At Friendship Central School in Friendship, New York, a dynamic collaboration took place on December 4th, 2023, as I led a model lesson alongside the school's Itinerant librarian, Sally Severtson. Together, we engaged 4th and 5th graders in the fascinating world of coding using Scratch (scratch.mit.edu). Scratch is a free program. And if you are worried about Ed Law 2D, don’t be. Students can use Scratch without having to log in.
This innovative session aimed to introduce young minds to the exciting realm of computer programming. As technology continues to shape our daily lives, fostering early exposure to coding not only cultivates essential problem-solving and critical-thinking skills but also empowers students to become creators in our increasingly digital world.
Learning to program shapes in Scratch offers a hands-on, creative approach to understanding the foundations of coding, laying the groundwork for future success in a variety of fields. A lot of Math is also used in this activity. Some of the job opportunities for computer programmers are things like Software Engineer, Web Developer, Data Analyst, IT Security Analyst and Game Designer. The average salary range for these jobs are $50,000 to $150,000, and not all these jobs require a college degree. By imparting these skills at an early age, we equip students with the tools to navigate the evolving landscape of technology and contribute meaningfully to the digital era.
Sally Severtson stated that student behaviors were much better than expected when doing the team-taught activities with student. These lessons focus on computation thinking, which is one of the 5 “main sections” of the Computer Science and Digital Fluency standards that all New York State schools must impliment. If you or your school is interested in having this type of experience, please contact Rick Weinberg at Richard_weinberg@caboces.org. These learning opportunities are provided by the 517 Model Schools CoSer.
By: Rick Weinberg, CA BOCES Professional Development
A Journey into Coding at Friendship Central School
January 3, 2024