by Brooke King, Middle School Librarian in Humble ISD, TxASLTalks Editorial Board and Cynthia Cooksey, Perez Elementary Librarian in McAllen, TX
Computer Science is our future. It drives innovation. According to Code.org, there are currently 500,000 open computing jobs nationwide.
Libraries can take part in promoting computer science this week during Computer Science Education Week. CSEdWeek is an annual program dedicated to inspiring K-12 students to take interest in computer science. It is held the week when December 9 falls in honor of computing pioneer Admiral Grace Murray Hopper’s birthday. The library can host programs that promote the computer sciences by introducing students to different opportunities. One simple way is to try Hour of Code which provides students a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to unmask code and show that anybody can learn the basics.
Cynthia Cooksey, the librarian at Perez Elementary in McAllen, TX, shares how she incorporates coding in the library:
Two years ago, I made one of the best investments of my library career. I invested in the students and myself by deciding to incorporate coding and robotics into the library curriculum. I didn’t just want to teach coding, I wanted to learn how to code as well, and getting to use a robot was just the cherry on top of the cake. Like many others, I didn’t have a clue about what coding entailed. Sure, I had heard of the “Hour of Code,” but I had never really participated in it. My coding experience was limited to finding a couple of websites that had block style coding for teachers to use with students during the Hour of Code the prior year. But, something sparked my interest when I saw those programs, and I set out to bring coding to life on our campus.
As luck would have it, our local community (McAllen Educational Foundation) sponsored several grants that year, and my grant – Robotics Rocks! - was selected. I purchased four sets of Dash and Dot robotic sets which arrived in October. Little did I know that this one purchase would totally revolutionize the school library and my career.
Literally days after the robots arrived I received an email from Wonder Workshop, the makers of Dash and Dot. I had not even charged the robots yet when I saw the email advertising the first ever Wonder League Robotics Competition. This free competition was available to elementary age students throughout the United States. My initial thought was, "No way," as I knew little to nothing about coding. The students had only had one Hour of Code the year before. Our campus wasn’t big into coding, and there was no way we could compete. Then, I remembered my mother’s words, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” So, it was on! I gathered a group of girls together, and we formed an after school coding club with the specific target of participating in that contest. It was certainly not easy forming a girls’ coding club. I had to really “talk it up” with the girls. I drew on my reading relationships with some to get them on board, but in the end, it was worth every hour I spent after school working with them.
When I implemented coding during library class time, things really hit a high note. I began by introducing the second through fifth grades to basic coding. We started with simple things – moving up and down a line while incorporating lights and sounds (using measurement). It took a bit of work at first to teach coding as I had to model everything I wanted the students to use. But, as they began to code and realized that their codes were actually controlling Dash, they were hooked. Once hooked, they began to get a bit more creative and explore some of the control features on their own. Next, we incorporated shapes. Having the students move Dash around a square, rectangle, triangle, etc., the students reinforced their knowledge of angles.
After a few coding lessons, we got to the point where students entered the library and returned their books – ready for me to assign them a coding task. As they were coding in their groups, I would shelve the books they had returned and then walk around to make sure they were on task and see if they needed any assistance.
Later in the year, Pre-kinder through first grade were introduced to Dot. They learned the foundations of coding by changing Dot’s colors and making Dot say something or make a sound. Once I was sure they understood how to properly care for the robots, they met Dash and robotics really took off in the lower grades. The excitement they felt when they actually saw Dash move based on their codes was breathtaking. Their squeals, laughter, and the twinkles in their eyes cannot be measured. It’s two years later and the students still cannot get enough of coding in the library. They are always asking to use Dash and Dot and make fist pumps whenever they see Dash and Dot come out on their storage cart.
That first year of coding in the library was very basic. The students only completed linear codes – which was a great starting point. Last year, we began a push into intermediate coding skills – incorporating some conditional statements, such as “if Dash sees Dot,” “if Dash detects an object” and “If else” statements. This year, we continue the push forward introducing algorithms using call statements and repeat functions. It’s an ever changing world with technology, and our students should be on the front lines of technology - ready to take on real world challenges.
If you want to teach the Hour of Code this week or any week, Code.org provides step-by-step instructions. Learn more at HourofCode.com, try an hour yourself, or host an Hour of Code event to introduce others to the world of computing. Inspire students to try any aspect of computer science with teaching tips, videos, posters and more. Need help organizing other events to celebrate CSEdWeek? Check out Code.org’s tips.
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