• Introduction:
  • Name and a little about me
  • Course: EDCI 572 with Dr. Verena Roberts D
    • Development and Implementation of the Curriculum in Digital Learning Contexts
  • Overview: Technology Operations and Concepts
  • Outline:
    • Reaction to Course Readings
    • Is coding a fad or is it something that needs to be integrated into every curriculum? Why or Why not?
    • What is the role of computer science in digital literacies?
    • Does your project consider data, analytics or Artificial Intelligence?
    • How are emerging educational technology trends impacting your learning context?
    • Tech of the week

• Reaction to Course Readings
  • I found Sterling’s arguments to be fairly persuasive. I think we agree on many principles of coding in education, although I do not agree that every student should need to learn coding.
  • I believe that the argument that Sterling disagrees with that there should be a push for more professional coders is not a good one and shouldn’t be mandated (2016). We do not do that with any other subject, so why coding? We don’t teach English courses so all students can be writers. We do it so that students are literate and can communicate effectively.
• Is coding a fad or is it something that needs to be integrated into every curriculum? Why or Why not?
  • As Sterling asserts, coding could very easily be integrated into applied math and science courses and find a home there (2016).
  • I teach electronics and robotics. In both courses I teach my students coding. I don’t see the coding aspect of these courses going anywhere in the near future as they are at the heart of robotics and where electronics is going.
    • Arduino – uses a C based language that activates “pins” on a microcontroller that controls various electronic peripherals and components.
    • RobotC – Uses a C based language that controls motors, servos, and other components in the goal of creating robots to address various real-world challenges.
  • I do not see coding being implemented in most other courses and it should not be shoe-horned in for the sake of it being there.

• What is the role of computer science in digital literacies?
  • The BC Digital Literacy Framework states that grades 10-12 should be able to program from using block coding to a high-level programming language and be able to create complex model and simulations with real world applications (2016).
  • These literacies are very specific and likely would only be implemented in a STEM or STEM related course.

• Does your project consider data, analytics or Artificial Intelligence?
  • At the grade 3-5 level, I am not sure that would be appropriate for the age or the project itself.
• How are emerging educational technology trends impacting your learning context?
  • Emerging technologies are changing my classroom all the time. More recently the metal shop teacher and I utilized a virtual welding simulator as a means of trying to attract students to take a newly formed welding program. It was fun and exciting and got students very interested. I have considered other uses for virtual reality headsets but at this point I am concerned about their practical application. I have not found a legitimate use that would be more than a temporary novelty.
  • The pandemic has forced me and a lot of other teachers to leave their comfort zones and try new edtech that they may not have otherwise experienced. Ultimately, I think it will be a good experience but it has not been an easy transition.
• Tech of the Week:
  • cc
    • Open source
    • C-based coding language
    • Controls Arduino microcontroller that can be used for nearly infinite real-life applications. For example: light control, motor control, controlling various sensors, etc.
  • Outro
    • Music by Canada by Picture of the Floating World

References & Readings:

British Columbia. Ministry of Education. (2016). BC’s digital literacy framework. Victoria, B.C.: Ministry of Education.

Sterling, L., “Session L : Coding in the curriculum : Fad or foundational?” (2016). 2009 – 2019 ACER Research Conferences. 4. https://research.acer.edu.au/research_conference/RC2016/9august/4 Retrieved from: https://research.acer.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1297&context=research_conference

Audio:

Musical Intro/outro is Canada by Picture of the Floating World found at freemusicarchive.org