"The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code", to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. It has since become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science, starting with 1-hour coding activities but expanding to all sorts of community efforts. Check out the tutorials and activities. This grassroots campaign is supported by over 400 partners and 200,000 educators worldwide." www.hourofcode.com

For the next Flipgrid Explorer Series, we wanted to try something a bit different. We know that many of you are working on coding projects with your learners, so we thought, who better to be our next Flipgrid Explorers than our very own developers, Liz Maddy and Paul Conlin. During this two-week series, Liz and Paul will talk about computer science, how they got into coding, and what that means on a day-to-day basis here at Flipgrid HQ.

Join us December 4 - 15 to talk about coding, the design process, and how an idea becomes a functional feature in Flipgrid. In addition to sharing their expertise, Liz and Paul will ask your students to discuss a project their working on, taking it from ideation to reflection over the two weeks. Here is the Topic overview for the Series:

• Pre-Knowledge, live now: What questions do you have about computer science? Developers? Coding?
• The Source Code, December 4-15: Here Liz and Paul will share their story and lives as developers!
• Week 1, December 4-8: The logic of coding is all around us! Share a project you're working on! What problem are you trying to solve and what are the challenges? Don't have a project you're working on? No problem, let us know: what's a piece of technology that you have that your teacher did not have at your age? How has this technology changed our lives?
• Week 2, December 11-15: Showcase your project! What was your goal? What challenges did you overcome? What was the end result? If you don't have a project, no problem: let us know what technology advancement do you think will come next?
• Debugging, December 4-15: Share your questions for Liz and Paul in this Topic; they’ll answer as many as they can!
• Reflection, December 15: What's something you learned about computer science?

If you’re interested in joining this Explorer Series, please let us know at: code@flipgrid.com.

Join the discussion now: flipgrid.com/code http://blog.flipgrid.com/news/code

Looking for an awesome way to launch the Flipgrid Explorer Series: Code with your students? Check out this HyperDoc!

Below you will find links to Intro to Coding & Hour of Code HyperDocs for grades K-2 and 3+. Go to "file" then "make a copy" to save an editable version to your Google Drive. Review the HyperDoc to be sure it works for your class, add or change as necessary and assign to your students. The K-2 version is meant to be assigned as "view only".

You can host an unplugged Hour of Code where no computer is needed!

Got robots or physical computing devices like Makey Makey or Microbit? Check out a few of the resources below for Hour of Code lessons with Dash, Ozobot and Makey Makey. Looking for more? Check out hourofcode.com/us/learn/robotics

Print out these coding cards and/or hi-res block images from Tickle App for your students to use as a hands-on, offline coding experience. Can be used with online coding activities, unplugged lessons or even with robots!

The Hour of Curiosity is a set of free lesson plans, professional development activities, videos and more developed to support student engagement, 21st century education and STEAM via @mraspinall.

15+ ways to get started with coding! Increase creativity, remix assessment, and develop a class of coder ninjas! Code Breaker Book coming soon via @mraspinall!

Check out what our friends across the bay are doing to provide computer science for ALL students. CSinSF has a TON of great resources along with a PLAN and implementation guide for providing all students with computer science education.

A sketchnote created with the help of some AWESOME kids at Sun Terrace Elementary STEM Magnet School!

Questions? Comments? Feedback? Please feel free to contact me anytime.

Email: mourakd@mdusd.org
Website: karlymoura.blogspot.com
Twitter: @KarlyMoura