Digital Directions - Summer 2013 - (Page 30)
<
Freshman Darius
Smith works
on a project
in Craddock’s
computer science
class at Monticello
High School.
“
We’re promoting
the
that they
are
of technology, not just
.
idea
producers
consumers ”
—Vincent Scheivert
Chief Information Officer
Albemarle County Schools_Virginia
30 >> www.digitaldirections.org
free program for students that allows them
to create interactive stories, digital games,
and animations while learning the basics of
computer coding.
Coding teaches problem-solving,
communication, and collaboration,
Resnick says.
“The ability to code should be one
aspect of fluency in the 21st century,”
he says. “Everyone should learn to code
because it makes you a better learner.”
Methods for introducing coding to K-12
students are varied. There are traditional
computer science classes in high schools,
where students learn digital languages like
Java, C++, or HTML.
Courses in video-game creation, such as
the one at South Hills High, are increasing
in popularity since that is often what draws
students in.
And enrichment opportunities through
programs such as CodeEd, which focuses
on teaching computer science to girls, and
CoderDojo, an after-school coding club staffed
by volunteers, are also gaining in popularity.
The 13,200-student Albemarle County
schools in Virginia launched CoderDojos at
five sites in the district this past year after
advertising a summer CoderDojo academy
before the academic year began. Officials
expected to have 50 students sign up for
the one-week summer session, but found
themselves with a list of 1,100 students who
wanted to participate, says Vincent Scheivert,
the district’s chief information officer.
Each CoderDojo is run independently
by volunteers and is typically available for
free to mixed ages of students. Students
work on Scratch programming, HTML, blog
creation, Alice (another coding program
aimed at students and created by Carnegie
Mellon University) and Kodu, a visualprogramming language made for game
creation and geared toward children.
This summer, the Albemarle County
district plans to expand its free CoderDojo
academy to two weeks. Each day, students
will interact with a different type of
technology. Beginner, intermediate, and
advanced HTML and JavaScript will be
offered for those who want to go deeper.
In Albemarle County’s version of CoderDojo,
only the students are allowed to touch the
computers, Scheivert says. “We try our best
to stay out of the kids’ way,” he says. “We’re
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Digital Directions - Summer 2013
Digital Directions - Summer 2013
Contents
Editor’s Note
DD Site Visit
Bits & Bytes
Test-Driving the Common Core
Flipped PD: Building Blocks to Success
Virtual Learning in the Early Years
Kindergarten the Virtual Way
7 Steps to Picking Your LMS
Cracking the Code
Powering the Crowd
Digital Directions - Summer 2013
http://dd.edweek.org/nxtbooks/epe/dd_2013summer
http://dd.edweek.org/nxtbooks/epe/dd_2013winter
http://dd.edweek.org/nxtbooks/epe/dd_2012fall
http://dd.edweek.org/nxtbooks/epe/dd_2012springsummer
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com