Computer Science

Computer Science is designing and developing computing systems to solve problems.

Computer Science in Education

Today, the world is controlled by technology. Computer Science jobs are needed four times more than any other profession in the United States (Mujdzic, 2017). According to Nina Mujdzic (2017) " The IT market is growing faster than we are educating people to manage it." This means it is crucial that students are being exposed to computer science at a young age, in the hopes that someday they'd like to pursue a career in it.

Computer science should have a role in public school education. It is evident that it is very important to teach students coding and computer science skills during elementary school. In the blog, 15 Reasons Why We Should Be Teaching Our Kids to Code (2017), author Jayne Clare states, “It is imperative that more kids take an interest and learn to code. Schools, educators, and parents everywhere need to be promoting this kind of classes or we are going to be left in the dark.” Clare (2017) goes on to list several reasons why students should be learning to code including the fact that computer science jobs are the highest paid careers and we are in desperate need of computer science (CS) workers.

It is crucial that every student has equal access to CS opportunities. Even though educators are recognizing the importance of coding in the classroom there are big diversity gaps when it comes to who is exposed to coding. In the study, Diversity Gaps in Computer Science: Exploring the Underrepresentation of Girls, Blacks and Hispanics, by Google Inc. and Gallup Inc. (2016), they explore the diversity gaps between women, African Americans, and Hispanics when it comes to learning computer science (CS) and earning CS degrees. These groups are marginalized due to structural barriers such as lack of exposure to CS at school and at home (Gallup Inc., & Google Inc., 2016, p.4). If these groups aren't being exposed to CS at home, then it is even more important that these groups have access to CS in schools. While resources may be limited in schools, luckily there are several Free coding apps and websites. Nina Mujdzic (2017) lists several affordable ways to bring coding into the classroom such as Code.org, Scratch, Arduino, Lego Mindstorm, Swift Playgrounds and Web Design for Kids.

Not only is the job market for computer science professions booming, but CS teaches you important critical thinking and problem solving skills. Clare (2017) also acknowledges how computer science teaches you to think, problem solve, and learn teamwork. Implementing computer science into your classroom can also hlep your students' reading skills. According to Code.org (2020), "Students in CS Fundamentals classes with resourceful teachers scored higher on standardized reading comprehension exams." There are so many benefits to implementing computer science in public schools.

Getting Started

Well it may seem overwhelming at first, you can start small! Computer science projects can be used as opportunities for students to show his or her learning. If you're teaching ELA you can have your students continue the narrative and create additional scenes using Scratch. If you're teaching science, you can have your students use Scratch to create the water cycle. You can seamlessly integrate coding into your curriculum. Check out this resource from Scratch that give you lots of ideas. These opportunities allows students to be creators.

Another option you have is to dedicate a period of time each week where your students can create and explore coding. Create a Maker Space in your classroom, and include different computer science apps and websites that students can use. You can do "Maker Monday's," and every Monday students get time to explore what's available in your Maker Space. Depending on what app or website students are using, they will be both consumers and creators.
There are many other ways to incorporate computer science into your classroom, so do what you feel comfortable with. The important part is that every student is exposed to and gets to experience computer science learning opportunities where they are both creating and consuming CS.

Here are some websites and apps you can include in your classroom.

Scratch

Scratch is a coding program where students can program and code. Students create a code to make their character do certain commands. They can also create their own games and narratives. They can collaborate and share what they create with others. Scratch also provides teachers will open ended questions or lessons that can be used with students.

(Grades 3-6; Free)

Strengths: Students are creators when they use this app. They have the freedom to create different projects, and a lot of different options when it comes to sounds, color, characters, etc. Students can collaborate with others and share their projects.

Weaknesses: For someone that is new to coding, this program is confusing and overwhelming at first. The tutorials help, but students will really just learn as they go. It is also confusing the way the different projects are organized.

Scratch Jr.

Scratch Jr. is a coding program, very similar to Scratch, but geared for for children ages 5-7. Scratch Jr. Students create a code to make their character do certain commands. They can also create their own games and narratives. Scratch Jr. also provides teachers will open ended questions or lessons that can be used with students.

Strengths: Students are creators when they use Scratch Jr. The app is user friendly and easy for younger students to navigate. They are several options when it comes to creating.

Weaknesses: Scratch Jr. can only be played as an app, and a lot of schools don't have iPads or tablets. There are not many resources for teachers.

(Grades K-2; Free)

Code.org

Code.org offers a free comprehensive curriculum for K-5 students known as, Computer Science Fundamentals (CSF) (2020). Teachers don’t need to be trained in computer science to teach these lessons, and they offer several resources to help teachers feel confident teaching these courses. Students can also create their own games, apps, and projects. Students are both consumers and creators when using Code.org.

(Grades K-5; Free)

Strengths: Code.org has so many resources for teachers regardless of their experiences when it comes to teaching code. Each course on Code.org offers multiple "unpluggled" lessons that can be used alone or with other computer science lessons. There are also a lot of options for students to create their own codes/projects.

Weaknesses: Code.org could seem overwhelming to both students and teachers at first. There aren't as many options for creating as some of the other apps.

Swift Playgrounds

Swift Playgrounds is a free coding app created by Apple for iPads and Macs. Swift Playgrounds comes with introductory lessons called "Learn to Code." These interactive tutorials walk you through the coding process step by step and increasingly get harder. There are several other playgrounds, or coding experiences that can be downloaded.

(Grades K-6; Free)

Strengths: Swift Playgrounds is very easy to use regardless of your coding experience. It provides students with different coding challenges that increasingly get harder.

Weaknesses: Swift is only available for Mac and iPads.

Check out how Computer Science is being taught in my community!

Library Media Specialist

In our Library Media specialist, students participated in an Hour of Code. In Grades 3-6, students had several different coding options such as Minecraft tutorials, the A.I. Challenge from Code.org, programming a basketball game, personalizing each letter in the Google logo, coding a Grinch game, or using Scratch to make a hero become a superhero. The Google Logo was really popular! While Grades K-2 got to explore code through the CodeSpark Academy app.

Students are also exposed to coding through programing Bee Bots and Dash Robots.

The librarian is also offering an after school club, called "Maker Mondays" where students can participate in more computer science and coding activities.

If you want to learn more check out the Library Media webpage!

Enrichment Specialist

Students in Grades K-2, have Enrichment for one trimester each year. In this specialist students participate in solving coding challenges and creating their own codes. Students also get to use the Lego Wedo kits. In Lego Wedo, students follow the instructions to build one of the objects, and then they can code their object to do different commands. For example, students built a fan and then created a code to control the fan's speed, direction, sounds, etc. Students love learning and creating codes!

References

Barrett, Jessica (2020). Sippican Library Online. https://sippicanlibrary.com/

Clare, Jayne (2017, April 20). 15 Reasons why we should be teaching our kids to code. Retrieved from https://www.teacherswithapps.com/blog-15-reasons-why-we-should-be-teaching-our-kids-to-code/.

Code.org (2020). CS Fundamentals for Elementary Schools. Retrieved from https://code.org/educate/curriculum/elementary-school.

Google Inc. & Gallup Inc. (2016). Diversity Gaps in Computer Science: Exploring the Underrepresentation of Girls, Blacks and Hispanics. Retrieved from http://goo.gl/PG34aH.

Mujdzic, Nina. (2017, July 25). Why teaching kids how to code is important. Retrieved from https://envato.com/blog/teaching-kids-code-important/.

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