In the last post, I introduced you to Scratch, my favourite way to introduce students to the big wide world of computer programming. Scratch is a great platform to stick with for younger students or those new to coding, there really is a lot to explore!
However, if you have a few "advanced" users in your class or are working with high school level computer science students, they may need to move on to the next challenge -- making apps they can actually use on an Android phone or tablet!
This is where Scratch really shines as a springboard into the world of coding. The students will already be familiar with manipulating blocks of code using the jigsaw puzzle pieces in Scratch. This next environment uses basically the same format but with much more functionality.
Introducing MIT App Inventor! Made by the same amazing team, this web-based environment allows students to make their own apps that they can use on Android devices and share with their classmates, friends, or even the world! Can you imagine the possibilities? Students can even work in groups as entrepreneurs to create apps they can then market and sell -- what a fantastic multi-faceted learning opportunity!
You and your students simply go here and click on "CREATE!" to login to the FREE service by using your Google accounts (I hope you're all using GoogleDrive already... right? If not, tsk, tsk! Go do that first!). If you're already familiar with Scratch, it's an easy transition, just be sure to watch the tutorial videos under "Guide" and as with Scratch, there is also an educator community to support your journey! Thank you again, MIT!
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Scratch for your tech itch!
So perhaps it's because I just returned full of mosquito bites from a camping trip, but I've had Scratch on my mind. This Scratch however is for a completely different itch, and I can't wait to share it with you (and all the kids this coming school year).
It's no secret that our kids LOVE playing computer games on any device they can get their hands on - it's practically an addiction in many cases (one you often have to compete with for their attention). Take a lesson from the Judo masters and work with this power instead of against it. You can turn this addiction into a HUGE learning opportunity with Scratch, a web-based programming tool from MIT that your kids can use anywhere on almost any device at school or at home to create amazing things!
The learning potential is huge. This is a real programming platform that can be used by a wide range of children, from grade ones who can't even write yet to high school students trying to develop their own software. Younger children can create simple animations and more advanced students can create elaborate games that they can share and play together. There's a social aspect too -- a wide community of children all over the world who can learn from each other by sharing their coding and giving/receiving feedback.
Of course, the more you know about coding, the more you can help them tackle harder projects faster, but if you are a coding neophyte, it's no problem with Scratch. Even if you don't know the first thing about programming, don't know what a loop is, or how to compile... RELAX. You can still do this. Really. The kids can practically teach themselves Scratch just by playing around with it. In fact, many a great coder has learned to program this way as a kid -- Scratch just takes all the frustration out and removes a lot of obstacles for kids with learning challenges and makes coding accessible to everyone, regardless of age or ability.
You should see how proud they are when they finally get their own games to work the way they planned! And the best part for my students has been that Scratch completely prepares them to tackle Robotics with our class robot, Sparki... but that's a whole separate post I can't wait to share.
Until then, just see what Scratch can do:
Scratch Overview from ScratchEd on Vimeo.
There's even a ScratchEd community for teachers to explore how other educators are using Scratch with their students! You're not alone on this journey so come along! And it's ALL FREE!
Go now. https://scratch.mit.edu
Set up a free account.
Look around at some of the examples.
Play with the platform yourself.
Get hooked, and imagine the possibilities in your classroom! :)
I'm so excited for you and your students!
It's no secret that our kids LOVE playing computer games on any device they can get their hands on - it's practically an addiction in many cases (one you often have to compete with for their attention). Take a lesson from the Judo masters and work with this power instead of against it. You can turn this addiction into a HUGE learning opportunity with Scratch, a web-based programming tool from MIT that your kids can use anywhere on almost any device at school or at home to create amazing things!
The learning potential is huge. This is a real programming platform that can be used by a wide range of children, from grade ones who can't even write yet to high school students trying to develop their own software. Younger children can create simple animations and more advanced students can create elaborate games that they can share and play together. There's a social aspect too -- a wide community of children all over the world who can learn from each other by sharing their coding and giving/receiving feedback.
Of course, the more you know about coding, the more you can help them tackle harder projects faster, but if you are a coding neophyte, it's no problem with Scratch. Even if you don't know the first thing about programming, don't know what a loop is, or how to compile... RELAX. You can still do this. Really. The kids can practically teach themselves Scratch just by playing around with it. In fact, many a great coder has learned to program this way as a kid -- Scratch just takes all the frustration out and removes a lot of obstacles for kids with learning challenges and makes coding accessible to everyone, regardless of age or ability.
You should see how proud they are when they finally get their own games to work the way they planned! And the best part for my students has been that Scratch completely prepares them to tackle Robotics with our class robot, Sparki... but that's a whole separate post I can't wait to share.
Until then, just see what Scratch can do:
Scratch Overview from ScratchEd on Vimeo.
There's even a ScratchEd community for teachers to explore how other educators are using Scratch with their students! You're not alone on this journey so come along! And it's ALL FREE!
Go now. https://scratch.mit.edu
Set up a free account.
Look around at some of the examples.
Play with the platform yourself.
Get hooked, and imagine the possibilities in your classroom! :)
I'm so excited for you and your students!
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
New Beginnings...
Less than two weeks until I return to university to become a teacher and I'm so excited!
I'm not exactly new to teaching. I've been teaching colleagues and university students for longer than I care to remember, but THIS is something I've always wanted to do. I love introducing people to new ways to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) in their own lives and careers, but when you introduce young people to STEM, it's like being a wizard! Getting kids exploring and actually MAKING tech is nothing short of magical.
My wizard was my Grade six science and math teacher, Mr. Keith Mackie (who also happened to be the principal of our school). He really opened up the world of math for our class with challenging, differentiated instruction -- truly no child left behind. It was a magical year that lasted forever in our minds. We were then lucky enough to move into Mr. Bradley's grade 7/8 class and experience science in a way few students ever get to outside of high school or university. Boy, were we blessed at H.M. Robbins Public School!
As I helped adults learn that they could tackle math and science, I discovered that far too many adults never had that experience, that magical year with a Mr. Mackie or Mr. Bradley of their own. Without that early passionate exposure, people are left feeling like STEM fields are an exclusive club that they can never belong to, and trying to work through this fear with a teenager or an adult is so much more challenging than it needs to be. If only there were more Mr. Mackies and Mr. Bradleys!
So I vowed to become one - and in less than two weeks, I begin. Did I tell you yet that I'm excited? I am, so very excited. ;)
I'm not exactly new to teaching. I've been teaching colleagues and university students for longer than I care to remember, but THIS is something I've always wanted to do. I love introducing people to new ways to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) in their own lives and careers, but when you introduce young people to STEM, it's like being a wizard! Getting kids exploring and actually MAKING tech is nothing short of magical.
My wizard was my Grade six science and math teacher, Mr. Keith Mackie (who also happened to be the principal of our school). He really opened up the world of math for our class with challenging, differentiated instruction -- truly no child left behind. It was a magical year that lasted forever in our minds. We were then lucky enough to move into Mr. Bradley's grade 7/8 class and experience science in a way few students ever get to outside of high school or university. Boy, were we blessed at H.M. Robbins Public School!
As I helped adults learn that they could tackle math and science, I discovered that far too many adults never had that experience, that magical year with a Mr. Mackie or Mr. Bradley of their own. Without that early passionate exposure, people are left feeling like STEM fields are an exclusive club that they can never belong to, and trying to work through this fear with a teenager or an adult is so much more challenging than it needs to be. If only there were more Mr. Mackies and Mr. Bradleys!
So I vowed to become one - and in less than two weeks, I begin. Did I tell you yet that I'm excited? I am, so very excited. ;)
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