There is a huge deal of focus on coding in elementary school, and rightfully so but, this week, we wanted to go a little beyond the traditional classroom coding adventures that we love. Besides the always popular platforms, like Scratch and MakeCode, some more complex programming languages, like JavaScript, Python, and HTML, provide older kids with new opportunities.
As we do more than ever to create equitable STEM education, we’ve really embraced coding lessons that students can access from everywhere. One robotics tool that enables this is that highly intelligent humanoid known as the NAO Robot V6 and, with the virtual version, students in middle school, high school, college, and CTE programs can code in any environment.
Coding experiences are worthwhile for students starting in Pre-K and kindergarten and up through high school and college. If you already have a plan for CS Ed Week, that’s great but, if you need recommendations, we have plenty of those inside, including coding tools from top STEM manufacturers, screen-free options, or those that are completely virtual.
With the official kickoff of CS Ed Week just two days away, we thought we should discuss some exciting ways that students can practice programming in the upcoming week and throughout the rest of the year. The number of coding tools is constantly growing, so there are a lot of options that teachers could try in the classroom or after school.
The Root robot can help children of all different ages learn key tech and programming skills by introducing them to coding gradually. Teaching and learning with Root, however, is made much more effective when educators are masters themselves. So, the iRobot Education team has created Root Academy—an all-encompassing educator PD tool.
For one week in December, we put a little bit of an extra emphasis on the importance of computer science and teaching students coding skills so that they may excel in an economy that’s driven by technology. There are hundreds of ways that school and district leaders can help their students participate in Hour of Code activities and so many creative options.
For today’s post, we will cover the versatile micro:bit board, including how to get started with different devices and other classroom and safety tips to help teachers and students make the most of the micro:bit experience. As a micro:bit owner, you may already know the micro:bit is a microcontroller designed for students from 11-12 years old but there’s much more to it.
The C++ programming language can be learned by anyone with some computer science experience. On the basic side, students can learn things like loops, arrays, strings, functions, and variables, while the more advanced programming with C++ includes the capability to control pointers, structures, dynamic allocation, binary trees, and more.
Every year, students in schools around the world take part in Computer Science Education Week and the Hour of Code. Participation in this fantastic initiative has continued to grow every year since its official inception and we expect this year to the biggest one yet! This year’s CS Ed Week begins on Monday (Dec. 3) and runs through Dec. 9.
This week in the Eduporium Experiment, we’re diving into Part 2 of the Sphero Mini. In the first Sphero Mini blog, we addressed the differences between the Sphero SPRK+ and the Mini. This week, we are going to discuss the various apps that students can use with the Mini and how to apply them in a classroom, makerspace, or at home!
