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Why Teach Coding?
“On a functional level, a basic understanding of code allows people to understand the design and functionalities that underlie the interfaces, technologies, and systems that we encounter daily. On a political level, understanding code empowers people and provides resources for examining and questioning the design decisions that populate our screens. Finally, on a personal level, everyone needs code for expressive purposes to communicate and interact with others and build relationships”
(Kafai and Burke, Connected Code, 2014, p. 135)
Why Teach Physical Computing
Coding to Learn and Learning to Code
Should be happening simultaneously within our classrooms
Analogous to "Learning to Read & Reading to Learn" - doing
Student generating unique, authentic problems to solve
2. Design Thinking
Cyclical framework for problem solving
3. Learning First, Physical Computing Second
Triple E Framework
ENGAGE e.g. Co-Use
ENHANCE e.g. Differentiation
EXTEND e.g. Authentic Experience
4. Attract a more diverse population
"Research shows that physical computing and making activities are highly engaging approaches for learners, giving them a sensory, tactile and creative experience in which they can combine computing with art, craft, and design. Physical computing is both a tool to engage learners and a strategy to help them develop their understanding in more creative ways. This approach also has the benefit of supporting and engaging a diverse range of learners in tangible and challenging tasks. There is some evidence, for example, that girls engage more with physical computing because a physical project may have more immediate real-world applications."
(The Big Book of Computing Pedagogy, 2020, p. 129)
5. Interact with the world
“Physical computing is the game changer that allows kids to invent working machines. Learners design, construct, and program 'smart' machines to live outside of the computer and interact with the world.”
"Physical computing provides a tactile context for STEM, complete with all of the messiness, surprise, and occasional frustration associated with real science and engineering. Student can have an idea, build, debug, improve, and embellish a three dimensional operational machine. Physical computing supports a wide range of learning styles and offers a part of the process that appeals to kids who have different attitudes, interests, or expertise."
(Martinez and Stager, Invent to Learn, 2nd Edition, 2019, p. 125)
Guiding Principles
of the NYS Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards
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