122021: Winter Coding Projects (Badgr.com)

"Genius Hour is a project in the classroom and sometimes in the workplace where students are allowed to explore their own passions and wonders for a set amount of time, usually ranging from 1 hour per week to 20% of their total class time."  

                                                                                - Quote from Wikipedia

READ ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST TO SEE HOW TO QUALIFY FOR THE TFDL WINTER CODING BADGE!

Students will spend the next three days (12/20 -12/22) before the winter holiday break working on a variety of projects listed below. You may be as creative as you like, but anything you submit for class must conform to school guidelines for appropriateness. Please check out the following resources and post, for credit, at least three of your activities to the Winter Holiday Padlet created for these projects. You will need to take a screenshot of your project, and include a link, if available, so others can share or remix your projects as the programs allow: Have fun and good luck! I hope you have a restful, peaceful holiday break and come back in January ready to learn! - Sincerely, Mr. Scribner

1. KANO Projects: Pick one of the projects below and complete it. You will need to take a screenshot and list the link on the Winter Holiday Padlet page for credit. See more information below

Kano: "Anyone Can Make" - Mission Statement: The modern world is filled with billions of machines. 📱 But 1% of 1% of us can open them up, & change them. Now, a new generation is rising. They see this world as something to shape, not just use. Kano is a new kind of computer company. 💡 You make & code our technology yourself, with simple steps, stories, and play. You share your creations with others across the physical and digital world. We work with artists, misfits, technologists, and teachers in 86 countries. 🌍 Together, we'll demystify the modern world – and open up its creative power to all.

Kano "Make A Pong Game" Project (Click Here)

Kano "Hack Minecraft" Project (Click Here)

Kano "Pixel Hack" Project (Click Here)

2. Tynker Hour of Code Page: Complete one of the projects listed on this page and document your success on the Winter Holiday Padlet page.

Tynker Hour of Code Page (Click Here): With Tynker's revolutionary approach, kids learn to code using visual code blocks that represent real programming concepts. They progress to text languages like JavaScript and Python as they continue to play through 2,000+ interest-driven activities.

3. LearnPython.org: Complete the "Learn the Basics" 12 levels and document your progress by posting a screenshot of the final program you create on the Winter Holiday Padlet page.  LearnPython.org: Whether you are an experienced programmer or not, this website is intended for everyone who wishes to learn the Python programming language

4. Santa Tracker: Explore, play, and learn with Santa's elves all December long! Screenshot and describe some of the activities and post to our Winter Holiday Padlet for credit.  NOTE: You must complete at least 4 of these activities to count as one credit.

SANTA TRACKER by GOOGLE: Leave it to Google to outdo everyone on the list. Enter stage north, the Santa Tracker. As Google puts it, the Santa Tracker is, “an educational and entertaining tradition for the December holiday period.” While this project appears quite jolly on the surface, Santa actually is currently involved in litigation with Google over this tracking system. Expert witness, Rudolph. Either way, enjoy!

5.  Hour of Code Projects (Must Be Grades 9+ or higher to qualify for credit)

The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code", to show that anybody can learn programming basics.  You may go to the website https://hourofcode.com/us/learn, sort for grades 9+, and choose any of the tutorials you like.  Please make sure that you post links, a picture, and a description of your project on the Winter Projects 2021 Padlet for credit.

6. Bonus: Solve the Breakout EDU Virtual Escape Rooms and send your answers (screenshots of completion) using Gmail to Mr. Scribner (harvey.scribner@techfreire.org) for an extra 5 points of credit for the holidays! HAVE FUN!

BreakoutEDU: Here is a BreakoutEDU Virtual Escape Room to try! Let me know what your best time is!

BreakoutEDU #2: Birthday Party Puzzler digital escape room!

Breakout EDU #3: SHOW ME THE CODE digital escape room!

WINTER HOLIDAY PADLET LINK (Click Here)

Please follow the directions on the Winter Holiday Padlet to add your work! Click the link above and read all directions to receive credit for your projects!

TFDL WINTER CODING BADGE:  Any student in school that completes at least 3 different Winter Coding Projects during the week before the 2021 Holiday Break in December will receive this award on their BADGR.COM Digital Backpack!  You can click the link below to see the digital badge, and read the requirements to qualify for it!

TFDL Winter Coding Badge Link (BADGR.COM)

120221: Code.org Express Course

Code.Org Express Course Introduction:
(Excerpt taken directly from https://code.org/educate/curriculum/express-course)

Computer Science Fundamentals Express is a 30+ hour course designed for 9-18-year-old students (with an option for pre-readers). It can be taught once a week in a tech class or an after-school club, integrated as a unit in a longer technology class, or used as an intro unit in a computer science class.
Students learn to create computer programs that will help them learn to collaborate with others, develop problem-solving skills, and persist through difficult tasks. They will study programming concepts, computational thinking, digital citizenship, and develop interactive games or stories they can share.

The course teaches the foundational concepts of programming using drag and drop blocks rather than a programming language such as JavaScript or Python. Blocks are an easier way to get started and many top Universities today begin their classes with block-based programming.

The Express Course combines the concepts taught in basic courses but in an accelerated fashion designed for older students.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Sign in to your Code.Org Account (See Instructions Below For Information):

  a. SIGN IN TO YOUR TECH FREIRE GOOGLE GMAIL ACCOUNT

  b. GO TO CODE.ORG AND CLICK "SIGN IN WITH GOOGLE+"

  c. GO TO CODE.ORG/JOIN AND USE CLASS CODE (See Mr. S)

Step 2: Go To Your "Code Studio" and click on the EXPRESS COURSE

Step 3: Begin working on the online levels with the class. Please use your time to review the UNPLUGGED Levels, but move on to the online material in class. The Express Course should be completed by the end of the marking period, either in class or as homework. Please use your time at home to show your family what you are working on. Your homework assignment is to "TEACH" someone in your family to code!

ACADEMIC/LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Scholars will learn basic computer programming using Code.Org online. Scholars will understand the basic vocabulary used in programming. Scholars will also be able to explain why it is important for everyone to learn to code and how it can provide equity in our society.

Scholars will sign up for accounts on Code. Org and begin working through the program online. Scholars will complete their Introduction to Programming by emailing a link to the R2-D2 Star Wars Game they made to the instructor for credit. Scholars will then click on the EXPRESS COURSE and begin working on the Stages found there. These stages will review topics and ideas from the Star Wars levels, and allow Scholars to begin to learn about loops, if-then statements, and how math and algorithms are incorporated into programming.

(❗️) GMAIL CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE X Blockly

What is an algorithm?

Why do college students use block-based coding?

Compose a new GMail to Mr. S (harvey.scribner@techfreire.org) to answer the question above.

EXAMPLE GMAIL

To: harvey.scribner@techfreire.org
Subject: Blockly
Body: 3-4 Sentences that answer the question(s) listed above.

R.A.C.E.S. Method R - Repeat the Question, A - Answer the Question, C - Cite Evidence, E - Examples / Explanation, S - Summarize your Thoughts

VOCABULARY
  Decompose: Break a problem down into smaller pieces

  Pattern Matching: Finding similarities between things

  Abstraction: Pulling out specific differences to make one solution work for multiple
problems

  Loop: Repeating a step, or series of steps over, or again.

  Algorithm: A series of steps to complete a task

  Program: An algorithm is written for a computer or machine to complete a task(s)

  Code: Language used to create a program for computers or machines to understand

Objective(s): (SWBAT) use an online tutorial to facilitate learning how to create, debug, and share programs written in different programming languages. This training not only helps students create, collaborate, and develop problem-solving skills, but it allows them to work collaboratively on projects and design games, applications, and ultimately understand how to program for more advanced robotics in future classes and careers.

Essential Questions
How can I create computer programs to solve problems? What careers are available to people in Computer Science? How does equity exist in different computer science career fields? How do I collaborate to debug or improve computer programs for games, applications, and other projects?

Academic Standards PA SAS (BCIT) / ISTE / CSTA / NGSS / PA Career & Work
Standard(s): 15.4.12.H Use programming languages to develop logical thinking and problem solving skills