In October, some 4th and 5th graders were showing classmates and teachers the Sprites they had created in Scratch. This inspired several of these students to independently begin learning Scratch. Their interest and excitement inspired me to incorporate Scratch into my work with students this year. In December, Debbie Smith, fellow Ed Tech at Eanes Elementary, told me about the Hour of Code. I immediately thought about this group of students. When I sent information out to my teachers about this, I got an unexpected overwhelming response from many of them wanting their students to participate. The students in this picture are scanning the QR code to the Hour of Code Learn website in order to participate with their iPads. TechCrunch.com, one of many online technology news services that covered this phenomenal event, explains the Hour of Code: "On December 9, Code.org kicked off a new, nationwide campaign called the “Hour of Code,” which asked teachers across the U.S. to help introduce their students to the basics of computer science through the organization’s coding programs and tutorials. Timed in conjunction with Computer Science Education Week, the campaign has sought to change the perception of Computer Science in the American education system — chief of which is the fact that, today, 9 out of 10 schools in the U.S. do not offer computer science classes." As a result of many of our VVE students successfully getting that Angry Bird to wipe out the pig, we have a lot of students excited about coding now. I worked with many classes during Computer Science Education Week, and I continue to work with classes this first week back after our Winter Vacation. As a 36 year educator, I have had opportunities to hear from past students about how their time with me has influenced them. Gazing off into the future, I'm looking forward to hearing how our Hour of Code inspired these students.
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Hi, I'm Margie Brown, an Educational Technologist at Valley View Elementary School in Eanes ISD. I love working with students and teachers and discovering new digital tips and tricks everyday! Archives
August 2016
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