OS Digital Learning News
Special Edition - Hour of Code
Hi Everyone!
In this special edition of the Oakland Schools Digital Learning News you will find information about the Hour of Code 2017 campaign which runs during Computer Science Education Week from December 4-10. You will also find links to many resources that will help you launch and successfully run your own Hour of Code with your students. For a quick overview of Hour of Code, read this article, Calling All Learners and Teachers for Hour of Code 2017.
~Laura and Vinos
Hour of Code - Week of December 4-10, 2017
What is the Hour of Code?
The Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to make coding accessible, and show that anybody can learn the basics. Tens of millions of students in 180+ countries will be participating. Many freely available coding resources make it easy for you to get your students coding and completing an introductory project within an hour. Click here to view the resources provided by Code.org.
When is the Hour of Code?
Anyone can host an Hour of Code anytime, but the goal of the event is for all K-12 students to try an Hour of Code during the week of December 4-10, in celebration of Computer Science Education Week. You can do the Hour of Code anytime during this week. If necessary, the Hour of Code can be split into multiple sessions so long as your students finish the Hour of Code tutorial by week's end. (And, if you can't do it during that week, do it the week before or after!)
Goals for Hour of Code
The goals of the event are to “demystify” code, showing that anyone can learn the basics, and to promote computer science as an option for future careers. The hope is that by exposing students to coding, students will be encouraged to explore coding further for potential careers in computer science.
Why computer science?
Computer Science helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic and creativity. By starting early, students will have a foundation for success in any 21st-century career path. The United States Department of Labor anticipates computer science will be one of the fastest-growing and highest-paying industries in the future. Check out a few statistics about computer science and jobs by clicking here. The Michigan fact sheet is a printable document that gives an overview of the current status of computer science education in our state.
How do I participate in the Hour of Code?
Start planning here by reviewing a how-to guide from Code.org.
Who is behind the Hour of Code?
The Hour of Code and Computer Science Education Week Advisory and Review Committees as well as a large group of partners have joined together to support the Hours of Code. Partners include Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the College Board.
Ideas for Your Hour of Code
2. Next, share some statistics!
~Hour of Code is aiming for participation from 100 million students worldwide!
~ Show the map of all the locations where students will be participating in Hour of Code.
~Share these computer science statistics: https://hourofcode.com/us/promote/stats
3. Introduce students to the coding activity you have selected for them. Note: Many options are listed in the Coding Resources document linked in the next section of this newsletter. Once you select a lesson, be sure to preview it and test it on the equipment your students will be using (Chromebooks, iPads, PCs, etc.).
4. Begin coding! If possible, take pictures or short video clips of students working. If you use Twitter professionally, consider posting Tweets about your students' coding experiences with #hourofcode and #oakedtech.
5. Consider printing out Hour of Code certificates for your students.
Additional Coding Resources
Unplugged Resources for Hour of Code
- Free Download-Gingerbread Coding - This simple holiday introduction to block-style coding is designed for K-3rd to help them learn the basics of "unplugged" programming without computers. Note: Requires Teachers Pay Teachers login
- CS Unplugged - a collection of free materials that teach Computer Science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons, etc. The resources include unit plans, lesson plans, teaching videos, curriculum integration activities, and programming exercises to plug in the Computer Science concepts they have just learnt unplugged.
- 5 Super Cool Offline Coding Activities - Bill Ritchie and Andrea Barthello share their favorite unplugged coding activities including one where students write their names in binary code.
CS Fundamentals Unplugged - a list of all of Code.org's unplugged lessons for you to use in your classroom. Now you can teach the fundamentals of computer science, whether you have computers in your classroom or not!
Robotics and Circuits
Hour of Code Resources from Ozobot
Below are links to resources that the Ozobot company has put together for use with their Ozobot robots for the Hour of Code.
Unplugged Tutorials
Intro to Ozobot and OzoCodes - No Experience Required
Drive to School with Ozobot - No Experience Required
Write your Name with OzoCodes - Comfortable With Ozobot
Mission to Neptune - Comfortable With Ozobot
Modeling Animal Habits and Habitats - Comfortable With Ozobot
Eclipses and Celestial Mechanics - Comfortable With Ozobot
OzoBlockly Tutorials
- The OzoBlockly Tutorial - No Experience Required
Teach Ozobot to Dance - No Experience Required
Magellan’s Journey - Comfortable With Ozobot
Pair Programming with Ozobot - Comfortable With Ozobot
Multiplication Algorithm - Comfortable With Ozobot
Ozobot Second Timer - Comfortable With Ozobot
App Lab: A New Hour of Code Tutorial in JavaScript!
Just in time for the Hour of Code week, Code.org has unveiled a new Hour of Code tutorial that introduces coding in JavaScript using App Lab, the tool that powers their middle and high school courses. App Lab lets anyone build simple web apps in JavaScript and making your own web app has never been easier!
If you and your students are ready to go beyond the basics, try the new App Lab tutorial which lets students design a “choose your own adventure” app using either JavaScript or blocks. Note: The activity is designed for students age 13 and older – if you have younger students who would like to try it, you’ll need to set up accounts for them in your Code.org classroom.
Win a Celebrity Chat for your Class!
Create an app, game, or design with Code.org, share it on social media, and tag it with #HourOfCode and one of Code.org's select celebrities for a chance to win a video chat for your classroom! Below is a list of the celebrities and what types of creations they are interested in seeing.
- Stephen Curry - "I'm lucky to have gone to the NBA playoffs with the Golden State Warriors, but we would never have been there without teamwork. Show me what your team can create when you work together."
- Stacy Hinojosa (StacyPlays) - "Have you played the newest Minecraft activity, Hero's Journey? Did you know I helped develop it? I've been vlogging since 2013, so I know a lot about Minecraft. But there's always more for me to learn and I want to see what you can create in Minecraft when you play it."
- Hadi Partovi - "The team of software engineers at Code.org love to build apps, and they created our newest program, App Lab. I challenge you to join them as a software engineer this week and build something fun using JavaScript in App Lab."
- Sheryl Sandberg - "Girls are still underrepresented in tech and computer science from high school all the way through the workforce. We can change this! I encourage girls to start learning computer science and create an app using App Lab!"
- Russell Wilson - "Since I was in high school, I wanted to play professional football AND professional baseball. I love both games, but can you make one I'll love even more? I challenge you to create a game with Flappy Bird, Sports, Star Wars, or App Lab."
- Susan Wojcicki - "At YouTube, we love good storytellers. Use App Lab to choose your own adventure, make a story in Play Lab, or post a video story about anything you created. And who knows? Maybe your creation will go viral!"
Find complete contest details on the "Win a Celebrity Chat for Your Class" webpage.
Oakland Schools Digital Learning Twitter posts can be found at: os_edtech
When you are posting to Twitter about things related to digital learning and educational technology, don't forget to use the hashtag #oakedtech.
Using the hashtag will help all of us Oakland County educators, who are interested in the effective use of digital learning, to connect and better collaborate with each other.
Oakland Schools Digital Learning Consultants
Laura.Cummings@oakland.k12.mi.us
248-209-2283
Vinos Kassab
Vinos.Kassab@oakland.k12.mi.us
248-209-2229