During this week, many people participate in an Hour of Code! If you are wondering how to start with an Hour of Code, one suggestion I have is to attend a free Code.org CS Fundamentals workshop which are for elementary educators at all levels of comfort with CS. Did you know, that in Minnesota we have over 1,000 educators who have attended a Code.org CS Fundamentals workshop!? You could reach out to a teacher friend and there is a pretty good chance that if they haven't attended, they will know someone who has. If you don't find someone, even if you do find someone, you should attend a workshop! I have two planned over MEA at two fabulous locations!!
Online-Hybrid Learning: A great way to attend PD made for you and your schedule. Our 8-module, self-paced, highly engaging training lets you attend PD when it's convenient for you.
In-Person Learning: Looking for a personalized PD experience for you and your staff? We've got you covered. From our 3-day Computational Thinking Integration PD to our Train the Trainer PD, Launch CS is ready to support your school/district to make #CSforAll a reality.
Algorithms Magazine - A Computer Science Magazine for Kids
Fun, educational activities for young kids with online support for parents and teachers.
This is a call to action.
Do you want to see a " bimonthly publication geared toward kids to help them traverse the world of computer science in a fun and non-intimidating way."
... and so much more. I quickly discovered her when I began my CS journey. She has helped me grow so much in my knowledge as a teacher and a learner. I really look forward to seeing what she creates with her magazine!
Jason and Jill are both IT professionals with daughters. They see the need for more Computer Science education in school. They decided to do something about it! They took their robot and story to Startup Weekend and won! Read about it here.
A little bit of information for you about the day...
Python, most popular language in the world
Code.org was a great way to introduce kids to coding and help them think like a programmer, now we move to the next step to get off of the visual step to text programming
You don’t need the block experience but it is helpful, it’s not a requirement
Kids as young as 2nd grade have been in their workshop
crtl + D will show the output of whatever code is on the robot
Write code in <txt>, then save, it will send to Beagle and the robot will run your code
Using #
When working with young kids, where typing may take awhile. If you use something like the program below they can take away the # to make their robot do something. This allows the kids to get the feel for it without having to
You can use the # to add notes for you to remember what the code means.
After having a few bugs with Beagle and txt, I downloaded Mu
Networking (SSH): connect without a screen and accessed via the ssh protocol using the terminal, multiple machines can be connected, great as an intro to Linux, can be 1 pi per class or 1 per group/student
Networking (VNC): connected without a screen and accessed via the vnc protocol, graphical interface is provided over the network, great where space is limited; uses same keyboard and mouse
PiNet: A pc/laptop can run an LTSP server to manage a set of Raspberry Pis
PiZero: Portable projects, small and light weight (stick of gum size), doesn't have as much processing power, $10, can run the projects that we created in the Raspberry Pi, think wearable led name badge, needs a power source if you are going to make it portable,
Funding Hardware: PTA and crowdfunding, donations from local corporations, souring the basement, donorschoose.org, techsoup (website that connects you to organizations that are giving away things)
SD Card: 8 GB (or bigger), class 10 (read and write speed of the card), SanDisk Ultra is a great card to get
Downloads: Noobs, Raspbian, use a copying machine when done for a lot, PiBaker(makes it easy duplicate sd cards) pibakery.org, etcher is another tool for duplicating, Dropbox or GitHub are places to save information, Google Drive is a great place to save Thonny code (copy and paste), Minecraft Pi edition, Node-RED is programming language from IBM made for the Internet Of Things (IOT) on the Raspberry Pi, Visualizations with Cayenne,
Quick links & resources
rpf.io/partspack this is what we used at picademy and it is around $12
rpf.io/rcedirectory use this directory to find certified educators in your area!!
Worktime
We had a full day of projects and only a little bit of time for each project... one project that I have been dreaming about since my shoe rack was built is a rack that will spin by the push of a button. We had 15 minutes to prototype one and I think it can be done!
I am heading out to the Picademy in Seattle! Follow along in the Picademy fun on Twitter with #Picademy .
I have one full day of time for tourist activities. For those of you familiar with Seattle, what do you recommend? Send your recommendations quick because tomorrow is the day!
As stated on the website, a Raspberry Pi Certified Educator:
Take their passion and expertise back to their educational environments and engage their learners in digital making.
Experience making from a learner’s perspective, and use this experience to inform their practice.
See computing devices as another material with which to create, rather than as solutions in their own right.
Connect with our global community of educators to share the opportunities, experiences, and challenges that are part of computing and digital making.
Continue to seek opportunities to develop their own subject knowledge, and to engage, inspire, and train other educators.
I have a few goals for my time at Picademy:
Make connections with educators from across the United States.
Like with most new tools I use, it is great to be part of a community. I am hoping to create connections in person and via #picademy with people that I can continue to stay in touch with and learn with even after the in person event.
Plan one lesson.
I will do my best to focus on one lesson that I can implement and not get overwhelmed with all of the goodness Raspberry Pi has to offer. I want to have something that I can take back and share with other educators and students.
Share my learning.
I feel incredibly fortunate that I get to attend the Picademy. If you would like to attend one too, watch the website for open applications. I will do my best to document my learning on this blog and Tweet!
Something exciting.... My perspective was posted this morning on the Cyber Learning site https://circlcenter.org/perspectives/ ... while this doesn't directly relate to Best Prep. If you are reading this post because of Best Prep Technology Integration Workshop, you will find the research on the Cyber Learning site relevant.
This year we celebrate Bonnie Vagasky's hard work at BestPre! We decided to create a Flipgird to share a personal story or memory!
Breakout sessions
Session 1 - CS Plugged
My session on coding with plugged resources. Check out my resources here.
We went on the journey of programming with blocks using arrows, to blocks using text, to Python, JavaScript and the Microbit!
We also took time to talk about WHY computer science in elementary school, access resources, and find additional PD like Launch CS and Code.org Computer Science Fundamentals.
- Personalized my learning with Insert Learning and my love for Hanson!
- InsertLearning works great with anything that you are on and it is only $40 a year
- Do you use Insert Learning? Sign up to be an ambassador for them here!
- Places to get great articles for you students to use: MSN kids, Tween Tribune, Newsela
Student Panel
High school students shared their thoughts on questions that we were able to ask through a back channel. It was advertised on the website as
"Learn from Learners! A Panel Discussion
Student learners are our customer. This panel of students will help us understand our customer and allow us to hear directly from them about what makes great teachers, using technological devices for school, social media, and more. Come ready to ask questions and learn directly from those who sit in our classrooms daily."
Below you will see a few questions that we asked the students and part of their responses.
What app do you wish you could use more?
- Spreadsheets, we hear it is used in the business world but we don't really know how to use it
-LinkedIN, "We think it is used a lot in the business world but are not sure how to use it to our advantage."
What is the best or most helpful use of technology that you have seen?
- Schoology, "When we have assignments, our teachers can contact us in one place and we can see our grades."
- Google Docs, "We share our docs with our teachers and then teachers can make individual comments, and that can be done without a district having to buy a program."
-Quizlet, "It helps me divide up my time with studying and it is extremely interactive."
- Notability, "You can edit your work, fix your work, write on it."
- PicCollage, "You can type on it."
What do you think about cell phones in school?
- When I use my cell phone, I am distracted and can't focus on my teacher. But in study hall, I use it to learn languages and watch videos on things I am interested in.
- I think people should have to put their phones away unless they are in lunch or study hall
-ExamLogin - a way to take tests on your phone, I see friends cheat on tests on their phone, usually not on computers
"In general, I think that phones are very bad in the classroom."
- A positive use is with Kahoot.
- Putting the responsibility on the student, if you use your phone and you have a bad grade, it is your own fault. Some people use it in good ways.
-We need to be taught how to use it responsibility. We are going to have phones for the rest of our lives, we need to learn when it is appreciate to use them.
Do teachers use technology too much or not enough?
- In my school we don't use technology very much, I don't know what they (peers on the panel) are talking about but I do think it is important to have and learn how to use. I do believe that technology can be very helpful and we need to know how to use it appropriately.
-It's so easy to cheat on a test when it is online.
-Schoology for a math class. The teacher made a video and went through the note or review, I think it is a great use of technology.
-For students like me, whose language isn't their first language. I think we shouldn't use it. Spelling is hard for me. The computer can fix it for me and I don't remember how to spell. Then when I have to type in front of the class I can't remember how to spell.
-I think iPads are a great tool to help us get our work done or stay on top of things. Chromebooks are harder to carry around. I love Schoology, I can't get enough of it and I miss it over the summer. It keeps you updated, you know your grades, you know when you are missing something, it's your own planner and helps you stay on top of things.
- Google Drive / Google Docs when teachers share their resources, students can go back into the resources and stress less knowing they can review it later.
-Please do not give tests on the computer. There are so many distractions, it's hard to focus, and it's bad for your eyes. The ACT is pencil and paper.
-It's so much easier to take a test with pen and paper.
-Technology in the classroom should be a balance. I would like to take tests with pen and paper.
-People can't spell and grammar isn't a priority.
- We also need to understand that the rest of the world is using it. While there are some skills that are being lost, we also need to enforce technology skills. Coding, and while they don't need to know it extensively, they do need to know about it. I urge you to use it in the classroom because we need to know how to use it. It is part of our world.
- I don't think that the quality of education depends on the use of technology. Examples of quizlet as note cards, and slide shows as writing out notes on the board.
Closing Presentation & Reception Cultivating Passion, Laura Dunham, University of St. Thomas
A few take aways....
Entrepreneurship at St.Thomas is defined as "Solving problems that matter to you and creating value for others." Finding that you care about. What you know and others don't. Finding something you want to solve. You take what you are interested in, see it through the eyes of the people who face the problem, and find a way to solve it effectively.
Educators are Entrepreneurs
Nurturing your entrepreneurial spirit.
Solving problems that matter to you... creating value for others ( classes, training, skill building)
Tips: Spend time thinking about it, ask your self why did I get into this? Claim your mission.
Finding our entrepreneurial joy! Recharge. Reconnect back to mission. Know your REAL problem. The one that I care about.
Write it down, put it on your board, remind yourself of it!
Savor. Our world is busy and full. Be mindful and relish. IF you want something good to last, tell someone else about it! "Here is something really interesting that happened to me today..."
Find other people also solving your problem. Share your successes and failure.
Give yourself permission to fail and feel cross about it. Fail often.
"From iPads to Chromebooks, coding to mindfulness, Google to Microsoft, we have it all! The TIES Summer Institute is opening its doors to the fourth year with the largest variety of sessions yet! Come for the learning, leave with a smile. Starting the day with a keynote address, attendees will be able to attend five sessions of their choice, along with on-going sessions in the playground, and a prize drawing at the end of the day. Lunch will be included in the cost."
I was given the great opportunity to be the keynote speaker! I shared my story and how Mindset Matters. See my presentation here https://goo.gl/f8H3u7
The Challenges with Inspiring Innovation that Nobody Talks About
A few of his first jobs include:
Fixing Computers
The first time he got paid was at the age of 12 with brownies for fixing computers of people he knew.
Digital Photography
He went to events, took pictures, and sold them for $5 piece.
Mailbox Painting
He put fliers in mailboxes to let people know that for $50 he would paint their mailbox.
Tyler learned early on that GPA and learning don't always go together. As a student who skipped 1/3 of all his college classes, it didn't deter his entrepreneurial mindset he is doing good now. For him, LEARNING IS IMPORTANT and GPA wasn't.
Being active and building relationships online made sense to him early on, so he started a business.
We started to see this trend early on in his keynote.
The Lesser Known Stories within Innovation
He flipped the stories he told, started with the great things that happened, then shared what he learned through breaking rules. Sales tax, illegal activity ($5,000 per occurrence) for putting fliers in mailboxes, resident life polices, can't solicit students or teachers. He broke rules and caused chaos.
Tyler posed a series of scenarios and asked us how we would respond. Not to show if we think right or wrong but to connect real scenarios to successful businesses, some that have come out of Minnesota. A few include http://www.dabombfizzers.com/ and Jawed Karim .
A top take away. Mindset. How do you overcome obstacles in your way? Checkout my blog post here about my keynote at the TIES Summer Institute to learn more about my experience.
