSTEM/STEAM

Made with Code

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

In the near future, there will be 1.4 million programming jobs available. But only about 400,000 people to fill them. Let’s help our students and children get ready for the future. One way to do that is Hour of Code. If you don’t know about the Hour of Code yet, you are missing out on a global experience that prepares students to engage in computational thinking. Tutorials and hands-on activities focus on a visual programming environment, programming language, app programming, and “unplugged” activities. Best of all, there is little work you have to do as a teacher to impact students!

When Will It Take Place?

The Hour of Code is December 5-11, 2016. You can schedule an hour of activities during class time, after school (perhaps as part of a club/organization), or encourage students to use free time at home.

Who Sponsors Hour of Code?

Hour of Code, launched in 2013, is a non-profit dedicated to expanding participation in computer science, as well as increasing participation by women (Watch video and See Made with Code) and under-represented students of color. The vision is that every student in school should have the opportunity to to be exposed to computer science skills. Hour of Code founders also support the idea that that computer science and programming should be part of the core curriculum in education, alongside other STEM courses.

Why Try an Hour of Code?

This activity helps demystify coding, programming, and computer science, helping each student learn the basics. Watch the Anyone Can Learn (60 seconds) video. Some may not realize that coding is applied mathematics, enabling students to learn new math concepts through programming. Introducing students to programming environments helps them represent math concepts visually and allows them to experiment on the representation. It also enables students to develop problem-solving skills, which translate well into the math classroom.

How Do You Get the Hour of Code Going District-wide?

Be sure to get buy in and help. You can do this by reaching out to campus principals, teachers, and/or organizational leaders. Schedule date(s) and time(s), organize instructors and helpers, as well as provide an agenda for each Hour of Code event. Publicize the event through flyers, blog entries, social media, and more. Record video/audio interviews with coders, young and old, and share them. Check out how NorthEast ISD has organized their Hour of Code event.

Apps and Programs by Grade Level

  • Grades PreK-2
  • Grades 3-8
    • Code.org: Write your first computer program featuring Angry Birds
    • Touch Develop: Combine this with Microsoft’s Creative Coding through Games and Apps (CCGA) curriculum for a rich variety of coding on the go.
    • Scratch: Create a holiday card
    • Tynker: Build your own game.
    • Robomind Academy: Program a virtual robot.
    • Hopscotch: Code on your iPad and explore math concepts like units of measure, degrees, angles, coordinate planes.
  • Grades 6-12

More Resources

Find more resources online at the web sites below:

Remember, you don’t have to be a genius to do math, to read, to write, or code. Get started now and in a year, your students will be coding!

 

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Scratch
Coding/Computer ScienceSTEM/STEAM

Easy and Powerful Coding with Scratch

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

My mom always said that my brother’s handwriting was like chicken scratch. This is true; my brother has incredibly messy handwriting that is nearly impossible to read. He is the only person who can read it easily, and I always have to get out my elementary teacher skills to decode his scrawling. Thankfully, this blog post is about a completely different type of Scratch.

Anybody around the world from age eight to 80 can easily create interactive stories, games, art, music, simulations, and animations with this free, visual programming language. The optimum age targets eight to 16-year-olds and can be found in homes, classroom, schools, museums, libraries, and community centers.

Scratch is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux from this website. It works well in a maker space, computer lab, after-school program, or coding club. And the Scratch community does a wonderful job of providing resources to get both teachers and students up and programming in no time. It’s simple and does not require the teacher to know how to use it.

The interface opens to the project editor, which has six main areas:

  • Stage – the background (where your programming comes alive)
  • Sprites List – people, animals, and objects that will move because of the scripts (the code)
  • Blocks Palette – blocks of code listed in ten categories
  • Scripts Area – drag blocks of code to this area to program
  • Backpack –  allows users to incorporate sprites and sounds easily from previous projects
  • Cursor Tools – duplicate, delete, grow, shrink, and tips

Helpful Scratch Resources to Get You Started

From the homepage, you can:

  • Watch an introduction video (1:37)
  • Test-drive the program
  • See tons of examples
  • Create a free account

Getting Started with Scratch 2.0 (16-page document)

Getting Started with Scratch (In the Project Editor, click on All Tips to access step-by-step tutorials.)

Cards (provides a quick way to learn new Scratch code)

Wiki (Collaboratively-written wiki by Scratchers)

Starter Projects (Make changes and add your own ideas)

Video Tutorials (20+ introductory and paint editor tip videos)

Students who learn to code in Scratch are learning strategies for solving problems, designing projects, and communicating ideas. Throw in thinking creatively, systematical reasoning, and working collaboratively, and you and your students have an educational tool as close to perfection as I have seen in my thirty-one years. And did I mention that the program is free?

Once your students have Scratch under their belts, the natural progression, in my humble opinion, is robotics. Perhaps you are looking to elevate, energize, and empower your classroom with programming? TCEA will offer a three-day workshop, “Mission Possible: LEGO EV3 Robotics in the Classroom,” on June 1-3. Register here.

Featured Image: Created in Scratch by author

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