Teaching Python in Middle School

10:00 AM - 10:55 AM on August 15, 2015, Room 702

Meg Winston Ray

Audience level:

novice

Watch:

http://youtu.be/jKf_YoL7aPU

Description

There is no shortage of interest in bringing coding to the classroom. Schools have a wealth of ed tech products to choose from, and many organizations are willing to fund classrooms in this endeavour.

So why aren’t more students learning programming? How are the gender and racial diversity gaps in tech industry being perpetuated in the classroom and what can do about it? Are block-based educational languages drawing students into computer science?

A programming curriculum writer and teacher discusses the realities of bringing Python into the secondary classroom. We’ll explore the common pitfalls and obstacles that teachers and students must overcome, examine some effective approaches for classrooms with diverse learners, and discuss why Python is a great fit for the classroom.

Bring a device to to collaborate and join the discussion.