Coding is a hot topic in education. Even President Obama is on the coding bandwagon with his new initiative Computer Science for All. But how do we know what kinds of coding platforms will work for our students? Do you need a computer science background to teach coding? On June 1st, three coding companies will face off in the tank - Tynker, Code Monkey and Code Kingdoms.
They will pitch their solutions to our three teacher-sharks who will evaluate them on whether the skills they are teaching are transferable and if the platforms can be implemented by any school or teacher regardless of CS experience. One company will be dubbed the winner. Get ready for a night of smart conversation, hard questions and great solutions to better support all the students in your class.
They will pitch their solutions to our three teacher-sharks who will evaluate them on whether the skills they are teaching are transferable and if the platforms can be implemented by any school or teacher regardless of CS experience. One company will be dubbed the winner. Get ready for a night of smart conversation, hard questions and great solutions to better support all the students in your class.
Companies Chosen to Compete in the Tank:
CodeMonkey: CodeMonkey teaches text-based coding in a real programming language starting at upper elementary through an engaging and intuitive online game. With built in adaptive hints, automatic assessment and proprietary hybrid code editor that smoothens transition from blocks into text based coding CodeMonkey is built to scale in large education systems. Teachers receive a simple yet powerful dashboard, detailed lesson plans and online PD's so that anyone can start teaching CS right away!
Tynker: Tynker provides a comprehensive solution for teaching computer science in schools. Based on intuitive visual programming, Tynker engages students at a young age building confidence and creativity as they rapidly transform ideas into actual programs by connecting logic blocks. Once proficient, they can seamlessly transition to Javascript coding - within the Tynker learning system.
CodeKingdoms: Learn to code Minecraft. Using our beginner-friendly coded editor, you can create and customize your own Minecraft server with Java. We provide online video courses and guidance from our team of teachers and developers to help support learning every step of the way.
Tynker: Tynker provides a comprehensive solution for teaching computer science in schools. Based on intuitive visual programming, Tynker engages students at a young age building confidence and creativity as they rapidly transform ideas into actual programs by connecting logic blocks. Once proficient, they can seamlessly transition to Javascript coding - within the Tynker learning system.
CodeKingdoms: Learn to code Minecraft. Using our beginner-friendly coded editor, you can create and customize your own Minecraft server with Java. We provide online video courses and guidance from our team of teachers and developers to help support learning every step of the way.
Who are the Sharks?
They are three “self-made” educators working on the front lines to bring coding into schools
Saber Khan is the Director of Educational Technology at the Browning School, an all-boys private K-12 school where we teach coding in all the grades to all students. Saber started teaching thirteen years ago as Teaching Fellow as a middle school science teacher in Brooklyn. From there he has gone on to work at different charter and private schools in San Francisco and New York. Beyond that he has worked on projects at UC Berkeley and UCSF. Over the past four years he has become engaged in technology education and computer science. When he is not teaching coding he organizes hackathons. He loves to connect with people on Twitter at @ed_saber. |
Kimberly Burton-Regulski received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching in 2009. She currently teaches AP Computer Science A and AP Calculus AB at Eastern Technical High School. She has been teaching for 18 years. She is also the department chairman of mathematics, engineering, and information technology at Eastern Tech. She is passionate about providing students, especially female students, with opportunities to explore computer science and STEM. With her guidance, Eastern Tech is now offering computer science to all 9th grade students and has begun the development of a makerspace that will allow all students to work on real world STEM-related projects. |
Alfred Thompson is a high school computer science teacher at Bishop Guertin High School in Nashua NH. Alfred is a member of the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Board. He has been a professional software developer, a textbook author, a developer evangelist with Microsoft, a school technology coordinator, a school board member and more. Alfred sees himself as something of a computer science education activist working to help reach more young people with the news that they can make the world a better place through software. Read more by Alfred Thompson at his Computer Science Teacher blog (http://blog.acthompson.net). |
At the end of the presentation the audience will get to vote for the winner-- make sure your voice is heard.
This work is brought to you by EdSurge and the Gates Foundation