Computer Science Education Week is full of resources to get you and your students computing and coding
To celebrate Computer Science Education Week and to make sure you’re ready to educate students and peers about why computer science is such an essential part of U.S. education and the economy, we’ve compiled a list of 10 useful resources and facts about computer science education [1].
Are you participating [2] in Computer Science Education Week? Follow the hashtag #CSEW to keep up with events, and let us know your plans.
1. Daisy the Dinosaur [3] is a free app that uses a drag-and-drop format to teach children the basics of computer programming. Students animate Daisy and make her dance across the screen. They also have the option to download a kit to program their own computer game.
2. Cargo-Bot [4] is a puzzle game that teaches students to use computer programming skills as they instruct a robot to move crates.
3. Using MIT App Inventor [5], students can learn how to build apps with simple steps. The site includes a library with references and troubleshooting, a forum for chatting and asking questions, tutorials for different kinds of apps, and more.
4. Hackety Hack teaches users about the basics of computer science education from the absolute ground up.
(Next page: Six more comp sci resources)5. Codecademy [6] is a great resource for students who want to learn how to code. It’s interactive, so students can work in groups or with friends. Plus, it’s free.
6. Check out Computing in the Core‘s top 10 facts about computer science education [7].
7. Computer Science Unplugged [8] teaches students all about computer science, but without a machine. Using games that involve cards, crayons, or string, students learn about important underlying concepts.
8. Have you checked out w3schools.com [9]? This site is full of tutorials, examples, quizzes, references, and more.
9. Learn more about how to recruit high school girls into computing classes [10], from the National Center for Women and Information Technology.
10. Dot Diva [11] is another resources to help girls and young women develop and sustain an interest in computer science.
Do you have a favorite computer science education app, resource, or website? Let us know in the comments below.