21st Century Learning and Teaching

Learning to Code

So, you like video games? Do you know that actual humans make video games with some type of computer code? It's true. But even better, kids can write programs too. It might seem scary to get started, but it's really not too bad. If you want to get started, I am going to recommend code.org. There are plenty of learning guides that are appropriate for a variety of ages. Oh, and it's free and online.

Even the lowest level activities are very complete—they even include ideas about functions and debugging. It's the best way to get a general idea of computer programming before moving on to a particular language.

If you want to be more creative with your programming, there is also Scratch (scratch.mit.edu). Scratch is a graphical (and free) programming language that focuses on the control of animated sprites. It's pretty easy to pick up and it's built so that you can share programs and modify others.

Finally, there is one more set of coding activities—physical programming. Physical programming takes some type of code but adds onto it some actual object that the code can control. If that sounds awesome, it's only because it is. There are two physical programming platforms that I have worked with before—Raspberry Pi and Arduino. Although these devices are not free, they aren't super expensive either. Both platforms have tons of great projects that kids (or adults) can work on.

Example: https://projects.raspberrypi.org/en/ and https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub

Learn more / En savoir plus / Mehr erfahren:

https://www.scoop.it/t/21st-century-learning-and-teaching/?&tag=ARDUINO

Few parents say they have felt uncomfortable when information about their children is shared by other family members or caregivers on social media.

Most parents have not felt uneasy about the content posted about their children by other family members or caregivers on social media.

12% of all parents of children under 18 say they have ever felt uncomfortable about something posted about their child on social media by a spouse, family member or friend. Fully 88% say they have not felt this way.
11% of all parents have ever asked for content about their child posted by a family member, caregiver or friend to be removed from social media.

Learn more / En savoir plus / Mehr erfahren:

https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/problems-in-education-while-using-social-media-in-modern-education-acceptance-and-rejections/

http://www.scoop.it/t/social-media-and-its-influence

Each year, families spend a lot of time in the kitchen together during the holidays. These moments not only make happy memories, but can be teachable moments as well, where children can learn valuable knowledge about the world around them.

Cooking can be used as a creative way to engage kids in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), which touches many aspects of daily living. Finding the connections between the classroom and day-to-day life can inspire children and pique their interest in these subjects.

Cooking and baking can be enjoyable pastimes for kids and parents who incorporate science in fun, interactive ways, ranging from the basics of measurements to thermodynamics and beyond.

Learn more / En savoir plus / Mehr erfahren:

https://www.scoop.it/t/21st-century-learning-and-teaching/?&tag=cooking