Dedham Public Schools this month joined the over 78,000,000 people worldwide who celebrated Computer Science Week (December 12-23). Students from the Dedham High School computer club and computer sciences classes traveled to the district’s four elementary schools to participate in the worldwide Hour of Code, introducing grades 1-5 students to the basics of computer programming and showing them that anyone can learn how to make, create, and innovate in the digital world.
Under the direction of their older peers, the elementary school students used their schools’ libraries’ websites, desktops, Chromebooks, and iPads to access a wide variety of engaging and interesting programs to manipulate code, including popular activities involving Star Wars, Minecraft, MIT’s Scratch JR, Kodable and LightBot. All activities were free and students can continue to use these activities at home.
Technology coaches Judy Foley, Amos Saunderson, Andrew Daitsman, and Daniel Willey provided support to the Dedham High School students at the elementary schools and talked to the elementary students about the technology classes offered at the high school. The activities all took place during the lunch and recess blocks at the elementary schools with every computer being occupied. It was truly a coordinated and collaborative effort between the elementary school librarians and the Dedham High School technology team.
