Programming/Coding
Code Studio (http://code.org/)
Code.org® is a non-profit dedicated to expanding participation in computer science by making it available in more schools, and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of color. The website provides online tutorials and "courses" for students ages 4 and up to learn the basics of coding/programming, as well as teacher resources. Website and information are very high quality, developed by computer science professionals. Some Chicago schools are using their materials.
Scratch (http://scratch.mit.edu/)
This is an amazing website that students can use to create all different types of games. It is completely an open book and students can really create any game that they want. It seems a bit difficult to first grasp, but as long as the teacher explains it well enough, the class should be able to understand it after testing it out a bit. This would be a great website to use as a math activity because they can use it for coding and programming. Students are able to learn all different types of problem solving while making creative interactive games on their own. I would definitely love to use this program in my future classroom because I believe it gives students full control over their own ideas and creations.
Lightbot (http://lightbot.com/)
This is an app for young children that introduces them to coding. It has both and phone/tablet app as well as a computer version. The students must get the robot to the blue square and light it up. They have to use the appropriate steps (walk, turn, jump, light, etc.) to get there. They run the “code” they have come up with to see if it works and if it does not then they must make the necessary changes. This application is useful for teachers because there is a big push towards teaching coding to students. This application is easy to understand and use as well as fun. It provides a good introduction into coding before they move on to more complex ways. This one is inexpensive but is not free.
Intro to JS: Drawing and Animation. (https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-programming/programming)
This is a higher level but relatively user-friendly site for computer programming. As you write code, you are either corrected or it works, so it is very time efficient. You know immediately if you are doing something correctly or not. I think it is a helpful site for programming and also for creating a website. As more elementary-age students have 1:1 computing (or even 2:1 or 3:1) I can see this as a great hands-on tool.
Code Studio (http://code.org/)
Code.org® is a non-profit dedicated to expanding participation in computer science by making it available in more schools, and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of color. The website provides online tutorials and "courses" for students ages 4 and up to learn the basics of coding/programming, as well as teacher resources. Website and information are very high quality, developed by computer science professionals. Some Chicago schools are using their materials.
Scratch (http://scratch.mit.edu/)
This is an amazing website that students can use to create all different types of games. It is completely an open book and students can really create any game that they want. It seems a bit difficult to first grasp, but as long as the teacher explains it well enough, the class should be able to understand it after testing it out a bit. This would be a great website to use as a math activity because they can use it for coding and programming. Students are able to learn all different types of problem solving while making creative interactive games on their own. I would definitely love to use this program in my future classroom because I believe it gives students full control over their own ideas and creations.
Lightbot (http://lightbot.com/)
This is an app for young children that introduces them to coding. It has both and phone/tablet app as well as a computer version. The students must get the robot to the blue square and light it up. They have to use the appropriate steps (walk, turn, jump, light, etc.) to get there. They run the “code” they have come up with to see if it works and if it does not then they must make the necessary changes. This application is useful for teachers because there is a big push towards teaching coding to students. This application is easy to understand and use as well as fun. It provides a good introduction into coding before they move on to more complex ways. This one is inexpensive but is not free.
Intro to JS: Drawing and Animation. (https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-programming/programming)
This is a higher level but relatively user-friendly site for computer programming. As you write code, you are either corrected or it works, so it is very time efficient. You know immediately if you are doing something correctly or not. I think it is a helpful site for programming and also for creating a website. As more elementary-age students have 1:1 computing (or even 2:1 or 3:1) I can see this as a great hands-on tool.