Another task to keep me learning: Teach the Web by Mozilla. I may not be able to do everything, but I have already started with my students.
During our Genius Project time, we are learning code through the THIMBLE projects:
Meme With Code Our Work: Sixth Grade Thimbles 2013
Six Word Memoir Code Our Work: Six Word Memoir Links
The students are engaged and collaborative, jumping around helping each other figure out the code. “Go to line 20,” one will call out, followed by directions. In each class, one student always excels and offers to help the others, even though this is completely new to them.
How did I get them started? I showed them this:
I explained how the tags are like the Russian dolls, each enclosing the others. I explained the image in Basic HTML, then a Thimble code page and the similar coding on that page. Then I let them go, and they didn’t stop.
Coding is poetry.
A balance and symmetry.
Collaborative creativity.
At student-parent-teacher conferences, coding was the favorite part to share, and parents were amazed that their students were learning a new language!
Take a look at the projects, and then try it. Let us know how you do!
Sheri,
This is so inspiring! How much time did you spend in class with the students on this? Was it just for the hour? I can imagine their enthusiasm while learning this, and it being very driven by their interests in coding.
Kind regards,
Tracy
Hi Tracy,
We spent less than 90 minutes on it. In two classes, one student in each “got it” and became “lead learner” that day. Now my other class is asking, “When do we get to code?” The students always take the lead in these projects, once started. They are truly amazing.