Welcome to Winter Conference
Welcome to Winter Conference
Thank you for joining us for Winter Conference! We understand that teaching can be difficult during Covid-19, and we want to give you the tools you need to be successful in teaching coding.
Directions
Choose a workshop from the options below. Each workshop contains resources and information, as well as a challenge for you to complete during our time together. Be prepared to share your learnings with the group at the end of the Winter Conference. If you finish early, feel free to join another workshop by letting your facilitator know.
I. Teaching 9 Dots in Kindergarten
This workshop is recommended for TK/Kindergarten teachers only.
TK students and Kindergarteners are starting to work on the 9 Dots platform, and we want to help you get ready!
Objectives:
TK/Kindergarten teachers will gain access to troubleshooting resources for students to help guide them to the 9 Dots platform during synchronous coding time.
TK/Kindergarten teachers will preview modules A3: Intro to Coding and A4: PixelBots Bug Squashers to prepare for the rest of the modules for the school year.
II. Coding for Change
This workshop is open to all grade and support levels.
Coding is not just a skill, it's also a pathway to becoming an agent of change in the modern world. Come learn how students can code for change in the future.
Objectives:
- Teachers will be able to access resources to share with their students about inspiring Computer Science applications to fight bias.
- Teachers will understand how they are situated in the Get Coding’s K-6 pathway and their role in preparing students for future success in Computer Science.
III. Coding Practice
This workshop is open to all grade and support levels.
You may want to just practice coding to get more comfortable with the subject. This workshop gives you plenty of work time to complete our online teacher modules.
Objective:
- Teachers will utilize the teacher modules and curricula to practice coding challenges.
IV. Teaching Independently
This workshop is recommended only for teachers who teach 9 Dots lessons independently.
As we head into the new calendar year, take some time to reflect on your amazing growth as an independent teacher, and plan out the rest of the school year. You also have the option to prepare for your lessons during this workshop.
Objective:
- Graduated independent teachers will use data to reflect on their first semester’s coding instruction and commit to semester two.
V. Co-Teaching Coding
This workshop is recommended only for full and partial support teachers.
As a 9 Dots full or partial support teacher, you may not know when to jump in to assist a lesson. Come watch clips of 9 Dots co-teachers working together to plan future lessons with your Coding Coordinator.
Objectives:
- Teachers will watch clips of co-teachers in action to start to develop a sense of how they can take on responsibility in semester two.
- Teachers will look ahead at a lesson to plan where they can begin to take over with coding.
VI. Introduction to PixelBots
This workshop is recommended only for teachers who have never coded or participated in 9 Dots programming before.
Never coded or heard of PixelBots before? Not a problem! Start here to get an introduction to what 9 Dots is all about.
Objective:
- Teachers new to coding will familiarize themselves with PixelBots by trying out coding challenges.
“Coding is today’s language of creativity. All our children deserve a chance to become creators instead of consumers of computer science.”