Family Coding Day - Dream or Reality?

   This school year I was asked by my principal and dean to offer some new tech classes for Middle School students so I thought I’d try coding.   I will admit I was somewhat intimidated by venturing into this unknown.   I mean really who did I think I was thinking about teaching coding?   I am an elementary education teacher who began working in a library, took on teaching technology mostly for the students who needed a tech teacher (and partly for job security) and eventually my job evolved into be the Technology Specialist for the whole school which means if something’s broken the teachers (or students) call me.   Two years ago, I ventured into creating a student-run tech Help Desk at our school with MouseSquad.org.  (An absolutely fantastic program that you should look into for your school! )  Our Mouse Squad ventured into a bit of coding when a student offered to show the class how to use Scratch in between tech jobs. 

   So I thought ‘why not? I could lead a coding class…..I think?”  Well, it’s been 3 months and the students are loving it and have learned way more that I could ever teach them.   We started with the Hour of Code and then Scratch.   The past two weeks I have I introduced my class to the ADDIE system and we are designing basic learning games for 1^st graders.   Now I think what the students are learning is great but I would love to see younger students from our school see how fun it is to explore this program.  So when I saw the article in Edutopia by Sam Patterson, Create a Family Coding day for Hour of Code I was thrilled especially when I noticed that Mr. Patterson teaches K-5.   So now my next project to focus on is a Family Coding Day in March. 

     Here are some of his ideas that I am eager to implement on our Family Coding Day: 

• Doubles learning – 2:1 computing gives parents and kids learning together on the same device using 12 iPads and 24 people per room.      
• Keep sessions to 40 minutes and easy-to-do. Showcase the types of lessons used in Hour of Code.    
•  Ask parents and kids to lead sessions and share their passion.    
•  Code.org/Learn site has lots of ready-to-go lessons and online tutorials.

    I will definitely be contacting Sam Patterson for more tips and suggestions to make this great family event idea a reality this spring!   Check out Sam's blog for other great insights and ideas: http://mypaperlessclassroom.com

Patterson, Sam. "Create a Family Coding Day for Hour of Code." Edutopia. N.p., 14 Nov. 2014. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.