Monday, September 19th marks the beginning of National Coding Week, promoting tech skills and tech education in the workplace and schools. National Coding Week was founded in 2014 by former headteacher Richard Rolfe and tech entrepreneur Jordan Love with the intent of encouraging all people to learn new digital skills. During the observed week, STEM educators and computer science professionals focus on promoting coding and digital literacy to everybody in a fun and engaging way. This year’s theme spotlights how learning new digital skills can help solve problems for ourselves, others and society.
Whether you’re looking for coding resources to practice at home or in the classroom to celebrate, keep these key concepts in mind:
Build STEM literacy.
Help make STEM stories more accessible by ensuring your resources include vocabulary supports and provide simple definitions so learners can understand and engage with science terms and cultural vocabulary that may be unfamiliar.
→ Our Companion storybooks with integrated cross-curricular learning connect STEM to ELA and social studies.
Get Minds-on and Hands-on.
Although computer science is more than just coding, learning to code can be an effective way for learners to see immediate results. Connecting coding with hands-on games and challenges makes lessons stick.
→ Challenges encourage problem solving and critical thinking!
Connect the designed world to the digital world.
Level the playing field for all learners and cultivate cultural competency by connecting your lessons to the world around you. How can coding and computer science improve the world around you? What problems can you solve in your own backyard? Discuss as a group and make sure everyone has a chance to express themselves.
→ Real-world challenges help kids make meaningful connections.
If you’re looking for more structured support and learning, our Engineering and Computer Science Essentials: An Integrated Program brings together each of these core concepts as well as engineering and computer science lessons to promote curiosity, discovery, and STEM literacy.
You can find our other recommended computer science and coding resources, including at-home games and online practice tests by clicking here.
How are you celebrating National Coding Week? Let us know in the comments!
