Anderson Middle School

11/21/2013 - Email to All Staff

SHORT STORY: Fun and challenging computer science “Hour of Code” event coming up (12/8-14) that we can do for free as a school. I will take care of the footwork. Teachers would just take kids to the computer lab at scheduled time during the week to participate in event. I will do registration. Kids get to experience computer programing in a game-like format at a huge range of difficulty levels. Teacher and student prizes. Let me know if you are interested by clicking one of the voting buttons. If we are, then I have bunches to doJ

FULL STORY: I’m participating in an event for Computer Science Education Week (December 8 to 14) called Hour of Code that Karin brought to my attention. This event will be the first chance for millions of students from across the country to get their first taste of computer science education -- a field that is now fundamental to all occupations in the 21st century and one where high-paying jobs are growing rapidly.

Students get to choose from a variety of fun programing experiences that range in difficulty for all age levels. I wanted to extend the idea of participating in this event as a school. There are potential prizes available when you participate as a school including prizes for teachers like 10Gb of free Dropbox space for participating (if we are among the first 100,000 schools; right now around 20,000 have signed up). I have begun and will take care of all the registering and the implementation plan that needs to be submitted. I could create a lab schedule that would allow for every student to get lab time in during that week to participate. We’d use the Project SHARE and Tech Grant tablets as well if needed to create an additional “lab” so to speak.

There are programing experiences for PC, tablets, smartphones, and even unplugged activities. I have checked out the beta version of many and they are great. Do not register as there is a particular way to do so as a school and as teachers that ensures we are eligible for prizes. If we go forward I will get that setup.

I really believe this would be a great opportunity for our students to experience computer science in a fun and thought provoking way. Please let me know if this is something you’d like to do!

 

11/22/2013 - Invitation to Chamber of Commerce and Valley Post

Anderson Middle School is participating in an exciting event for Computer Science Education Week (December 9 to 13) called Hour of Code. This event will be the first chance for millions of students from across the country to get their first taste of computer science education -- a field that is now fundamental to all occupations in the 21st century and one where high-paying jobs are growing rapidly. We want to get your support for this event as well.

There are four simple ways you can help promote computer science education and the Hour of Code:

1) Issue a proclamation recognizing CSEdWeek and urge your constituents to participate in the Hour of Code.

2) Join us at Anderson Middle School during our Hour of Code week and we’ll have a student or teacher teach YOU how to code!

3) Write an op-ed that supports more access to computer science education.

4) Promote this on your social media feeds.

You can find everything you need at http://hourofcode.org/elected

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you’d like to visit us during this event.

Thank you for your support in bringing computer science education to all students!

 

11/23/2013 - Part of Implementation Plan Sent to Hour of Code

Anderson Middle School will be participating in an Hour of Cod weeklong event 12/9-13. Every student will rotate through our computer lab during their science period including our special education students to choose from a variety of computer science tutorials. Students from the Student Technology Team will be on hand each period to assist teacher and students as needed. Every teacher is registered for the event. Our PE classes will be participating in a couple unplugged activities to connect kids with Computer Science Week. Students will be provided additional coding opportunities in our library computer lab during the week as well as in our Student Technology Team classroom where they have access to tablets. A teacher  lab schedule to ensure students can participate in at least one hour of code is included below. The event will be promoted on our school website in the coming days: http://ams.cuesd.com. Emails will be sent to all parents to promote the event. 

 

11/30/2013 - PE Invite

Obviously the computer lab is going to be quite full during the Hour of Code event week 12/9-12/13 but I do not see you on the lab schedule so that is likely not an issue; however, I thought you might be interested in doing an “unplugged” coding activity or two during the week to tie into the computer science theme. The website is www.csedweek.org and there are some great unplugged activities here: http://csedweek.org/learn2 (scroll down, more will show up as the event approaches). I attached the PDF directions to one of those currently available to this email. All you need is paper and plastic cups.  

 

12/10/2013 - Follow-up Email to Staff

Thank you to everyone for getting us off to a great start this week. Hopefully this can serve as a springboard for conversations about computer science with students regarding their college and career readiness. The tutorials are all active till the end of the week. Students are welcome to complete different tutorials from anywhere they can access the internet. You are certainly welcome to take your students to the library or computer lab during another unscheduled slot and have them try more tutorials.

Feel free to take pictures of your kids doing the tutorials and email me the images for consideration for the yearbook. The Student Tech Team would like to facilitate future Hour of Code events so any suggestions for the future are also very welcome. Take care, Bill