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Yes (even) You Can Code with the Help of AI!

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Colorado Convention Center, Mile High Ballroom 1BCD

Explore and create: Deep-dive Creation lab
Preregistration Required
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Presenters

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Technology Integration Specialist
Stark Portage Area Computer Consortium
@ericcurts
@ericcurts
Eric Curts is a veteran educator who currently serves as a Technology Integration Specialist for the Stark County Educational Service Center in Ohio where he oversees Google for Education implementation, training, and support, as well as other technology integration initiatives. Eric is an authorized Google for Education Trainer and Innovator, and provides training to schools, organizations, and conferences across the country. Eric runs the award-winning blog ControlAltAchieve.com where all of his edtech resources can be found, and is the author of the book "Control Alt Achieve: Rebooting Your Classroom with Creative Google Projects".

Session description

Even if you have never written a line of code in your life, you can with AI! See how to use tools such as Bard and ChatGPT to create code in Google Docs, Sheets, and Sites for learning games, activities, supports, time-savers, productivity helpers, and more.

Purpose & objective

The purpose of this session is to show educators how they and their students can use AI to assist with coding activities in schools. An emphasis of this session is that even users with absolutely no prior experience with coding can create code with the help of artificial intelligence.
To do this we will explore both ChatGPT and Google Bard as AI assistants for coding.
We will explore two general areas for how such code can be used including:
Creating code to be embedded in Google Sites for games, interactive activities, simulations, and more.
Creating Apps Script code in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Calendar, Drive, and more, to automate tasks, create custom features, integrate with other tools, and more.
Throughout this session, multiple finished examples will be shown, and new hands-on examples will be demonstrated.
Attendees will be encouraged to create and share their own coding projects.

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Outline

The session will cover the following information. Note: live links to the resources referenced below can be accessed at:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZEBpEF4Y66z79PTm7q3hkT_jvR0kosZRMMK0sCQTNwc/edit

Coding with AI Overview - 10 minutes
Here we will explore how AI tools such as ChatGPT and Google Bard can assist with writing code.

Embedded Code in Google Sites - 25 minutes
Here we will explore how AI generated code can be embedded in Google Sites to create games, interactive activities, simulations, and more.
We will cover the limitations of this sort of code, explore a wide range of pre-created examples, and then work through a live hands-on demonstration of creating such code.

Attendee sharing - 15 minutes
Attendees will be encouraged to create their own code project and share with the group.

Apps Script Code for Google Tools - 25 minutes
The same process will then be repeated with Google Apps Script code and how it can be used in tools such as Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Calendar, Drive, and more to automate tasks, create custom features, integrate with other tools, and more.
We will cover the limitations of this sort of code, explore a wide range of pre-created examples, and then work through a live hands-on demonstration of creating such code.

Attendee sharing - 15 minutes
Attendees will be encouraged to create their own code project and share with the group.

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Supporting research

Research suggests that learning to code can have a number of benefits for K-12 students, including:
Improved computational thinking skills
Improved problem-solving skills
Improved creativity and innovation skills
Improved academic achievement in a variety of subjects
Coding is an important skill for all students to learn, regardless of their future career plans. It is a skill that can help students to succeed in school, in their careers, and in life.
In the article "7 Reasons Why Kids Should Learn to Code" - https://techbootcamps.utexas.edu/blog/why-kids-should-learn-to-code/ - multiple research papers and studies are referenced about the benefits of coding in education including:
1. Coding Boosts Problem-Solving Skills
2. Coding Improves Computational Thinking
3. Coding Encourages Persistence
4. Coding Teaches Creativity
5. Coding Helps Teach Digital Literacy
6. Coding is a Career-Building Skill
7. Coding Improves Confidence and Communication Skills

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Session specifications

Topic:
Artificial Intelligence
Grade level:
PK-12
Skill level:
Beginner
Audience:
Coaches, Curriculum/district specialists, Teachers
Attendee devices:
Devices required
Attendee device specification:
Laptop: Chromebook, Mac, PC
Participant accounts, software and other materials:
Attendees will need access to AI chat tools such as ChatGPT or Google Bard to fully participate in this session.
ISTE Standards:
For Educators:
Learner
  • Set professional learning goals to explore and apply pedagogical approaches made possible by technology and reflect on their effectiveness.
For Students:
Computational Thinker
  • Students formulate problem definitions suited for technology-assisted methods such as data analysis, abstract models and algorithmic thinking in exploring and finding solutions.
  • Students understand how automation works and use algorithmic thinking to develop a sequence of steps to create and test automated solutions.