Computer Science Education Week is coming up from December 5th-11th. This nationwide event aims to introduce thousands of students to the world of computer science, sparking their interest and helping them to develop technology skills that will come in handy for years to come. As passionate advocates of coding and all things CS, we’re excited to share ways to jump in with your students! Here are five ways to bring CS Ed Week to your classroom.
Invite a local expert to share their CS career with your students, whether in person or via computer (this is CS Ed week, after all). Code.org offers an interactive map to find local CS professionals willing to connect.
After sparking your students’ interest, you’ll want to give them the ability to keep exploring at home. We compiled a list of three accessible free coding platforms you can introduce to your learners. Encourage them to expand upon their projects at home and offer time later in the week to share and celebrate their hard work with the class!
In pair programming, two students work as a team to accomplish their coding task. One student acts as the driver, physically moving the blocks or writing the code. The other acts as the navigator, saying aloud what their partner should do next and troubleshooting as they go. This fosters a collaborative environment and eliminates stress for those not yet confident in their CS skills.
Creating a class web page together is a great way to demonstrate what goes into website creation and design. There are plenty of platforms to help you get started, like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress. Encourage students to share the URL with family to show off their hard work.
Hour of Code was created with the idea of having students participate in an hour-long coding activity to introduce them to the world of computer science. Here you’ll find free coding and digital citizenship lessons from Codelicious, allowing you and your students to dive in regardless of your experience level! In the coding activity, you’ll use Scratch to introduce your students to the basic concept of loops. Explore password usage and safety with your class as you go through the digital citizenship lesson.
Regardless of how you choose to participate in CSEdWeek 2022, you’re doing something great for your students. It is powerful to give a child the opportunity to see a project come to life before their eyes. Enjoy watching your future computer science experts discover their potential!
