Every child should have the opportunity to learn computer science. Coding can be an expression of youth’s identity and their artistic selves. The iCode curriculum develops computational thinking, computer science skills, and career motivations by focusing on identity and cultural heritage.
Before they can learn, young people need to feel safe, connected and seen. See how these educators nurture relationships and create a positive environment for learning. Using ice breakers helps youth get to know each other. Their first lesson, Building Agreements, helps the group set shared expectations and begin to build trust. These agreements and growing relationships support risk-taking and learning through all the lessons that follow. In the second lesson, Brave Spaces, youth learn how to engage with each other in dialogue about social justice, share personal stories, and practice following their agreements.
In this video, you will see how the initial iCode lessons are designed to help youth get to know each other and create a safe learning environment for middle schoolers. As you watch the iCode videos, notice how the curriculum integrates experience where youth learn computer science skills with experiences where they learn about and express themselves using these skills.
1. As you watch the video, think about this:
- Think about how the initial activities foster future learning.
- Notice how using elements of identity, like personal names, engages learners and develops their motivation to learn about coding.
2. Watch the video:
3. Share what you noticed:
- What did you notice in the video?
- What activities help youth build relationships with each other?
- How did youth learn to use Scratch? Did you notice the video tutorials they were using?
4. Teaching Culturally Relevant Computer Science
When educators recognize and validate the preexisting knowledge youth bring to the program and organize collaborative projects with rotating leadership opportunities, they help build confidence and competence in young people. iCode uses computer science education to encourage young people to explore their own identity and express how unique their identity is through computer coding.
5. Key Take-Away:
- When youth build positive relationships with each other, it empowers them to learn together and learn from each other.
- Educators need to establish trust, connection, and a sense of belonging through activities like icebreakers and shared agreements creates a safe environment where youth feel comfortable taking risks and learning coding skills.
- Teaching youth how to use video tutorials developed by Scratch, makes it easier for educators to adapt the learning experience for different levels of prior coding experience or levels of literacy.
Developed in collaboration with click2computerscience.org and UC ANR News & Information Outreach in Spanish. Funded by National Urban Research and Extension Center.
Resources:
These practices are also more fully described in 4-H Social Justice Youth Development: A Guide for Youth Development Professionals.