Participate and share: Interactive session 
Recorded Session
Participants will build their knowledge base through our presentation on what computational thinking is and how it relates to computer science through abstraction, algorithmic thinking, pattern recognition, and programming and development. They will preview the elementary computer science standards that drive our efforts to empower teachers with knowledge and a growth mindset. They will experience grade-level appropriate activities and visualize how computer science instruction can be embedded into content-based lessons from math and science to history and literature. Participants will have several opportunities to build their own knowledge and skills by trying out sample activities including unplugged coding with algorithms, writing pseudo code, reading books with computer science themes, using robots and microbits, doing scratch coding, and solving cryptograms/ciphers.
Presentation and Activity Showcase: 20 minutes:
Address the essential question: How can computational thinking instruction lead to every learner developing creative, problem-solving skills and an innovative, forward-thinking mindset?
Demonstrate grade-level appropriate activities that show how to teach computer science digitally and unplugged (Presenter-led)
Preview the Digital Literacy Computer Science course of study for AL
Discuss what we did to equip teachers with strategies, curricula, and resources for classroom implementation (Audience Interaction)
Highlighting Our Work With LEAs/Schools: 10 minutes
Presenters share specific outcomes from working with districts and schools
Hands On Interactives: 15 minutes:
Time for participants to try out various activities, i.e. Sphero, MicroBit, Scratch, pseudo coding
Sample activities will include both unplugged and digital options that we will bring and have set up for use by participants (Audience Interaction)
Discussion and Q & A: 10 minutes:
Padlet for Reflections from Audience
Mentimeter Feedback
Take audience questions
Giveaways and swag
QR code and link to our Collection of Resources (site)
Computational thinking has been a trending topic in recent decades in learning research and educational practice. Scholars argue that children as young as 4 to 6 years old can build and program robots and learn computational thinking skills (Bers et al., 2014). Previous studies have also suggested that learning computer science and STEM in early childhood assists students in developing certain competences and thinking archetypes, and the early experiences of children are likely to allow them to substantially develop positive attitudes toward perseverance in future career development (Chen et al., 2017a, 2017b; Israel et al., 2015).
Research:
Liao, C.H., Chiang, CT., Chen, IC. et al. Exploring the relationship between computational thinking and learning satisfaction for non-STEM college students. Int J Educ Technol High Educ 19, 43 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-022-00347-5
Recognized Experts:
Marina Umaschi Bers on Coding as an Essential Form of Literacy. Edutopia, March 2022
https://www.edutopia.org/article/marina-umaschi-bers-coding-essential-form-literacy
Excerpt from Beyond Coding: How Children Learn Human Values Through Programming by Marina Umaschi Bers, published by the MIT Press, © 2022 Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Israel, M., Wherfel, Q., Pearson, J., Shehab, S., & Tapia, T. (2015). Empowering K-12 students with disabilities to learn computational thinking and computer programming. TEACHING Exceptional Children, 48(1), 45-53.
Books:
Bers, M.(2021) Coding as a Playground: Programming and Computational Thinking in the Early Childhood Classroom. Routledge.
Krauss, J., Prottsman, K.(2017) Computational Thinking and Coding for Every Student: The Teacher’s Getting Started Guide. Corwin
Williams, H.(2021) No Fear Coding: Computational Thinking Across the K-5 Curriculum. ISTE
Websites:
Why Computer Science? From Code.org https://code.org/promote
How To Develop Computational Thinkers From ISTE.org https://www.iste.org/explore/how-develop-computational-thinkers
Integrating Computational Thinking Into Your Elementary Classroom From GettingSmart.com https://www.gettingsmart.com/2018/03/09/computational-thinking-elementary-classroom/
Android (link): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sphero.sprk&hl=en
Windows (link): https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/sphero-edu/9N2796R62XLZ?hl=en-us&gl=us
Sphero Edu Jr. - iPad or iPhone (link): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sphero-edu-jr/id1545146776
Android (link): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sphero.edujr&hl=en_US&gl=US
Return
Trips and Tours