Hour of Code: Students learn technical side behind favorite games. (2015, December 11). Retrieved February 20, 2016, from http://www.cleveland19.com/story/30725284/hour-of-code-students-learn-technical-side-behind-favorite-games
Summary
This article isn't about learning to code exactly, but more about how coding can be a fun, interactive way for students for learn. A part I really liked was how the article mentioned that students who typically struggle will come in with a huge confidence boost because this is something they can succeed in. Alternative types of learning, like this, are incredibly beneficial (in my opinion) to students who don't succeed in a typical classroom.
Assess
I believe that this article is a credible one because it comes from Cleveland 19 News, and it references Hyland Software through a quote with an employee. It also talks about "Hour of Code" which is a movement to teach students about up and coming technology. All in all, with the article coming from a news source, I can rely on it to be credible.
Video
Patterson, S., Ed.D. (2015, March 15). Bee Bot Planet Challenge Reflection. Retrieved February 20, 2016, from https://youtu.be/eAnQm8X6Zy8
Summary
This video is a teacher's reflection on how he and his first graders used Bee Bots to travel around a path, going between all the planets in order. He says everything went well, which is impressive for a group of 24 5-6 year olds using five different robots. Programming is different than coding, but this is opening the door into coding for ages too young to sit at a computer and try to learn coding.
Assess
I actually thought this video was really interesting, purely because of these Bee Bots. In this particular video, it is covered by a sleeve to make it look like a rocket ship (to fit with the space themed lesson), but Bee Bots are just little robots, designed to look like Bees, that you can program to follow a certain path. As shown here, they're simple enough to use with first graders, and he has a video where kindergartners use them too.
Reflection
After looking more into coding and how beneficial it can be, I am all for putting more of this into classrooms of all ages. If introduced at a young age, it could do wonders for children who aren't successful when they have to sit and listen to a teacher talk all day. And if introduced at a slightly older age, it opens up the idea of a potential career path. Plus, we don't know what kind of technology will be available 10, 15 or 20 years from now. There is a potential that everyone will need to know some form of coding and programming.
Hailey,
ReplyDeleteFirst I want to give you kudos for choosing this topic, I think that for most individuals coding can seem so over whelming and intimidating to say the least! However, I think that this is going to be a huge attribute to have for future generations. The more readily it is introduced in our education system the more familiar and less intimidating it will be for students.