Elevate! 2019

In this workshop for teachers of grades K through 8 we'll start by looking at the various reasons that are given for including computer programming (coding) and computer science in K-12 education: it is an essential 21st century literacy, it improves thinking skills, and it will prepare students for well-paying jobs. Following a brief discussion of these issues you’ll have plenty of hands-on experience with programming using Scratch, a widely popular language for elementary and middle school students who use it to create interactive stories and reports, games, and animations. We’ll share the extensive resources that are available to support your own learning of coding as well as to teach coding to you students. We’ll also look at Scratch Jr, a simplified version of Scratch designed for K-2 students. Finally, we’ll examine the various ways in which coding and computer science can be incorporated into the school program: integrated into regular subject classes, as stand-alone computer science courses, and as after-school robotics or coding clubs. No prior experience with coding is required. Bring a Laptop – Mac, PC, or Chromebook. If you are also interested in working with Scratch Jr, you’ll need an iPad, Android tablet, or Chromebook