Code.org introduced Computer Science for Good in 2019 to show students that computer science can be a powerful tool for positive change, but that it’s equally important to wield this tool responsibly

The events of this year have further shown this to be true, illuminating both the great promises and perils of technology. We rely on technology to keep us connected, but we’ve also seen how biased algorithms can divide us on the basis of race or gender. We rely on our technology to keep us informed, but we’ve also seen how easy it is to spread misinformation. We rely on our technology to stay productive, but we’ve left behind those who don’t have access to the internet.

In a year full of unexpected events, one thing is certain: it is more important than ever for students to learn computer science and technologies like artificial intelligence to help build the society we envision. (Read full article here.)

​Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries during Computer Science Education Week December 7 - 13, 2020. Help us celebrate by hosting an hour of code this year! We’ve put together resources to help teachers, coaches, and administrators from PreK to high school host events in their classrooms and buildings. Visit our team’s Hour of Code resource page for everything you need to build a brighter tomorrow!

Step 1: Register
ALL PreK-12 GWAEA Educators: Don't forget to REGISTER with us at bit.ly/GWAEAHoC20 and at the Hour of Code website. We'll send you stickers and posters when you register.

4th Grade Teachers: This year, we are collaborating with NewBoCo & the IT Sector board to ensure that every 4th grade classroom in GWAEA can host an Hour of Code event with an Industry Partner! Industry partners will briefly share about their jobs in Information Technology and then assist 4th grade teachers with hosting an Hour of Code with your students. You can host your Hour of Code face to face or virtually, depending on your needs. 4th grade teachers can sign up here to request an industry partner.

Step 2: Plan Your Event
Need help planning an Hour of Code? The Digital Learning Team has an Hour of Code Event Planning Template and an example you can use to get started.

Code.org has wonderful resources for you at https://hourofcode.com/us/how-to as well as their own planning guide.

Step 3: Select Activities from our Resources
This year we have created resource collections to help you quickly and easily host an hour or code no matter the current instruction model in your district.

Grab & Go resources you can use immediately:

• CodeBytes! - Live 20 minute lessons at 10a & 3:30p hosted daily December 7 - 11
• Take a Code Break! - 12 recorded episodes with inspirational guests & activities for all kids

Variety of resources to meet your unique classroom model & needs:

• Activities for Social Distanced Classrooms
• Activities for Hybrid Classrooms
• Activities for Virtual Classrooms

Resources to use CS for Change:

• Activities for #CSforGood & #CSforSocialJustice

Check out our Hour of Code resources from 2018 & 2019 that include our favorite online and unplugged activities at the Grant Wood AEA Digital Learning Team's website. You'll find resources organized by grade bands and by content areas.

Do you have Sphero? Dash? Hummingbird Bit? Ozobot? Micro:bit? Littlebits? LEGO Mindstorms?

Check out these Hour of Code activities designed specifically for your robots and physical computing kits: https://hourofcode.com/us/learn/robotics

Step 4: Share Your Event on Social Media
Use the hashtags #CSforGood, #CSforGWAEA, #CSforIA, #CSEdWeek, and #HourOfCode on social media to spread the word before your event and to celebrate afterword!

Let us know how you're planning to celebrate CS Ed Week this year in the comments. You can connect with us on Twitter with your plan @DLGWAEA. We can't wait to see how you and your students build a better tomorrow!

​- Corey Rogers
Digital Learning Consultant

Why self-assessment?
Self-assessment provides students the opportunity to build awareness and reflect on what they understand and do not understand. Self-assessment provides students the opportunity to empower themselves through:

• Promoting the skills of reflective practice and self-monitoring. 
• Promoting academic integrity through student self-reporting of learning progress. 
• Developing self-directed learning. 
• Increasing student motivation. 
• Helping students develop a range of personal, transferable skills.
• Learn more about self-assessment from Cornell Center for Teaching Innovation

What is a single point rubric?
The first step is making sure students are able to identify where they are in the learning through self-assessment. This means providing them with a tool like a single point rubric. We first learned about single point rubrics from the amazing Jennifer Gonzales at the Cult of Pedagogy blog. With a single point rubric, you, as the teacher, provide students with one column of a traditional rubric and the students reflect and decide on whether they match it, or are below or above that place. Learn more about single-point rubrics from Jennifer Gonzalez.

• Know Your Terms: Holistic, Analytic, and Single-Point Rubrics
• Meet the Single Point Rubric

Why would we want to share a single point rubric with students?
By focusing on one criteria, it narrows and simplifies the learning path for students. This self-reflection through the single point rubric helps to determine if the student is on the path, off the path and needs reteaching, or ahead of the pack. Students will step up to the responsibility of identifying where they are at on this path and share their reflection and evidence back.

How will students use a single point rubric?
To introduce students to the use of a single-point rubric, consider the ‘I do, we do, you do’ structure. Providing students with a body of work (with low cognitive load) and working through the single-point rubric to assess gives students the opportunity to practice.
As students move to independently use a single-point rubric, giving them a space and giving them time to work on this within the classroom is essential. Whether you are asking them to physically look at work or giving them a digital space where they can compile their work, you need to make space for this reflection to happen with work that they have already completed. This process will not work overnight and will require modeling, patience, and perseverance.

• Digital Space through Google Slides coming during Part II of our series

What will teachers learn about the students when they go through this process?

• Identify where the gaps are in the instruction.
  
• Learn where instruction is the strongest. 
• Begin to see how students can be learners in the learning community.

What will students learn about themselves when they go through this process?

• Learning is a process.
• Identify personal gaps in the own learning. 
• Make personal connections across content lines.

Be part of the conversation! Share in the comments or reach out to us on Twitter--@DLGWAEA

~Beth, Amber, and Mindy