Sept. 6: CTTF Coaching (Group B)
Sept 9: A Profile of CSIS@SES during Staff Development
Sept. 11: Cycle 1 Integration Discussions during Grade Level Meetings
Sept. 13: CTTF Coaching (Group C)
Sept 16: Classrooms start Cycle 1 Integration
Mark This Down!
This Week (Aug 26-30)
- Kindergarten
- Digital Citizenship
- Week 1: Cycle 1 Launch - students identify types of electronics; code a Scratch Sprite to say Hi; explore Scratch.
- First Grade
- Digital Citizenship
- Week 1: Cycle 1 Blast Off - students log into Scratch; explain what an ethernet cord is; create a new Scratch project.
- Second Grade
- Digital Citizenship
- Week 1: Cycle 1 Blast Off - students log into Scratch; explain what WiFi is and how it works; create a new Scratch project.
- Third Grade
- Digital Citizenship
- Week 1: Cycle 1 Launch - students explain the importance of a password; demonstrate signing in and out of Scratch; create their first Scratch project.
- Fourth Grade
- Digital Citizenship
- Week 1: Cycle 1 Launch - students navigate to Scratch and login with username and password; create first Scratch project.
- Fifth Grade
- Digital Citizenship
- Week 1: Cycle 1 Launch - students navigate to Scratch and login with username and password; become familiar with Scratch; Analyze story game samples and game features.
Next Week (Sept 2-6)
- Kindergarten
- Finish Week 1: Cycle 1 Launch - Logging In
- Start Week 2: Sprites & Loop - SWBAT use simple loops to animate a sprite.
- Sample Projects: Scripts & Loops 1 | Loops
- Support Video: Loops
- First Grade
- Finish Week 1: Cycle 1 Blast Off - Logging In
- Start Week 2: The Big Idea - SWBAT use clicked events in a project.
- Sample Projects: None Listed
- Support Video: Clicked Events
- Second Grade
- Week 2: Total Control - SWBAT code a sprite with keyboard controls for motion.
- Sample Projects: None Listed
- Support Video: Keyboard Controls
- Third Grade
- Week 2: Big Idea Game Menu - SWBAT to create a simple game menu project.
- Slide Deck
- Support Video: Game Menu
- Fourth Grade
- Week 2: Stepped Motion - SWBAT write a stepped motion script for a projectile sprite.
- Sample Project: None Listed
- Support Video: Stepped Motion
- Fifth Grade
- Week 2: Event Handling - SWBAT to apply event handling to program with sprites having a conversation.
- Sample Project: Event Handling
- Support Video: Event Handling
What's Coming Up (Sept. 9-13)
- Finish Week 1: Cycle 1 Launch - Logging In
- Start Week 2: Sprites & Loop - SWBAT use simple loops to animate a sprite.
- Sample Projects: Scripts & Loops 1 | Loops
- Support Video: Loops
- Finish Week 1: Cycle 1 Blast Off - Logging In
- Start Week 2: The Big Idea - SWBAT use clicked events in a project.
- Sample Projects: None Listed
- Support Video: Clicked Events
- Week 2: Total Control - SWBAT code a sprite with keyboard controls for motion.
- Sample Projects: None Listed
- Support Video: Keyboard Controls
- Week 2: Big Idea Game Menu - SWBAT to create a simple game menu project.
- Slide Deck
- Support Video: Game Menu
- Week 2: Stepped Motion - SWBAT write a stepped motion script for a projectile sprite.
- Sample Project: None Listed
- Support Video: Stepped Motion
- Week 2: Event Handling - SWBAT to apply event handling to program with sprites having a conversation.
- Sample Project: Event Handling
- Support Video: Event Handling
Preview these videos or projects samples to see what your students will be learning in the lab.
- Kindergarten
- Support Video: Loops
- First Grade
- Support Video: Epic Build
- Second Grade
- Third Grade
- Support Video: Pole Position
- Fourth Grade
- Sample Project: Projectile Game
- Support Video: Projectile Game
- Fifth Grade
- Support Video: Story Game
This Week (Aug. 26-30)
- Thanks for Signing up for Coaching
- Sandlapper Coaching Schedule
- I really appreciate everyone's support and patience with creating our coaching schedule for Cycle 1. I know that not everyone got a perfect time, but I think we have something that will work.
- Thanks Group B for your flexibility. I know you are missing a session. I am working to get that resolved.
- Way to go Group A. I hope your coaching this week was helpful. Please take a second to fill out this short survey to improve your sessions.
- CTTF Coaching Feedback Form
- Select Your Class Tech Ambassadors
- Click here to fill out the form
- I you have not yet done so please complete this form ASAP.
- I plan to start working with these Tech Leaders next week.
- Classroom Computer Science Supplies from the Lead Teacher
- Please be sure to display the following in your classroom.
- Computation Thinking Poster
- Scratch Basic Blocks Posters
- If I did not deliver these to your room, please let me know.
- Optional Resources:
- Printable Scratch Blocks - For you to download and use in your classroom. They make a handy resource. Consider laminating set and use magnet tape so it stick on your white board. Also can be used with small groups without a computer. They are a great way to make coding tangible.
- Scratch Vocabulary (Google Slides) - A complete list of all the vocabulary introduced during Cycle 1. Feel free to make a copy and personalize the glossary to meet your needs.
Next Week (Sept. 2-6)
- Getting Ready for Coaching
- Our school's CTTF coach, Jacqueline Campbell, will be coming to group B this Friday, Sept. 6. She is planning to model lesson 2 for teachers this Friday.
- Here are some steps to take to make the most of your visit:
- Have your students practice logging in and signing in so they can do this on their own or with little support.
- Make sure students have their Chromebooks out and are logged in to Scratch before the start of your coaching time slot.
- Have "The Loop" open on the teacher desktop.
- Mrs. Campbell would like teachers to know that she is willing to help out! She invites teachers to contact her by email with questions and ideas. She can help teachers plan out integration ideas as well. Her email is jacqueline.campbell@codetothefuture.com
- She has also offered to stay late on Fridays if teacher would like additional help. Let me know if you would like to take advantage of this offer.
- Review the Loop
- Take some time to look over the Lesson 1 & 2 in the Loop
- You should also have a printed copy. If not, let me know!
- Use the video links to preview what the students will need to be doing.
- Discuss Our Magnet Goals with your class
- Click here for a Google Slides presentation
- Be sure your students understand that Sandlapper is now a Computer Science Immersion School.
- Begin Team Discussions for Integration Plan
- You have 4 options:
- Use the Built In Lesson Integrations that are part of the Beginner Cycle; or
- Use the Stand Alone Scratch Language Arts Scratch Cycle; or
- Use the Stand Alone Scratch Math Scratch Cycle; or
- Create Your Own!
- Click here to book me if you want help.
- This will be set during our Team Meetings on Sept. 11, but you can start thinking ahead if you like.
- Do NOT let this part get you stressed. If in doubt, then book me.
- CTTF Coaching Group B will meet
- If you are in coaching group B, plan to have your students review week 2 of the beginner module. See above for topics that apply to your grade.
- Remember: The purpose of the Code To The Future Coach at the beginning is to model the lessons for you.
Coming Up
- Classroom Integration Plans during Team Meetings on Sept. 11
- CTTF Coaching Group C will meet
- Group C meets on Sept. 13
- Begin Cycle 1 Classroom Integration on Sept 16
- Click here to book me if you need any support this week!
Related Arts: Please use any of the above to help bring computer science into your classes as you are able.
Use the article below to help you lead discussions about the emerging technology.
From the MIT Technology ReviewOpenAI has released the largest version yet of its fake-news-spewing AI
OpenAI has released its latest version of GPT-2—and published a report that explains why it's doing it in this way.
The news: In February OpenAI unveiled a language model so good at generating fake news that the organization decided it was too dangerous to release the full thing. Now six months later, it has released a version of the model, known as GPT-2, that’s half the size of the full one. Alongside it, the policy team has published a report that examines the impact of releasing it in this way.
Bit by bit: In May, a few months after GPT-2’s initial debut, OpenAI decided it would carry out the staggered release of incrementally larger versions of the model. In February, it published a version of the model that was merely 8% of the size of the full one. It then published another version that is roughly a quarter of the size of the full one.
So, was it worth it? The accompanying report says that the decision to do it this way helped OpenAI better anticipate the possible malicious uses of GPT-2. But some experts argue that withholding the full model actually prevents effective countermeasures being developed. Read the full story here (plus a great example that shows off GPT-2’s potential).
—Karen Hao
—Karen Hao
For the month of September please try to discuss the following computer science career field.
This video offers an explanation of the career.
Share this website with students to read about how to become one.
