This was a great opportunity to listen to speakers with ideas and tips on how to improve our teaching and our schools. I was in the" Teaching Kids to Code" conference, but did cross over to the Special Needs conference for an afternoon.There were 2 days of full on learning and discussions which leave you feeling full and quite inspired. My mind has been racing and so many ideas come to light - now I need time to digest everything.
Here are a few notes from each session I went to, giving an overview of my days. They are just notes of the main points really for my reference. If you are interested in more information, see the links or ask me!
Demystifying Coding - Tim Bell
All digital systems
are made with code.
Python and Scratch
are also just programs.
You can get a Sprite
fest! This is where students just get carried away with a large amount of Sprites on their page.
Coding, Programming, Computer Science are all about people,
Google developed a person finder which was
launched for NZ quake - meeting human need.
Humans need to be
able to pay for something with the correct amount - hence our use of barcodes We have a lot of
confidence they are correct.
Doing the process away
from computer first is best option. Then look at making programs in Scratch.
www.barefootcas.org.uk join!
Tools here for Computational thinking.
How to teach Coding within the existing Curriculum - Meredith Ebbs
Spend money on infrastructure. Most important is wifi and internet access.Creative and Service careers are on the increase. Need computers for most things
Kodu-only windows-use for English- Visual programming system. She made a game where Mario rescues a princess. This included storyboarding and a wiki on terms.
 |
| This slide has the link to her presentation and contacts |
Pencil Code useful
up to high school. Create pictures using 2D shapes.
Year 5 she gets them to build a
board game using Makey Makey and Scratch.
CS First Year 7
learn Scratch and create own game.
At High School they get to make their own
sprites.
No girls doing coding. She thinks this is due to marketing. Another problem is that girls stop coming
because the boys take over. Definitely an issue.
Computational
thinking: a digital age skill for everyone
Discover Authentic Learning - Anita L 'Enfant
ThinkUKnow students answering questions about the internet
This came up several times at the conference:
Authentic learning
must be:
Relevant
Real world problem
solving
Meaningful and useful
Makers
challenge at the conference - students selected the challenges. It was great to see them working on these over the 2 days.
Robotics - Bronwyn Moreton
Teachers should go through
curriculum and highlight where robotics fits.
Blue Bot for
juniors-very young students
Dash and Dot-ultrasonic, infrared, bluetooth. Can play hide and seek Program Dot with
Go! Program Dash with
Blocky, very similar to Scratch-good for Year 7-8-9
Edison Robot-picks up barcode or program with
Edware-uses variables and data containers
Pi2Go with Python
-use EV3 Lego kit, program EV3 withMindstorms
Can robots inspire a
passion for computing? Watch the talk by Robin Murphy -TEDtalk on importance of robotics on disasters.
It is important for students to understand how
technology changes the future.
Let them get on with it - Marg Meijers
GO! Gifted Online"In the new economy, computer science isn't an optional skill. It's a basic skill, right along with the three Rs" Barack Obama
No guarantee they
have previous experience. Some students can
program apps and some never had computers. It is the equivalent of dropping students into
algebra if they can't count yet!
Used gamification and at each level put
skills that she wanted them to learn. Badge earned at each level. Then she had a Boss
level that they had to pass to move on.
Did a
scoreboard - they do this all the time at home, so it is nothing new.
Boss level - the teacher sends a challenge. Students expect to lose the first time so the Boss has to be a challenge.
Compare this with a
school test and you can see the benefits.
I really enjoyed this session and have written another blog post about it with more detail and slides.
Coding with Drones, Droids and Robots - Brett Salakos
@MRSalakos #AussieEd
He uses a drone in the hall
with portable whiteboard for it to fly around and under and over.
Tickle app to connect with lots of devices drag and drop coding
Lunchtime coding
club - set up a maze
Set up obstacle course
outside
Search drone racing clips on Youtube
SPrk Lightning Lab
has a plethora of ideas https://sprk.sphero.com/
Can set up a virtual
classroom environment
Hour of Code and Beyond - brendan@code.org
"The programmers of today are the wizards of the future"
You don't have to be a genius to code. Every student in
every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science.
Teachers and parents
can do the Hour of Code too. They all have a goal that is fun,
achievable and creative.
Block and JavaScript
versions.
Multiple rounds of
classroom testing before they go public.
What Code. org does:
Full K-12
curriculum-free
U.S. Teacher
training
International
reach-different languages
A course has full
lesson plans. Web-based Interaction lessons, Videos, PD in the USA.
Code Club - Annie Parker
Free resources.
After school Programme where kids learn to code for free.
Most jobs in the
future will be based around coding.
Computational
thinking is beneficial for all jobs.
self confidence,
teamwork, confidence
"Coding is like a super power. They get to create the future."
750,000 jobs in tech
in-U.S.A in 10 years will be unfilled
Needs fixing
Atlassian -tech start up in Aus. Need more tech start up
Scratch, html, css,
python
3yrs of resources
free
free teacher
training
52% of participants
are girls in Aus-9-Ilyr olds so not pre-conditioned
Continually adding
to library
Kid and inventor
day. Bring in people to inspire kids. Coding though play
learning though code
helps problem solving skills
This session started us thinking about how we can set up a coding club at school, perhaps with School of Apps students being the mentors for our Year9 and 10 students.
CSER Digital
Technologies Moocs - from the University of Adelaide.
Learning coding helps in all areas of learning, not just computer science.
She went through a huge range of resources that could be used with Junior school students. This is just a small example of them.
She started with
Codeclub world and just downloaded projects. Does a lot of
unplugged activity.
Group for girls to
chat about what they did during the day.
Cs Unplugged
resources
certificates and
digital badges
Makerspace in the
library - she brings in parents and grandparents to help out.
Literacy. Binary
Code -Binary bracelets
Fuzz ball in
kodable https://www.kodable.com/
The official Scratch
Book-really good. for Scratch Junior
Science- Use Scratch to
teach Circuits
Hello Ruby -LindaLiukas A delightful way to teach kids about computers
Ada Byron Lovelace
and the thinking machine. Binary games Magic binary Trick game
Usborne- Computers
and coding
Uses Tickle to
program BB8
Littlebits for
makerspaces
Bitsbox -make on
tablet then get a QR code and put on your phone. Through hour of code.
I was amazed at the huge amount of resources available for teachers. If you are keen to code, you can!
Use of Virtual Reality in Special Education - Mathieu Marunczyn
Matieu teaches Tech in Special Ed
at Jackson.
Oculus Rift with
Touch
Hololens and Google
Glass
Kinect Party xbox360 great for social interaction. Kids love it for games.
Kids are going to
have this-we need to keep up
Why virtual reality
and special ed?
Emerging technology,
affordable, Virtual sensory spaces, learning environments
In special needs you
should ask for gear from companies. They will help if you have an idea you want to try.
Challenges:
Physical space
limitations, behavioural, issues, social role modelling. and engagement,
funding
Ethical
considerations:
Ethics approval,
screen time limited, adult supervision well being checks, Oculus user guideline
We don't have
research on what can happen when students use this equipment.
Titans of Space, Meditation app (sit on a beach), Positive response from students.
Observable results: Behaviour
modification-calming, Language Development, Increased engagement
What is it used for?
Sensory experiences
and calm spaces -somewhere to go have time out
Social modelling for
kids with autism can have interactions with a character
Broader education
use
Humanities and job
training
Go for a walk in an
area and flick a switch to another space
One example is "Clouds over Sidra" - a virtual walkthrough of a refugee camp. A review of this is here.
Richard Attenborough
-Virtual reality "First Life"
Workforce training.
Kids doing training before they leave. Driving lessons and practise safely in VR.
Limitations:
Damage to real world
relationships? Are we losing co-ordination?
Dependency and
escapism -depression?
Cost - Still very
little educational content. Kids are coding maybe they can do it themselves?
This session really blew my mind. So much potential and so many questions. This is not just in Special Ed, but imagine what could be done in all classrooms. Where to from here??
Raising student achievement through technology - Robert Carter
Technology can
transform lives
Access to content: Programme that can read text for Apple -Prizmo
Digital content: digital feedback
enables students to revisit it
Loved this quote from Robert - "If I had asked him to
write it down, he would have left the room telling me my history and my future!"
"From the moment students enter a school, the most important factor in their success is not the color of their skin or the income of their parents, it's the person standing at the front of the classroom... America's future depends on its teachers."
— Barack Obama
Video interview
-list of questions. Used Typorama App for text blocks. Use video compressor App
and put video in SMS http://www.typorama.co/
They do video
stories for SN students and put out to all students. Rather than just IEP. Gives the student a voice.
Flipped Classroom - Anita L'Enfant
Have to write 2
questions about the notes at home
Can look over and
over the notes. Kids can pause and rewind. For tests and
quizzes you can go back and watch him teach it again. Videos on Youtube.
How to make the best
use of teacher time. Best use of time is talking with students
Need a screencasting
tool and somewhere to put it. Specifically used for
chalk and talk or demonstrations. Doesn't have to be
you. Use Kahn academy.
Challenges:
work ethic
School culture
Not good for
everything
Time for video
Technology
-where-how
Parents love flipped
classroom. Students often say -"Mrs x does it this way" so now they can show parents how so they can help. Good for junior
high.
Start by setting up
your laptop to record your instruction.
screencasting
tool - Explain Everything
Verso - Got a built-in sharing
system. Need password. Has questioning techniques
My Ed App - Datacom uses this.
Can embed and takes to next level. Learning Pathways System.
ITunes u
Edmodo
Don't limit it to
just a video
Focus on the
learning. Group them in like needs for peer coaching.
Assessment. You can
get students to use Explain Everything to talk though the process while
writing answers.
writing answers.
Choose the best 2
Explain Everything on a topic and put into their video space.
Overall, the conference was an amazing experience. The time spent listening to inspiring teachers
and then discussing ideas with my colleagues was well spent. So may things to think about now
that I can implement into my classroom and share with others. Hopefully this blog is just the first
step to inspiring others.
and then discussing ideas with my colleagues was well spent. So may things to think about now
that I can implement into my classroom and share with others. Hopefully this blog is just the first
step to inspiring others.
No comments:
Post a Comment