Bitsbox

A few weeks ago, I learned about a subscription box that teaches kids to code. On the website I learned the company was started by a couple of dads, who use to work at Google,  to chase their dreams and build stuff for their kids. They created Bitsbox!

In celebration of Computer Science Education week they had a sign up for teachers to try it for free! When I signed up, I also signed up for their news letter. Yesterday I got an email with a great explanation of what coding is, exactly.

Here is what I learned " Programming is the act of writing a computer program, and computer programs are written in code. Because of this, many people say "coding" instead of "programming", but they mean the same thing. You'll sound cooler if you say "coding"." To learn more visit their site.

Exploring More Code Options - ISTE 2015

In my prior ISTE post, I explained how I will work to implement the Hour of Code and Code.org's courses into classrooms  I work with.

While I think Code.org is great, and I will almost alway start with it, there are other options for our students. Erin Schiller and I, decided to explore more of these options and create a course in Schoology with what we found. We are still creating the course, but it will be done by December 12.  IF you would like to try it out after December 12, please email or tweet at me! We are co-leading a preconference workshop "Code Camp" at Ties and running it through this course.

We are creating the course as a guided experience. Once educators complete a task in Schoology, a new folder will be opened for them with their next task. All of the tasks are created to be done with a colleague or two. We feel that by working with others through these new topics, a deeper level of learning will occur. Educators will also need to provide proof of each task completion by turning in an assignment. While people will be turning an end product, we will have more of an emphasis on the learning process and experience and not as much on an end result.

Here are the e three task cards I created for participants to try and share their understanding.



The first task card gets people working together. Two educators will work together to pair program and complete four puzzles in any Hour of Code tutorial from Code.org's website. They will take a screenshot of their last puzzle showing they completed at least 4 puzzles.



The second activity is low tech. First, a group of teachers will watch a video about "perseverance." Then they will have access to directions to a lesson about building a foundation. They will work together to build a product out of toothpicks and gumdrops that can support a book for 30 seconds. They will take a picture of their product and post it to Schoology.

The last activity I pulled in involves using a Sphero. Teachers will work through the first Macrolab lesson provided by SPRK. They will learn how to program the Sphero to adjust time, distance, and speed.  I will have one with me during the workshop for people to use. If people complete this activity on their own, they can still download the app and explore.

My hope is to help other educators explore some tools that are available to them that they can use in their classroom to help students understand how to problem solve, collaborate, and create.

iOS 9+ Tips and Tricks

Helping people is something I like to do.
I get to help many teachers and students during the school day as a Technology Integrationist with in my district. I get to connect with edcuators from around the midwest through conferences and workshops. I get to connect with people all over the world through my Personal Learning Network (PLN.) The majorty of my foucs is helping people who are involved with education. There is one more group of people I connect with a few times a year, these are my Community Education peps! I have tried to offer a variety of classes on different topics and they don't fill up. The one class that I always get to teach is iPad Basics. As I prepare for my next iPad Basics class, I have started to pull some help articles. Here they are:

• iOS 9.1 is here, complete with new emojis
• 6 reasons Apple Notes still can't replace Evernote

Code - ISTE 2015

If you were at ISTE did you see any sessions on Coding in Elementary school? 

Here is a link to a session on using the Code.org K-5 Curiculum https://www.isteconference.org/2015/?id=94316691

The Hour of Code is approaching and I am working with teachers in my district to get k-5 students coding. 

We have chosen to set up students in Code.org’s  Course 1 or Course 2, depending on their age and ability. Before we go to the computer lab, everyone will participate in two unplugged lessons. Unplugged lessons are teaching strategies without using technology. Below you will find the Google Slide presentation I have shared with teachers in my district who are participating. It is a live document and we will be updating it as needed.

Are you new to The Hour of Code?
It is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics. Code.org launched in 2013 by co-founders Ali and Hadi Partovi.

(I met Hadi in July and took an #ussie with him!!!)

Many other code companies participate in the Hour of Code. Go to https://hourofcode.com/us to get started and learn more. You can code at any time, but December 7-1 is the week we celebrate Computer Science Education. Here you will find resources to get started in your classroom, school, or district.

Take a look at this!

All of the green dots and orange markers are places and people who have committed to doing the hour of code with their students. This map is only of the U.S but students all over the world are participating in the event. I found a few great statisitcs from the Code.org website:

• Students are learning in 40 languages
• Over 100 million students have tried an hour of code
• More girls tried computer science than in the last 70 years

Join us as we try to reach all students in all schools, everyone should have the opportunity to explore computer science.

Did you know that 65% of scientists with advanced degrees,said their interest for science started before middle school?

To find out more read http://www.imls.gov/assets/1/AssetManager/Makerspaces.pdf

Thanks to Andrea WilsonVazquez for this information!!
If you are an elementary teacher, you are probably not surprised. Let’s work together and introduce code to our young learners and see what we can accomplish!

Are you coding with elementary students? If so, what are you doing? What is going well?

Powerful Connections - ISTE 2015

Edurockstars. 

(Meeting with my Google Innovator friends #gtamtv12)

Attending ISTE 2015 was a great experience. I was able to connect with many people in my Personal Learning Network (PLN) in person, I refer to these people as Edurockstars. I greatly value the relationship I have formed with other teachers in similar positions. I often reach out via Twitter and Google+, when I need to bounce ideas off of others or have questions. Now, after attending ISTE, I have the personal connection that was made at the conference. An added bonus, was meeting the companies and sometimes person, yes singular, who create the wonderful tools I use on a daily basis. One day of the conference, while walking down the hall, I saw the creators of Padlet, Kaizena and EDusight. I pointed out their shirts to my friend and they heard me say their names, they stopped and asked if we use the tools and told us they created them. So neat! This was one of many experiences I had talking with companies and creators. It a great experience because I was able to tell them about the features I love to use, and things I would like to see added or changed. I guess I will have to wait and see if anything comes of it.  

(Their shirts explain it all!)

(My Explain Everything fan girl moment)

I also had the privilege of presenting at ISTE. This was my first large national conference presentation. It was an interesting experience for me to present in front of people from all of the world. My birds-of-a-feather session turned into a lecture at the last minute and the ignite I participated in was held in the vendor hall on a stage. Both were in settings I have never presented in before and I feel went well. I look forward to more opportunities presenting for a global audience in person.

(Getting ready to go on stage for the Ignite session)

Check out my Ignite Session

Check out my Birds of a feather interactive session notes

goo.gl/69YMM6

Let's keep connecting and learning with one another.

Are you using Google Apps for Education with primary age students? What are some things you are doing? Are you using Add-ons with students or as a teacher? Please share!!

Presenting with Google Slides

It is no surprise that I am a fan of Google Apps for Education and almost all things Google related.

I often use Google Slides when presenting at a conference and sometimes need to access other websites easily. So my screen typically looks something like this:

Instead of going full screen like the image below.

In the past there were two ways that I would get to a screen for presenting.

1. The first option I would use is found inside of Google Slides while editing the document. I would click on "Present with speaker notes" and click away from the notes, leaving just the presentation with access to my tabs.
2. The second option I would use  is publishing the presentation to the web and using a special URL
   

Not any more my friends, not any more! 

Today I stumbled upon an easy fix on the Shake Up Learning Blog. Find the word "edit" in the url and replace it with the word "preview." Thanks Kasey!

The Method of the Grandmother

Learning new things can stir up a range of emotions for people.

I typically am excited and intrigued. I want to learn more and figure out how I can use the information and who I can share it with.

When I am doing this as an adult learner and sharing the information with other adult learners, this is in my comfort zone. I teach and learn with other adult learners and feel confident in my abilities.

Teaching and learning along side students is exciting as well, but I also feel a sense of leadership and needing to know all of the answers. I am learning to be okay with not knowing all the answers but learning along side them. When something is good for our kids, I should not be holding them back because I am not comfortable with it yet. I relate to the poster on the Code.org website with a quote from Marissa Mayer "I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that's how you grow."

To access this poster and other posters, visit https://code.org/educate/inspire 

 Dr. Sugata Mitra introduced me to "The Method of the Grandmother." Watch the clip below, it will start at the correct time for you to learn about this method.

 


The next time you find yourself in a situation where you may not know "all of the answers" try out the Method of the Grandmother.

 If you would like to watch the whole video HERE IS THE LINK