Technology Integration Specialist & STEM Teach | Western Springs, IL | John Laidlaw Elementary | Grades: 2nd – 5th
Tell us a little bit about your background, how you became a teacher and specifically a teacher in Computer Science?
I received my BFA specializing in Time Art (time-based media; animation, website creation, video editing, etc). By the end of my program, I was creating educational games (like CodeMonkey!) for students to play and learn from in the classroom. Upon graduation, I returned to school to obtain my MAED and get my teacher certification. I thought I was switching my focus to teaching instead of using technology. As luck had it, I was offered a job as a Technology Integration Specialist and haven’t looked back. In my unique position, I teach students through the use of various technologies to accomplish Tech and STEM projects.
How do you utilize CodeMonkey courses and platforms with your students, and why do you think it is a good educational tool for kids?
I use CodeMonkey with students in 3rd – 5th grades. I love that CodeMonkey combines the fun of a game into actual code that students can click on or type out by hand. Coding Adventure Part 1 slowly builds the skills of coding through CoffeeScript and can easily translate into Python or Javascript in future grades. It slowly builds a coding base to give students the confidence to advance their coding skills.
Could you share a funny or interesting short story that happened in class with your students, which you think is relevant to mention?
I like to introduce students to CodeMonkey (and the idea of written code) by pretending to be a robot they have to code to walk across the room and sit down. It is always an entertaining way to involve students to break down their language into steps (aka code). So the first suggestion of how to code me is ‘walk over to the chair then sit down’ with this code I might just start walking and not stop, then say ‘does not compute’. In the end the goal is to get students to say ‘walk 8 steps, turn left, sit down’.
Complete the sentence: It’s important to me that my students…
are exposed to various forms of technology, including coding. Coding opens a door to a new language that some students flourish with. They realize it is something they want to learn more about and sometimes turns into a career for them later in life. I especially love seeing the kids who might otherwise struggle with schoolwork become code experts.
What is one piece of advice you have for teachers who are just now introducing educational technology into their classrooms and are looking to engage their students?
My advice for teachers just introducing educational technology into their classrooms is to not be afraid. Students are so comfortable with technology and are more than happy to try new things. As a group, you can explore new technology together (even if you fail together – you will learn together!). Often students can solve technology problems faster than adults, let them teach you! I always acknowledge and reward students who teach me something new when it comes to technology. They love the opportunity to share their knowledge.
