Computer programming fulfills the E in STEM. Many schools focus on Science, Technology, and Math. Programming allows students to create and design a solution to a problem and encourages students to think beyond simply repeating what they are learning. Programming also allows students to utilize math and language arts skills in a functional environment. Students can learn to program using free resources like those available from Code.org, or Microsoft, or Khan Academy. Schools in Virginia have access to Microsoft IT Academy which includes access to Microsoft Visual Studio for school labs and students at no cost to either the school or the students. Code.org teaches programming using drag and drop. Khan Academy teaches programming by example. This will be an introduction to those three resources and will allow teachers to go back to their schools and begin teaching students how to program. Participants will have an opportunity to practice creating simple programs and will learn more about these three resources as well as other free programming resources that can be utilized in a variety of classroom or after school activities.
If you are coming on Monday morning, you may save some time by downloading these programs before you get to the Convention Center
Microsoft Small Basic
http://smallbasic.com/and Kodu:
http://www.kodugamelab.com/and Visual Studio Express (optional):
http://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs.aspxWe will also be celebrating the Hour of Code:
http://code.org/educate/20hrand using some online resources such as those at
code.org and KhanAcademy.org.
Kodu will need the following three files
http://www.kodugamelab.com/Microsoft XNA Framework Redistributable 4.0
http://tinyurl.com/d2eyqczand .net Framework
http://www.microsoft.com/net____________________________Small Basic will need the following 2 files
http://smallbasic.com/You will also need .NET Framework 3.5.1 installed and turned on:
http://tinyurl.com/846d59p
