Arizona Computer Science for All

In 2021 a specialized team at the Arizona SciTech Institute, Arizona Science Center, and Arizona State University will be starting a project to support K8 teachers. The program will be centered around computer science and computational thinking, and how they can support student learning. The project will focus on supporting educators with age-appropriate and grade relevant tools, projects, and background knowledge to support their student's 21-century skills. The project will be led by Cochise County resident and past STEM teacher, Kalman Mannis.

 This session will be composed of three parts: First will be an introduction to the Arizona Computer Science Landscape project with a few minutes to get everyone using the same words; 2. Experience sample age-appropriate computer science projects (you get to play!) coached by Jared O'Leary of BootUp, 3. Debrief and next steps.

 The practicals will be geared with the understanding that many schools across the county are teaching remotely. To help teachers we are going to provide attendees with free resources that enable kids to learn how to use Scratch through self-paced, interest-driven projects. This session will offer a link to hundreds of free resources that you can immediately use with remote or in-person classes. You will be able to explore free video and visual walkthroughs for developing a project in Scratch, project extensions, debugging exercises, remixing practices, reverse engineering practices, and lesson plans.

Presentation Slides


Video Walkthrough


Coder Resources: How to Use Self-paced walkthroughs

Beginner Projects


Intermediate Projects


Advanced Projects


Remixing resources

Option 1: Open the example project at the bottom of the document you’ve been using, read the comments in each sprite, change the code to do something different.

Option 2: Open this studio with completed projects and remix one of the projects.

Option 2: Open this studio with completed projects and remix one of the projects.

Option 3: Open this studio with incomplete projects and add to one of the project starters.

Option 3: Open this studio with incomplete projects and add to one of the project starters.


Reverse Engineering

Student-facing video

 

Teacher-facing video


Free Scratch Lesson Plans and more Coder Resources


Free ScratchJr Lesson Plans


Additional Resources

Listen to the #CSK8 podcast

The #CSK8 Podcast explores research, experiences, and perspectives on computer science education with a focus on grades K-8. My hope is to support and promote the #CSK8 and #CSforALL community members by interviewing guests and unpacking scholarship in relation to computer science education.

Computer Science Education Pages

JavaScript Resources

MAX/MSP Projects

Media Arts & Technology Makerspace

Scratch Resources

Sonic Pi Resources

Spreadsheet by Peter Rich with even more resources and platforms to explore

Swift Resources

Twitter List

Click here to visit a list with a direct feed of users who discuss the various topics that pertain to this topic.

YouTube Playlists

The following links provide videos related to various topics that pertain to this topic: