Creative Coding in K-2

Change display time — Currently: Central Daylight Time (CDT) (Event time)
Location: La Nouvelle Ballroom, Table 21
Experience live:

Participate and share : Poster

Dr. Melissa Unger
Be inspired by creative coding projects designed by first and second graders. Play video games, watch cartoons and follow along with retellings of popular stories all programmed using ScratchJr. Hear student reflections on their work and gain new ideas for using ScratchJr with your own students to foster deeper learning!

Audience:	Teachers
Skill level:	Beginner
Attendee devices:	Devices not needed
Participant accounts, software and other materials:	None
Topic:	Innovation in early childhood/elementary
Grade level:	PK-2
Subject area:	Computer science, STEM/STEAM
ISTE Standards:	For Educators: Facilitator Foster a culture where students take ownership of their learning goals and outcomes in both independent and group settings. Create learning opportunities that challenge students to use a design process and computational thinking to innovate and solve problems. For Students: Creative Communicator Students create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.

Proposal summary

Purpose & objective

The purpose of this poster presentation is to showcase first and second grade students' creative coding projects and to provide resources for attendees to replicate similar projects in their classroom. The projects showcased will provide inspiration for "next level" coding projects that can be completed using the free ScratchJr. app.

By attending this session, participants will gain a deeper understanding of computational thinking practices, increased ideas for how to employ the ScratchJr. app in their elementary classroom, and a greater perspectie on how computer science and coding can be connected to various aspects of the elementary curriculum.

After visiting this poster presentation, participants will be inspired by the limitless creative possibilities that Scratch Jr. provides. Participants will be able to examine and playtest a variety of projects designed by young students and will be given resources for replicating similar projects with their own students.

My poster presentation will feature a variety of interactive student projects on iPads that participants can work with, and I will also have a variety of engaging student videos (using FlipGrid) so that participants can see students' reflections on their learning.

Supporting research

Resnick, M., & Robinson, K. (2018). Lifelong kindergarten: Cultivating creativity through projects, passion, peers, and play. The MIT Press.

Bers, M. U., & Resnick, M. (2016). The Official Scratch Jr Book Help Your Kids Learn to code! No Starch Press.

Murphy Paul, Annie. “The Coding Revolution.” Scientific American Aug. 2016:42-49. Online and Print.

Rondinelli, Bille, Dr., and Aileen M. Owens. “Computational Thinking.” AASA May 2017: 23-27. Print and Online.

Gormley, William T., Jr. Critical Advantage. S.I.: Harvard Education, 2017. Print. (Chapter discussing South Fayette. Chapter 7. Critical Thinking and the Technological Revolution. 157-185)

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Presenters

Dr. Melissa Unger, South Fayette Township School District

As an elementary STEAM teacher, Melissa teaches students the beginnings of computer programming and helps them to design, build, and bring their ideas to life as they use technology. A life-long Maker, Melissa’s elementary STEAM curriculum intertwines art and science and challenges students to think critically while using their imaginations to construct new realities. Melissa leads out-of-school computer programming clubs for upper elementary students, family nights for the community, and STEAM professional development for educators. Melissa is also a member of Agency by Design and is currently working on her doctorate in STEM Education.