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SOARING

'Scratch'ing The Programmer Pipeline

11/20/2017

 
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As children create with Scratch, they learn to think creatively, work collaboratively, and reason systematically.”  MIT Media Laboratory, Lifelong Kindergarten group

One of the greatest pleasures in what I do is working with young people to create games and animations in Scratch. The Nerd Ninjaz, some as young a 5, have created some incredible (yes I am biased). The project based approach allows young people to move at a speed that is comfortable for them, while using project completion as a success measure instead of how quickly they can grasp a single concept. I challenge them frequently to advance their skills and develop their own game and animations based on what they learn. Coaching them through challenges builds resilience and searching for answers when I don’t have them creates collaborative learning.

Often I’m asked, “What do your Nerd Ninjaz learn or get from the Dojo and from Scratch”. These are just a few of the benefits:
  • The Dojo provides a space that provides them freedom to explore and collaborate on projects. I often have students that have learned certain skills coach others and encourage small groups to work on a similar projects to share what they are learning in real time.  
  • In Scratch, Ninjaz learn mathematical and computational ideas that are built into the Scratch experience. They learn concepts such as iteration, conditionals, coordinates, variables, and random numbers. The beauty is they learn without immediately recognizing they’re learning or they are creating virtual representations of concepts they’ve learned (x,y coordinates are a sprites address on a graph for example).
  • As Ninjaz work on Scratch projects, they learn about the process of design. Typically, a Ninja will start with an idea, create a working prototype, experiment with it, debug it when things go wrong, get feedback from others, then revise, redesign it, and sometimes repeating this whole process multiple times.
  • This project-design process includes 21st century learning skills that will be critical to Ninjaz success in the future: thinking creatively, communicating clearly, analyzing systematically, collaborating effectively, designing iteratively, and learning continuously.
  • Creating projects in Scratch also helps Ninjaz develop a deeper level of fluency with digital technology. To be fluent with digital technology, you must learn not only know how to interact with the computer/tablet/smartphone but also to create with it.

​Most Ninjaz will not become coders (professional programmers). What Ninjaz gain is increased confidence in their ability to learn, improve their ability to express their ideas creatively, to think more logically. By 2021, I want to see 10,000 young people from Metro Atlanta with these skills that will have a profound impact on their future and the future of Atlanta. Efforts like Power My Learning's App Challenge and others are helping feed the pipeline. Let's get them there together.

William Teasley
Nerd Ninja Sensei
T: @WilliamHGEI

HOUR OF CODE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

11/16/2017

 
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The Nerd Ninjaz are coordinating an Hour of Code with  two elementary schools in Southeast Atlanta, Barak & Michelle Obama Academy and Benteen Elementary, on December 4, 5, & 6, 2017. Anyone and any company passionate about computer science education and careers in tech can be a volunteer. We want volunteers of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels who have a passion for increasing diversity in tech. The Hour of Code has a large variety of tutorials for all ages and skill levels so you don’t need to be an expert to volunteer!

Who To Contact?
  • For more information , please contact William Teasley, Nerd NInja Sensei, at william@hgei-atlanta.org or by phone at 404-539-0373

CODING FALL 2017

11/8/2017

 
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This fall I’ve been gearing up to do some special things with the Nerd Ninjaz. Fall is the time of year where new programs begin and new faces join the Nerd NInjaz. It’s always exciting to walk into that first day in the Dojo.  
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This Fall I refreshed what we do to better engage our Ninjaz and raise the bar for projects and sharing. I’ve been at The Study Hall and Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School (ANCS) and The Study Hall for nearly three years working with 2nd - 5th grade Ninjaz. At The Study Hall, we have created digital avatars for 10 Ninjaz that they will incorporate into a Scratch animated short story. At ANCS the current Dojo of 20 has several new faces and some veterans as well. One group of young ladies, Steak46, Sushidog, Mugino, and others is knocking it out of the box with mazes, animations, and puzzles. A group of 3rd grade boys, Burp49, lionking9, sosha2, and others, have formed their own studio and each week add a new game that they have made.

I launched a Family Code Night at the Metropolitan Branch Public Library in Southwest Atlanta. I have wanted to get more active in communities in Southwest Atlanta. I’ve hosted two (2) Family Code Nights and will have two more sessions, November 15 and December 12. These are great opportunities to come out and learn about coding Nerd Ninjaz. The young man to the left came and completed his first project at our second night. I want to reach more youth in Southwest Atlanta by having a Code Dojo at a location near families starting in January.

We have worked with over 1,000 young people in the nearly two years we have been in operation, with nearly a dozen (12) organizations that are our client partners. But we can do much more and reach many more. I’m looking for fresh ideas and even partners who believe that every child can learn to code. Please share your ideas on:
  • What can we do better?
  • What should we be doing that we are not?
  • Who should be involved? Should it be you?
  • Where should be be?
  • What resources are out there that can support us?
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Your ideas, comments, and suggestions are needed to help us get to the next level. I'm looking forward to the beginning of a great community effort.

William Teasley
Nerd Ninja Sensei
T: @WilliamHGEI

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