Young Learners See the FuturePresented by Penny Currier and Sandy Van Sciver

The Development of this Project

This coding project started out as a way to differentiate for a small group of high achieving second grade students.

It morphed into something much more as we connected our two classrooms and all the students become actively engaged in learning and mentoring.

We realized that this project offered a platform for all our students to interact with and practice 21st century learning skills: creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking/problem solving.

We expanded this project to include a connection between basic coding and potential activities and careers.

So…. What is Coding?

Coding is the art of telling a computer how to perform complex tasks. In order to code, a student uses analytical thinking – knowing what needs to be accomplished and then breaking it down into sequential steps that, when put together, reach the goal.

Coding creates a powerful and engaging learning environment for students, but the technology facilitates and supports the learning -- it isn't the focus. This project was not just about teaching programming. Coding is the language of critical thinking. It requires students to define problems, break them into parts, and be resourceful in finding the answers to their problems.

Our First Steps

We went to code.org and played with the coding exercises to become familiar with the skills and sequences of the program.

We ordered and followed the directions for the WeDo forms.

We organized the materials, planned the trajectory and organized the basic lesson format.

Designing The Project

The Plan

We wanted all the students in our classes to learn basic coding from code.org and then use that coding knowledge to program Lego WeDo forms.

Learning Outcomes:

Students would:

• develop communication skills though collaboration with peers.

• enhance their critical thinking and problem solving skills.

• understand the importance of sequencing.

• use technology to accomplish a task.

Teaching Process:

1. An explanation of this project’s learning objectives was presented to the students. We wanted them to know what they were going to learn, why it was important and how they would apply that knowledge.

2. The second grade students learned basic coding through code.org. They practiced as a group and independently until they felt they were “experts” and could teach someone else.

3. The first grade students were provided an introduction to coding. Then each first grade student was paired with a second grade buddy. The second grade buddy taught them how to get to code.org and begin basic coding.

4. As the first graders practiced what their second grade buddies taught them, the second graders continued their learning process and developed their coding skills and ability to program the WeDo forms.

5. The buddy pairs continued to meet bi-weekly with the second graders teaching new skills and strategies until all were ready and able to code the Lego WeDo forms.

During the Lessons

As the teachers we did not always have the answers and learned along side the students. We facilitated learning through asking questions and offering suggestions.

We encouraged students to problem solve and help each other.

Difficulties were approached as opportunities for learning and to practice critical thinking.

Time to Explore Code.org

Additional Resources

Coding Sites/Materials

Lego WeDo - education.lego.com/en-us/lesi/elementary/lego-education-wedo

Scratch – www.scratch.mit.edu

ScratchJr - www.scratchjr.org (ipad only)

A few links with more info about kids learning coding:

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/feb/07/year-of-code-dan-crow-songkick

http://dmlcentral.net/blog/doug-belshaw/why-kids-need-learn-code