Friday, January 27, 2017

Lessons Learned

Here are some things we have learned from doing our Coding Cubs Club.  First and most important....

  • 5 students to one iPad and one set of Dot and Dash robots is TOO MANY!  :)  6-8 year olds have a hard time sharing and staying involved if they are not the one in control of the iPad. 


  • Coding is fun for these guys!  We have found so many different apps and websites, that it is very easy to keep everyone engaged in some type of coding activity, no matter what the experience might be.  We have students working with the Angry Bird mazes on Code.org, some are working with Box Island on the iPads, and then we have a handful that are experienced coders and are figuring things out using Scratch

Here is a document that has quite a few of the apps and websites that we have been using and trying out. 

  • After a long day of teaching and having a regular classroom, I think I am just too tired for my after school group.  That tired feeling goes away pretty quick when you have students that are excited and engaged with their learning.   
  • There are different kinds of coding!  I was familiar with the blocks from Code.org, but Python, Scratch, Logo, OH MY!!  (Still figuring out most of this stuff out.  I was happy just working with one program, but...lifelong learner still in progress)!

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Got the Grant....

So I came up with this great idea to do a coding club for 2nd and 3rd grade girls after attending a workshop from Code.org.  I went through the pain-staking task of filling out a grant application, (which is why this blog title exists), got awarded said grant, BUT, I changed jobs and schools, so....

We'll see what the future holds for this idea!