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This week I attended the University of Houston’s We Teach Computer Science Summer Institute. Here are a few tools, resources, or websites that we used. There are more resources hyperlinked throughout the post.
Below are some of the materials provided to me by this collaborative. Each item is linked to it’s website and I have posted about most of the items below as I was able to explore them!
We want our learners to be:
- Critical Thinkers
- Problem Solvers
- Communicators
Image source: http://www.taccle3.eu/english/2015/11/16/what-is-computational-thinking/
Important CS Vocabulary from LaunchCS
- Computer Science– a field in which people use the power of computers to solve problems
- Computational Thinking- the thought process involved in using algorithms to solve problems. What are the steps needed to solve this problem?
- Algorithm- a list of ordered steps to complete a task
- Sequence– a particular order of steps or events
- Program- an algorithm that has been coded into something that can be run by a machine
- Debug– find and fix errors (bugs) in programs
- Event- an action that causes (triggers) something else to happen
- Pair Programming– two people work together to build a program
- Loop– the action of doing something over and over again
- Conditional– A statement that only runs under certain conditions or situations
- Data– information; quantities, characters, or symbols that are the inputs and outputs of computer programs
- Variable– a placeholder for a piece of information that can change
- Abstraction– pulling out specific differences to make one solution for multiple problems
- Procedure– a named piece of code that you can easily call over and over again; also called a function
- Parameter– an extra piece of information that you pass to a procedure (or function) to customize it for a specific need
Click here to purchase the above words as posters from LaunchCS!
Unplugged Coding Activities
More unplugged activities available at https://code.org/curriculum/unplugged and https://csunplugged.org/en/
- Rosie’s Runtime– Helps students understand algorithms, sequencing, and programing.
- Build- A- Band
- Scratch Coding Cards
- Handshake- can be used to teach students about loops!
- Don’t Eat Pete- Can demonstrate loops, sequencing, and conditionals.
Pair Programming
Pair programming is a technique in which two programmers work together at one workstation. There are two job titles in pair programming; The driver writes code and controls the actions of the computer, while the navigator reviews each line of code as it is typed in. The two programmers switch roles frequently.
Ozobot
Hardware: Ozobot evo
Software: OzoBlockly This is the site needed to write code and program your Ozobot. There is also an app for iPad that allows you to use the iPad as a control for Ozobot.
Resources:
Free Ozobot Evo Experience Pack
Scratch
Hardware: Laptop
Software: http://scratch.mit.edu
Using Scratch, I created blocks that could draw shapes!
Makey Makey
Hardware: Makey Makey, ANY materials you can find!
Software: http://scratch.mit.edu
Microbit
Hardware: Micro:Bit go
Software: https://makecode.microbit.org/#
Resources: Free Download- Physical Computing with the Micro:Bit
Hack Your Headphones
Attach alligator clips to use earbuds with your Micro:Bit!
mBot
Hardware: mBot
Software: click http://www.mblock.cc or use the mBlock Blockly app
Resources: http://learn.makeblock.com/mbot-get-started/
Finch Robot
Hardware: Finch Robot
Software: In order to use the Finch Robot, you must have theBirdBrain Robot Server downloaded. Finch will work with Scratch* or Snap! *The Scratch Offline Editor must also be downloaded to use Scratch with the Finch
Resources:
Hummingbird
Hardware: Hummingbird kit
Software: Similar to Finch, in order to use the Humminbird, you must have the BirdBrain Robot Server downloaded. Hummingbird will work with Scratch* or Snap! *The Scratch Offline Editor must also be downloaded to use Scratch with the Finch
Resources
- Click here for the complete list of sites and resources provided by the CS Institute.
- Code.org
- https://code.org/curriculum/unplugged
- LaunchCS PD Resources
- https://k12cs.org
- Flocabulary
Blair B. 