Wonderful World of Computer Science

The Wonderful World of
Computer Science Martin Ricardo Cisneros
Academic Technology Specialist
Santa Clara COE
@TheTechProfe

@TheTechProfePresentation: bit.ly/

Coding is the language of
problem-solving.
@joeyelle

Source: Dancing with Robots - Human Skills for Computerized Work, Levy and Murnane, 2013
Problem-Solvers and Critical Thinkers

of computer programming jobs are
outside the tech industry - in
medicine, banking, government,
entertainment, science, etc.67%

Fewer CS majors than 10 years ago
(and a shrinking % are women)
Source: National Science Foundation

The Job/Student Gap
2%
98%
Computer Science Students
All other
math and
science
students JOBS
40% 60%
Computing Jobs
All other
math and
science jobs
Sources: College Board, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Science Foundation
STUDENTS

Kids NOT exposed to computer programming in
elementary are LESS likely to take computer science
when it is available in high school.

What can we do?

Let Kids Code
Goal: Try out some simple ways to scaffold coding in your classroom!

Scaffolding Coding
Physical
Computing:
robots Web Games:
reinforce syntax
and process Code your own
games!
No Tech:
code a friend

Pair Programming
@TheTechProfe
○ Roles
■ Driver: Touches the device
■ Navigator: Tells the driver what to do
■ Both: Discuss directions/
troubleshoot
○ Swap roles OFTEN!
■ Set a timer for 5 minutes or less
Presentation: bit.ly/

1. Paper Blockly
Student A = Navigator
Student B = Driver
Student C = Robot
A tells the driver what code to write.
B makes suggestions, physically
“writes” the code.
When ready, B reads the code aloud.
C completes the directions.
ABC debug the code if needed.
Rotate roles.

2. Physical Computing
In groups of 2-3, find a robot and work on the
mission listed.
Feel free to move to multiple robots at your
own pace. Share!

Pre-Literate
@TheTechProfe
Readers
Easiest Most Challenging

3. Web Games
1. With your partner, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/blockly2
2. Complete the challenges.
Remember: swap driver and navigator
roles every level!

4. Code a game!
1. Go to:
tinyurl.com/scratchmouse
2. Press the green flag to play.
3. Click “see inside” to see code.
4. In pairs, edit the code to create
your own game!
@TheTechProfe
Remember to swap driver/navigator roles often!

More Coding Sites
Pre-literate
● kodable.com
● Studio.code.org
(beginner courses)
● Scratch Jr. iPad and
Chrome app
Readers
● tynker.com
● Studio.code.org
(later courses)
● Star Logo Nova (build
simulations)

● CCSSM1: Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
● CCSSM2: Reason abstractly.
● CCSSM7: Look for and make use of structure.
● CCSSM8: Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
● CCSS ELA 1: Read closely to determine what the text says
explicitly and to make logical inferences from it.
● NGSS SEP 2: Developing and using models
● NGSS SEP 5: Using mathematics and computational thinking
How does this support standards?

Coding is the single greatest
superpower I could give my kids.
-Dan Shapiro

✘ Hour of Code: December 4-10
✘ Online PD: studio.code.org/s/K5-OnlinePD
✘ Curriculum: code.org/educate
✘ Resources in Google Drive folder
✘ #csforall
✘ Framework: https://k12cs.org
What now?

Thank you!
Martin Ricardo Cisneros
mcisneros@sccoe.org
@TheTechProfe

BeeBot
Challenge:
● Code BeeBot to pollinate the flowers and
return home.*
● In pairs, use the cards to write the code.
Remember to work as a driver/navigator
team.
● When you both agree the code is good,
test it by entering the code into BeeBot.
Robot Info:
● Great for pre-literate students or
introductory activity
● BeeBot: $97
*NGSS 2nd Grade: Develop a simple model that mimics
the function of an animal in pollinating plants.

Code and Go Mice: Jack & Colby
Challenge:
● Animals need food and a home to survive.*
Code Jack to find food, and then to find a
home.
● In pairs, use the cards to write the code.
Remember to work as a driver/navigator
team.
● When you both agree the code is good, test
it by entering the code into Jack. (Press the
yellow button first to clear previous code.)
Robot Info:
● Great for pre-literate students or
introductory activity
● $25 for mouse only
● $60 for mouse, cards, and obstacle
course (on sale on Amazon for $40)
Yellow button = clear previous code
Red button = fun noise
Green button = run entered code *NGSS Kindergarten: Use observations to describe patterns of
what plants and animals need to survive.

Dash
Robot Info:
● Great for all elementary, K-5
● Dash alone: $150
● Dot and Dash together: $200
Challenge:
● Choose the Blockly app (readers) or Blockly
Jr. (pre-literate) and connect Dash.
● Program Dash to react to sensory
information like an animal might* by coding
Dash to respond to a sound, to seeing an
obstacle, or to being touched.
*NGSS 4th Grade: Use a model to describe that animals receive different
types of information through their senses, process the information in
their brain, and respond to the information in different ways.

Dash with Launcher
Challenge:
● Choose the Blockly app (readers) or
Blockly Jr. (pre-literate) and connect
Dash.
● Place a triangle target in front of Dash.
● Program Dash to shoot a ball and knock
over the target.*
Robot Info:
● Dash alone: $150
● Launcher accessory: $30
*NGSS 4th Grade: Ask questions and predict outcomes about
the changes in energy that occur when objects collide.

Dot Challenge:
● Choose the Blockly app (readers) or
Blockly Jr. (pre-literate) and connect
Dot.
● Program Dot to become a stop light* --
change its color from green to yellow to
red based on time.
● Program Dot to make a distinct sound to
go with each color.
Robot Info:
● Dot Creativity Kit: $80
● Dot and Dash together: $200
*NGSS 1st Grade: Design and build a device that uses light or
sound to solve the problem of communicating over a distance.
*NGSS 4th Grade: Generate and compare multiple solutions
that use patterns to transfer information.

BB-8 Sphero
Challenge:
● BB-8 needs to hide from StormTroopers!
● Program BB-8 to speed to the first
checkpoint, move slowly to the second
checkpoint, and speed to the third
checkpoint. Code BB-8 to back up slowly if it
collides with an object.
Robot Info:
● Great for 3rd-5th grades
● Newest version: $130
*NGSS 4th Grade: Use evidence to construct an explanation
relating the speed of an object to the energy of that object.

Parrot Mambo Drone
Challenge:
● Program the drone to:
○ take off
○ fly over the target
○ take a photo of its shadow
○ have the iPad retrieve the photo
● SAFETY: press red “stop” button to land at
any time.
Robot Info:
● Great for 3rd-5th grades
● Good for data collection outdoors,
if it’s not windy (aerial photos)
● Mambo Drone: $110
*NGSS 5th Grade: Represent data in graphical displays to
reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of
shadows.

Cue Challenge:
● Program Cue to react to sensory information
like an animal might* by creating three
functions:
○ one that reacts when Cue sees an
obstacle
○ one that reacts when Cue hears
something
○ one that reacts when Cue is touched
● On start, call your functions
● More challenging: tap the text tab at the top
center of the iPad to see (and write) your
code in Javascript
Robot Info:
● Great for 4th-5th grades, especially
transitioning into JavaScript coding.
● Cue: $200
*NGSS 4th Grade: Use a model to describe that animals
receive different types of information through their senses,
process the information in their brain, and response to the
information in different ways.

Wonderful World of Computer Science

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