NMS Tech Integration Class Sees An Hour of Coding
Ms. Falconer's Tech Integration class engaged in "An Hour of Coding" here at NMS the past couple of weeks. This was something we participated in last year with all three grades as well to celebrate Computer Science Education Week, but it has grown in size and in what the students can do in all of her classes to include every student here at the Nichols.
Just to give you some background, here is some information from the official "Hour of Code" website:
The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries. Anyone, anywhere can organize an Hour of Code event. One-hour tutorials are available in over 40 languages. No experience needed. Ages 4 to 104.
The Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics.
Anybody can host an Hour of Code anytime, but the grassroots campaign goal is for tens of millions of students to try an Hour of Code during December 5-11, in celebration of Computer Science Education Week. Is it one specific hour? No. You can do the Hour of Code anytime during this week. You're welcome to split up the Hour of Code into multiple sessions so long as your students finish the Hour of Code tutorial. Just do whatever works best for you and your students. (And if you can't do it during that week, do it the week before or after).
The Hour of Code is organized by Code.org, a public 501c3 non-profit dedicated to expanding participation in computer science by making it available in more schools.
The goal of the Hour of Code is not to teach anybody to become an expert computer scientist in one hour. One hour is only enough to learn that computer science is fun and creative, that it is accessible at all ages, for all students, regardless of background.
Our students were using programs such as Tynker and Scratch, and programming such fun things as Star Wars, Minecraft, Angry Birds, and Moana characters.
It was an excellent experience to see our students problem-solve, critically think, collaborate, and create using technology. It is always fun to watch our students make mistakes, learn from them, and then attack problems in different ways.
I personally jumped in myself and did the "one hour of coding" as well, as I received my certificate. I will just say that it is critical thinking, problem-solving, and working through failure at its best. It also works the person through collaboration, for multiple times I had to turn to the students around me for help. It is 21st Century Skills being worked: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. And more than that, it was fun.
Thank you, Ms. Falconer, for jumping us into this 21st Century learning opportunity.
Check out some of the pictures of our students and myself doing the Hour of Code:
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| Ms. Falconer as the "guide at the side" of her students. |
