Hour of Code:Programming with Students

Marcy Reed, Consultant, CSDE

October, 2015

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Why Teach Programming?

Because it is a foundational skill that leads to successful habits of mind.“Success in the slowly changing worlds of past centuries

came from being able to do well what you were taught to do. Success in the rapidly changing world of the future

depends on being able to do well what you were not taught to do. ”

– Seymour Papert, co-founder of MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Lab, and the MIT Media Lab.

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Why Teach Programming?

Because it teaches one to learn from mistakes.

“Many children are held back in their learning because they have a model of learning in which you have either ‘got it’ or

‘got it wrong.’ But when you program a computer you almost never get it right the first time. Learning to be a

master programmer is learning to become highly skilled at isolating and correcting bugs ...

The question to ask about the program is not whether it is right or wrong, but if it is fixable. If this way of looking at

intellectual products were generalized … we might all be less intimidated by our fears of ‘being wrong.’”

– Seymour Papert, co-founder of MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Lab, and the MIT Media Lab.

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Why Teach Programming?Because it helps develop parallel cognitive skills.

Coding may be a catalyst for learning — much like learning a foreign language or a musical instrument helps to stimulate parts of the brain and boost skills such as reading comprehension. After taking a class in coding, kids who once saw “brushing your teeth” as a 3 or 4 step process suddenly saw it as a nuanced, 20-step sequential process.

- Dominic Basulto, Washington Post

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

1,000,000 Unfilled Jobs by 2020

2011 2020 -

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1,600,000

Sources: BLS, NSF, Bay Area Council Economic Institute

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

STUDENTS JOBS

Computer Science: 60% of

STEM jobs

Sources: College Board, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Science Foundation

Computer Science: 2%

of STEM students

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Sources: College Board, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Science Foundation

Fewer CS majors than 10 years ago(and a shrinking % are women)

Sources: National Science Foundation

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

Male Female

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Google-sponsored Gallup Poll Released August, 2015:

2/3 of Parents think CS should be required

Less than ½ of Principals/Superintendents say their BOE thinks offering CS is important

21% of schools currently offer AP Computer Science - several do expect to expand offerings

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Computer Science Teachers Association

College Board – AP CS InformationSample Activity:Learn how to identify threats to cybersecurity and ways to use the internet to address such concerns.

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Options for CS Activities

• CS Career Awareness activities• Coding Club – Google’s CS First • Computational Thinking Activities• ‘Unplugged’ Computational Thinking Activities

– Communicating Algorithms– Using BeeBots or other manipulatives

• Free programming resources that can be infused as an Activity or a Unit:

–Code.org & CodeHS–Scratch–MIT Education Arcade–Pencil Code

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CS Career Awareness

Sample Activity – Cyber Crime

News sources, current events, .gov websites• Public Radio• Federal Government websites

– Homeland Security– FBI Cyber Crimes

NPR Article

Sample Job Posting

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Cyber Crime:An entirely new day for CS ProfessionalsFrom Qatar –

http://www.theedge.me/the-fight-to-protect-qatars-borders-in-cyberspace/

The Syrian Electronic Army, has targeted Qatar and its organizations such as Qatar Foundation.

Last year’s attack on RasGas crippled the company’s administrative IT system. If RasGas, as Qatar’s one of two LNG producers, were to be taken offline, the ramifications would have been significant to the economy.

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Cyber Crime:An entirely new day for CS Professionals

To Saudi Arabian Oil Fields –

http://www.offshore-technology.com/features/featurecybercrime-oil-gas-industry-saudi-aramco-lightly/

Saudi Aramco may be back in business after clearing 30,000 of its computers of a malicious virus in August, but the attack should serve as a stark warning that the oil and gas industry is becoming increasingly attractive to digital thieves.

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Cyber Crime:An entirely new day for CS Professionals

To your personal mode of transportation –

http://www.welivesecurity.com/2015/07/22/hackers-demo-jeep-security-hack/

The two hackers, Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek, demoed the exploit – the result of a year’s work – to a Wired journalist. Their code is an automaker’s nightmare: software that lets hackers send commands through the Jeep’s entertainment system to its dashboard functions, steering, brakes, and transmission, all from a laptop that may be across the country.

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Coding Club – Google’s CS First Club

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Coding Club –

Google’s CS First: http://www.cs-first.com/

Materials:• are completely free and available online• are targeted at students in grades 4th-8th (ages 9-14)• can be tailored to fit your schedule and needs• involve block-based coding using Scratch and are themed

to attract students with varied interests

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Teaching a Problem-Solving, Computational Mindset: Computational Thinking

We can talk about Computer Science as not only a means to a career, but also as a way of thinking, reasoning, and solving problems.

Using CS activities in the classroom can also be focused on developing Computational Thinking.

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

What is Computational Thinking?

Computational thinking (CT) is a problem-solving process in which one is able to: • Formulate problems in a way that enables tools to solve them• Logically organize and analyze data • Represent data through abstractions like models & simulations • Automate solutions through algorithmic thinking • Identify, analyze, and implement possible solutions with the goal of achieving the most efficient and effective combination of steps and resources • Generalize and transfer this problem solving process to a wide variety of problems

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Why Computational Thinking (CT)?

Through learning to think, plan and communicate Computationally, the following characteristics develop:

• Confidence in dealing with complexity

• Persistence in working with difficult problems

• Tolerance for ambiguity

• The ability to deal with open ended problems

• The ability to communicate and work with others to achieve a common goal or solution

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

“Unplugged” CT Activities

Free ‘unplugged’ resources:–Computer Programming Unplugged–Google Classroom Activities –Kodable –Thinkersmith My Robot Friends Conditionals with Cards Binary BaublesMake up your own Algorithm Activity:–Students work together to give directions for a simple task:–Stipulate what the person executing the directions knows and is able to do (left, right etc.)–Students trade directions and execute

Low Cost ‘unplugged’ resources

- BeeBots

- BreakoutEDU

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

“Unplugged” CT Activities

Low-cost ‘unplugged’ resources:

BeeBots (BlueBots and ProBots) cost $80 - $120

Programmable robots - can move in specific directions and do a range of degree turns.

ProBot Activity Guide

Breakout Game - $100 Comes with a basic kit Cost of kit includes access to the activities

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

“Unplugged” CT Activities

BreakOutEDU

• Games (Breakouts) teach teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, and troubleshooting by presenting participants with challenges that ignite their natural drive to problem-solve.

• Perfect for classrooms, staff trainings, dinner parties, and at home with the family! At the end of a Breakout, your players will be eager for the next! 

• Can be used to teach core academic subjects

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

“Unplugged” Computational Thinking Activities

BreakOutEDU – Candy CaperThe custodian has asked all teachers to keep their class in their rooms for a few minutes to do work in the hallway. They didn’t say why, but it turns out the lunch ladies hid some candy and they were hoping to be the first to find it! They left the class clues to be able to find the candy before the custodian does!Time: 45 MinutesGame Designer: Kern KelleyAges: 4th - 8th GradesIdeal Group Size: 4-6

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Free Resources – Hour or LongerCS Education Week – December 7 – 13, 2015

• Khan Academy – Hour of Code • CS Education Week – https://csedweek.org/csteacher• Code.org - https://code.org/learn• Girls Who Code: http://girlswhocode.com/

How to teach an hour of code

Let’s try a simple activity: https://www.khanacademy.org

Subjects -> Computing -> Hour of Code -> Hour of Drawing with Code ->

Start Drawing with Code -> Challenge ‘H is for Hopper’

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Free Resources – Scratch

MIT Scratch Website: https://scratch.mit.edu

Several sections to help you get started:

Go to ‘help’

https://scratch.mit.edu/help/

Getting Started Guide (downloadable .pdf) Scratch Cards Video Tutorials

ScratchEd - http://scratched.gse.harvard.edu/

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Hour of Code – December 7-13, 2015

Together, we want to reach 100,000 classrooms worldwide

Sign up for the Hour of Code

What is the Hour of Code?It’s a grassroots movement that’s already introduced 100 million students to the basics of computer science. Participate with any one-hour coding activity that students love — no experience needed!

New prizes for every organizerEvery organizer will receive a gift card to iTunes, Amazon or the Windows Store as a thank-you gift. And you can win $10,000 for your school. Details

Computer science is foundational for every 21st-century studentMost schools still don’t teach it. We owe it to our children to start with just one hour.

Join us

Hadi PartoviFounder, Code.org

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Teacher Training Opportunities

• Code4HS.org• MIT Imagination Toolbox• Google Computational Thinking course for teachers

More Resources from CS Education Week• 3rd Party Resources• Videos to spark interest

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Contact Information

Marcy.reed@ct.gov

860-713-6766

E-mail me for the link to the dropbox folder with this presentation as well as all the

materials