Week 13 - Online Programming Resources
This week is designed to give you an opportunity to explore some online programming resources that you might be able to use in your classroom. I would like you to explore three of these resources as listed below. I would also like you to identify a fourth resource that fits what you know and could use. Send me information about this resource and I will add it to this page.
Code.org
For those of you who maybe aren't particularly familiar with Code.org, they are an organization that produces free curriculum and teaching resources. These run the full range from elementary school all the way up through high school materials including the CS Principles (with or without AP credit) and the recently announced AP CS-A.
- Overview of all of their curriculum
- CS Fundamentals - Primarily an elementary school curriculum. Six smaller courses loosely targeted to K-5 grade.
- CS Fundamentals Accelerated Course - I have used this with college students. It is targeting Elementary Students but it hits on a lot of key issues and is FUN.
- CS Discoveries - A middle school into lower HS curriculum. Attempts to link programming with scientific exploration.
- CS Principles - Aligns with the CSP program and can be used with or without official recognition by the college board for AP credit.
Runestone Academy
Runestone Academy provides FREE and open source textbooks. They do this all within a framework providing interactive programming environments. They are an incredible resource you should know about.
- A list of their textbooks
- How to Think Like A Computer Scientist - I actually linked this one in the materials for FOP. I think it is worth revisiting.
- As a starting point, consider this page on Boolean Expressions and basic conditionals.
- I encourage you to try ALL of the elements on this page. Explore Code, Write Code, and see what's what
- Notice the inclusion of videos
- Notice that all examples are executable
- Notice that all examples can be CHANGED and run.
- Notice that there is a lab linked off the page that let's students use what they are learning
- Exploring other Interactions available with the site
- The website has a simple "book" which shows off all of the features of the entire website that can be used in any book: Overview of Runestone Academy
- In particular look at the elements in chapters 2 and 3
Coding Rooms
Coding Rooms describes itself as a Learning Management System built specifically for learning to program. I am actually giving serious thought to using it for the FOP course next with the next cohort. For a variety or reaons I will list below. I have set up a default course at the moment with no real personalization for my style of teaching. But you can get access to the basics by joining using:
https://app.codingrooms.com/app?joinCode=C-FaiVXqx
Once you get access poke around at the list of sections on the left hand side and see what is what. Notice that this is NOT a textbook but a place where students can work on skills they have already been working on in class.
I like it for several reasons:
- It contains the ability to practice programming with automated feedback (similar to the Autolab system we used in FOP)
- Try it yourself
- Decide if an input is odd/even (to test conditionals)
- Add together 10 numbers and calculate their sum (to test for loops)
- Add together N numbers and calculate their sum where we will end the sequece with 0 (to test while loops)
- Try it yourself
- Teachers can easily add their own content such as quiz questions, drag and drop questions, and parsons problems
- Try it. This is a simple example I created.
- I could pretty much reproduce tha page you had in runestone acadmey plus more.
- I can't really show you this without you having a partner, but it also has the ability do do "Google Doc" style paired programming. That is, one of you can share a link with someone else and BOTH people can code at the same time. Reach out to me if you want to see this.
What resources do YOU think are worth sharing?
What haven't I lised here that you think should be on my list for your classmates and future courses? PLEASE email me at least one additional resource that should go on this page.
Student submitted Resources
Kryie McDonald
1.) I had to submit my 4 year plan for computer science, and also buy materials for the curriculum. Thus, I found a resource completed by Massachusetts state that looks at several curriculums from Kindergarten to High School. It then states what standards are met according to CSS and provides links, costs, and descriptions of programs all in one location. It is safe to say that I loved finding this document when I was making my decisions, especially since I was new and did not know all the resources out there. I believe I have looked at everything once just because I wanted to make good decisions. As a result, I have now made a four year plan for CS that I believe will be successful.
Here is the link: https://www.doe.mass.edu/stem/dlcs/curriculum-guide.pdf
2.). I have a middle school exploratory class, and for two weeks I incorporate a microchip in their instruction. It is by far their most favorite activity for this class. As it lights up, makes loud noises, communicates with other chips, and is just all around cool. In order to code the chip, and because I did not know what program to have them write, I turned to the following webpage:
https://makecode.microbit.org/This website provides all sorts of ideas where students use the microchips in simulations and to create fun games. It combines MakerSpace with the microchip. Students absolutely loved everything, but the magic 8 ball was the biggest hit.
Additional notes: Micro-bit microchips are pretty cheap. Around $20 each, so this is affordable for schools, plus curriculum is free.
A second microchip I use comes with the code.org curriculum. It has the same effect on students, super fun, but trust me you might get tired of all the loud buzzing! It is the adafruit express microchip. You can code this chip for high schoolers through code.org's website (unit 6 of Discoveries) OR, if you have younger kids, go to: https://makecode.adafruit.com/. This operates much like the makecode of the micro-bit, but for the express chip instead.
3.). A curriculum that I plan to integrate with my 6th grade exploratory for next year are...
- Mindcraft - https://education.minecraft.net/en-us/resources/computer-science-subject-kit
- Lego Spike - https://education.lego.com/en-us/product-resources/spike-prime/teacher-resources/computer-science-courses
Both of the above curriculum will excite students about learning computer science and are relevant to their interests, plus are fun.
Michelle Fay
Another resource I have been looking at and will probably use is codehs.com This could be a student paced resource because all the information they need is included in the lessons. They have videos, worksheets, readings, coding right on the website, and students can check their code when finished or as they go. This site has a lot of different options such as Java, JavaScript, Python, Karel, HTML, SQL, C++ and more. I have not looked too far into most of them but I did look at the HTML/CSS lessons for a web page design class. It is also free which is wonderful!!!!!