Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements
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Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements
This course is part of Computational Thinking & Block Programming in K-12 Education Specialization
Instructor: Beth Simon
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There are 6 modules in this course
Want to make a game that ends when you "catch" an object by clicking on it? Or maybe you get points based on how close you came? You'll do that in this class!
This class teaches the concepts of conditional loops and if/else statements. For each concept, we'll start by helping you connect real-world experiences you are already familiar with to the programming concept you are about to learn. Next, through a cognitively scaffolded process we'll engage you in developing your fluency with problem solving with repeat until loops, while loops, and if/else statements in a way that keeps frustration at a minimum. Along the way you will learn about the common challenges or "bugs" students have with these concepts as well as ways to help them find and fix those concepts. You'll also be guided in running classroom discussions to help students develop deeper understanding of these concepts. Finally, you'll learn how to support interactive learning experiences among your students with Peer Instruction. Additionally, you will create a resource for your classroom to support an equitable classroom.
Meet Dr. Simon and fellow learners in this class! Find out what youβll be doing and learning.
What's included
2 videos2 readings1 discussion prompt
2 videosβ’Total 7 minutes
- Welcome!β’4 minutes
- Welcome to the The Computational Thinking & Block Programming in K-12 Education Specializationβ’3 minutes
2 readingsβ’Total 13 minutes
- Using Googledocs in this Courseβ’3 minutes
- Why Snap? Create your accountβ’10 minutes
1 discussion promptβ’Total 10 minutes
- Get to know your fellow learners!β’10 minutes
In this module we will learn about conditional loops and how they vary from fixed loops. We'll examine different examples of both loop types and look at some common challenges that you may come across. Finally you'll create your own conditional loop program and have the opportunity to create an assignment and conduct peer reviews.
What's included
8 videos3 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt
8 videosβ’Total 53 minutes
- Fixed or Conditional?β’4 minutes
- What are interactive puzzles?β’5 minutes
- (Optional) Writing Programs: What's special for teachers?β’4 minutes
- Debugging: Common Challenges with Repeat Until (Boolean Expressions)β’10 minutes
- Debugging: Common Challenges with Repeat Until (Check then what?)β’8 minutes
- Debugging: Common Challenges with Repeat Until (Repeat vs Repeat Until)β’4 minutes
- (Optional) More programming puzzles -- but different!β’9 minutes
- (Optional) Demo: How to do Non-Interactive Puzzlesβ’8 minutes
3 readingsβ’Total 80 minutes
- Interactive Puzzles Instructions: Conditional Loopsβ’20 minutes
- Create a Conditional Loop Programβ’40 minutes
- Non-Interactive Programming Puzzlesβ’20 minutes
2 assignmentsβ’Total 8 minutes
- Puzzle It Outβ’4 minutes
- Check your knowledge quizβ’4 minutes
1 discussion promptβ’Total 10 minutes
- What real world things do your students know?β’10 minutes
Now that you've gotten an introduction to conditional loops, we will further explore them and their variations. We will look at why some programs require conditional loops and discuss suggestions that will help students trace each program. Finally we'll learn about a variation on the repeat until loop, called the do-while loop.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment1 app item1 discussion prompt
1 videoβ’Total 18 minutes
- Classroom Discussion: Conditional Loopsβ’18 minutes
2 readingsβ’Total 50 minutes
- Code.org While Loops -- A Variation on Repeat Untilβ’25 minutes
- Code.org Repeat Until in Mazeβ’25 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 32 minutes
- Concept Mastery Quiz: Repeat Until and While Loopsβ’32 minutes
1 app itemβ’Total 50 minutes
- Collaborative Knowledge Construction: Conditional Loopsβ’50 minutes
1 discussion promptβ’Total 10 minutes
- What to remember about learning conditional loops?β’10 minutes
In this module we'll get an introduction to conditionals, which are also known as if-else statements. First we'll examine some examples of if-else conditionals that exist in our everyday life. Next you will take a look at videos of completed programs and recreate the code. We'll end with some debugging tips and have you create your own if-else program assignment.
What's included
2 videos3 readings3 assignments
2 videosβ’Total 14 minutes
- In My Life: Conditional Actionsβ’6 minutes
- Debugging: If Else Statementsβ’8 minutes
3 readingsβ’Total 85 minutes
- Interactive Puzzles Instructions: If Statementsβ’25 minutes
- Create an If Else Programβ’40 minutes
- Non-Interactive Programming Puzzlesβ’20 minutes
3 assignmentsβ’Total 13 minutes
- Playing Games with Conditionsβ’5 minutes
- Puzzle It Outβ’4 minutes
- Check your knowledge quizβ’4 minutes
Now that you have a basic understanding of conditionals, we look at some more complicated cases. You'll watch a video of how a teacher introduces the topic to her class and learn about conditionals with more than 2 scenarios. You'll also look at programs with two independent conditionals and learn how this varies from else-if statements. Finally, you'll analyze some misconceptions and challenges you initially had when learning about conditionals and create resources to help others learn about conditionals.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment1 app item2 discussion prompts
1 videoβ’Total 8 minutes
- Classroom Discussions: If Else Statementsβ’8 minutes
2 readingsβ’Total 40 minutes
- Unplugged Conditionals: Video of the classroomβ’10 minutes
- Code.org If/Else Statementsβ’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 32 minutes
- Concept Mastery Quiz: If/Elseβ’32 minutes
1 app itemβ’Total 50 minutes
- Collaborative Knowledge Construction: If Else Statementsβ’50 minutes
2 discussion promptsβ’Total 20 minutes
- What ideas for your classroom?β’10 minutes
- What to remember about learning if else statements?β’10 minutes
In this module we take a look at peer instruction, an interactive teaching method that promotes learning. You will learn how peer instruction works and its benefits through various evidence-based studies. Then you'll determine how it can be applied to a computer science course and examine additional reasons peer instruction is beneficial in teaching computer science in class. You will have the opportunity to apply what you learn when creating a resource and peer reviewing others' work.
What's included
4 videos1 reading1 assignment1 app item1 discussion prompt
4 videosβ’Total 26 minutes
- Why Use Peer Instruction?β’10 minutes
- How Does Peer Instruction Work?β’8 minutes
- Peer Instruction Logisticsβ’4 minutes
- Peer Instruction In This Classβ’4 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Getting Your Computer Science Class Off the Groundβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Pedagogy/Equity Mastery Quizβ’30 minutes
1 app itemβ’Total 15 minutes
- What would counselors, administrators, or parents find compelling? β’15 minutes
1 discussion promptβ’Total 10 minutes
- How do you get students learning from each other?β’10 minutes
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