Project: Up to Code takes place in a rural K to 12 school in Davidson, Saskatchewan, Davidson School is located in Sun West School Division and is the home to approximately 260 students. This project began in June 2015 with a team of four teachers who presented their project idea to the SWISI committee ( Sun West Initiative fund for School Improvement). Our project was selected and funding and planning began to take place. The four team leaders of the project are: Meaghan Greene, Sandra Baldwin, Jason Low and Arlene Low. Each of the team leaders has a role: Meaghan supports the elementary students and staff, Sandra supports the middle years and high schools students as well as keeps our budget up to date, Jason communicates with staff and parents, arranges for in-house PD for teachers, orders materials needed and supports middle years implementation, and Arlene supports all students and teachers and curates project documentation.
Guiding Questions:
Does participating in computational STEM challenges increase student computer science literacy?
Does gaining understanding of computational STEM skills lead to increased interest and improved academic achievement in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics?
Does participating in computational STEM challenges increase 21st Century Competencies such as collaboration, critical thinking, digital citizenship, and creativity?
Project Phases:
Learn & Achieve
Explore
Apply & Create
Showcase
Project Description:
The driving question for this project is - “Is digital computation the new literacy?” There is overwhelming evidence that students who are currently in schools today will be part of a workforce that will demand a greater understanding of how digital technologies operate as opposed to students who are just proficient users of digital technology. Today’s students need to have the 21st century skills to be prepared for the ever-changing world that is waiting for them and we believe this means further expanding our understanding of computation as a literacy.
This project will focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematic (STEM) concepts, skills and knowledge specifically in the area of computation. Dr. Michael C. Horsch describes computation as the “general application anywhere there is information to process” and he identifies that although there is a natural connection between computation and mathematics there is a much wider application for computational understanding. We believe that this project will create learning opportunities that will generate authentic interest in geometry, algebra and logic as well as in STSE education and many of the practical and applied arts areas.
As part of the Educational Sector Strategic Plan in Saskatchewan, school divisions are focusing on reading and writing literacy. This project enhances that work by adding the dimension of computation literacy to other reading and writing activities. As a school we want to expose our students to as many literacy opportunities as possible and this project complements our school’s current three year plan which is focused on building our digital technology presence and understanding.
Students in our school are already curious when it comes to technology so this project will help them to further develop their understanding in the STEM fields through sustainable engagement with something that they are already interested in. During the course of this project, students at all grade levels will explore and create STEM challenges which will help build skills that are required to better understand the modern technology-driven world. This knowledge and understanding will equip students to use digital technology to develop their own ideas, which will make them active participants in their own learning rather than passive consumers of digital technology.