I am lucky to be part of a wonderful team of Specialists. Our school schedule allows our grade level teams to collaborate daily while their kids go to Specials. We have Fitness, Art/Engineering, and Global Investigations as our specials. Sometimes students are referred to Surf Lesson (Intervention) with me during Specials time.
Our Global Investigations time is a class that uses technology and Project Based Learning to explore the world. It’s teacher, Jen Ellison, decided she wanted our 4th-6th graders to learn to code. It sparked an excitement amongst our upper grade students that made me ask her to do a guest blog post about Khan Academy. Our students started off using it for coding and now are also using it for math. I’m impressed with this FREE site that our kids find so motivating.
Here is Jen to tell you all about it…..
Like most
children, my students feel powerless.
Their lives are controlled by the adults in their lives — at home their
parents and guardians determine their rising and sleeping. They control what
and when they eat.
children, my students feel powerless.
Their lives are controlled by the adults in their lives — at home their
parents and guardians determine their rising and sleeping. They control what
and when they eat.
School is no
different. I tell my students when to read and what to read – I even tell them
how to read! And yet my decision to become an educator stemmed largely from a
desire to empower students.
different. I tell my students when to read and what to read – I even tell them
how to read! And yet my decision to become an educator stemmed largely from a
desire to empower students.
More than
anything else I want my students to feel powerful enough to determine the
course of their lives. I want them to
believe that they can tackle any problem great or small and be victorious.
anything else I want my students to feel powerful enough to determine the
course of their lives. I want them to
believe that they can tackle any problem great or small and be victorious.
This is where
Khan Academy comes into play. I am always looking for ways for my students who
are trapped in a cycle of poverty — to find a way out. Most people are familiar with the story of
the young creator of Minecraft — how he taught himself to code and created a
game. He learned basic java script and
made boxes and squares, but step onto any playground and ask about
Minecraft. His simple, little game
dominates the thoughts and minds of children everywhere. And was a financial windfall for him.
Khan Academy comes into play. I am always looking for ways for my students who
are trapped in a cycle of poverty — to find a way out. Most people are familiar with the story of
the young creator of Minecraft — how he taught himself to code and created a
game. He learned basic java script and
made boxes and squares, but step onto any playground and ask about
Minecraft. His simple, little game
dominates the thoughts and minds of children everywhere. And was a financial windfall for him.
I visited Khan
Academy looking for a way for my own students to learn how to code. I discovered that they have step by step
lessons to teach students to code. A
person can log into Khan Academy and follow the lessons and day by day, lesson
by lesson learn to code. No background knowledge or experience is required. It works. Anyone can learn it. ANYONE.
Academy looking for a way for my own students to learn how to code. I discovered that they have step by step
lessons to teach students to code. A
person can log into Khan Academy and follow the lessons and day by day, lesson
by lesson learn to code. No background knowledge or experience is required. It works. Anyone can learn it. ANYONE.
Even an old
teacher like me.
teacher like me.
That’s right, in
the process of determining whether it was appropriate for my 4th, 5th, and 6th
grade students, I taught myself to code.
Two months ago, I knew absolutely nothing about computer programing, and
now I can write simple codes. I
completed the 100 introductory lessons, and am working my way through level
two.
the process of determining whether it was appropriate for my 4th, 5th, and 6th
grade students, I taught myself to code.
Two months ago, I knew absolutely nothing about computer programing, and
now I can write simple codes. I
completed the 100 introductory lessons, and am working my way through level
two.
My students love
coding and Khan Academy. The computer
lab is never silent when we are working in there. Everywhere you can hear voices saying things
like, “Wait, how did you do that?” or “I
just got 2,100 energy points!” Khan
Academy is amazing. We have been working
in Khan Academy and my students are still happy to log in. “Are we gonna do Khan today?” They ask and I expect them to groan — we’ve
been working on it for such a long time now — and yet, they react with cheers.
coding and Khan Academy. The computer
lab is never silent when we are working in there. Everywhere you can hear voices saying things
like, “Wait, how did you do that?” or “I
just got 2,100 energy points!” Khan
Academy is amazing. We have been working
in Khan Academy and my students are still happy to log in. “Are we gonna do Khan today?” They ask and I expect them to groan — we’ve
been working on it for such a long time now — and yet, they react with cheers.
I’ve got a pack
of fourth grade girls who love to sit together and code. “You gotta plus plus.” I heard one of them say to the other just
yesterday. That’s right, she’s nine and talking like a pro. “You don’t have enough parameters.” A fifth grade boy was explaining to a girl
today.
of fourth grade girls who love to sit together and code. “You gotta plus plus.” I heard one of them say to the other just
yesterday. That’s right, she’s nine and talking like a pro. “You don’t have enough parameters.” A fifth grade boy was explaining to a girl
today.
I should
mention, my students do not live in an environment flooded with
technology. We are a Title 1 school, and
most of my students do not have computers or internet at home. They come to school to use computers or go to
the public library. And now they have
learned to code like champs.
mention, my students do not live in an environment flooded with
technology. We are a Title 1 school, and
most of my students do not have computers or internet at home. They come to school to use computers or go to
the public library. And now they have
learned to code like champs.
But more
importantly, they feel empowered. They
sit down to that list of lessons, and choose what they are going to work on and
how they are going to do it. Khan
Academy allows students the freedom to choose what to study and how to study
it. Students are tackling math,
programing, history and science. I’ve
got one fifth grader who loves learning about physics. He watches the embedded videos and leans in
close to hear every word.
importantly, they feel empowered. They
sit down to that list of lessons, and choose what they are going to work on and
how they are going to do it. Khan
Academy allows students the freedom to choose what to study and how to study
it. Students are tackling math,
programing, history and science. I’ve
got one fifth grader who loves learning about physics. He watches the embedded videos and leans in
close to hear every word.
If you haven’t
visited Khan Academy, I highly recommend it.
Start by watching the introductory video entitled “You Can Learn
Anything”. I am a lifelong educator and
have always felt in my heart that given the right tools, you can learn so much,
but now, I truly believe that you can learn
anything. Trust me, if an old teacher
lady like me, can learn to write code — anything is possible.
visited Khan Academy, I highly recommend it.
Start by watching the introductory video entitled “You Can Learn
Anything”. I am a lifelong educator and
have always felt in my heart that given the right tools, you can learn so much,
but now, I truly believe that you can learn
anything. Trust me, if an old teacher
lady like me, can learn to write code — anything is possible.
When my students
get discouraged, or feel overwhelmed with a new and difficult task, I remind
them of two simple things: In the
beginning, even Einstein had to learn his ABC’s just like the rest of us, and
it isn’t that you can’t do the work — it is just that you aren’t good at it —
yet.
get discouraged, or feel overwhelmed with a new and difficult task, I remind
them of two simple things: In the
beginning, even Einstein had to learn his ABC’s just like the rest of us, and
it isn’t that you can’t do the work — it is just that you aren’t good at it —
yet.
The world is
filled with possibility.
Khan Academy
benefits at a glance:
Free forever.
Spanish
translation available.
translation available.
Individually
paced.
paced.
Short videos and
hints for students who need support.
hints for students who need support.
Endless choices.
Multiple paths
to understanding.
to understanding.
 |
| Jen Ellison |
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