Congratulations to Alejandro Arroyo Ascencio, a 5th grade student at Douglas Elementary School, for being named the District Elementary Student of the Month. 

Alejandro is recognized for his outstanding achievements in coding, robotics, and leadership.

Despite his young age, Alejandro has already demonstrated remarkable skill in programming. He earned a certificate of completion in Python programming from CoderZ, a curriculum typically designed for students in eighth grade and beyond. Through this program, Alejandro successfully coded digital robots using Python, showcasing his advanced problem-solving abilities.

In addition to his proficiency in Python, Alejandro excels in robotics and coding using Blockly. His innovative approach earned him sixth place in the Moore Middle School Science Fair, where he designed, built, and programmed an EV3 Lego robot to remove debris in a simulated flood-stricken town. His ingenuity and dedication to robotics continue to shine as he recently designed, built, and coded another robot capable of carrying objects, dropping them, and crossing a bridge.

Alejandro’s leadership within the Douglas Coding/Robotics program further highlights his talents. When his peers encounter challenges, they turn to him for guidance. His expertise and willingness to help make him a valuable mentor to others in the program.

With his passion for coding, problem-solving mindset, and commitment to helping others, Alejandro is a true inspiration at Douglas Elementary. His achievements set a strong foundation for future success in STEM fields. Congratulations, Alejandro!

The Tyler ISD District Students of the Month each receive a certificate and medal, sponsored by CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System

Each month, Tyler ISD recognizes the exemplary efforts of two students, one from our elementary schools and one from our secondary schools, to be honored. Teachers and school principals submit nominations based on students’ excellence in many areas, including academics, leadership, campus, and community involvement. These outstanding qualities lead to successful student outcomes both in and outside of the classroom.

The post Spotlight on District Elementary Student of the Month, Alejandro Arroyo Ascencio appeared first on CoderZ.

My school participated in CoderZ League in a Box for the first time this year, and it was a fantastic experience! Student engagement in coding was at an all-time high—they were logging hours late at night without it even being homework! The competitive aspect kept them motivated, and they absolutely loved it. I can’t wait to see what happens at the Texas State Championship

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Robotics classes reinforce students’ learning from across the curriculum in deeply practical ways

Key points:

• Learning robotics gives students skills for all career and life paths
• Using robots to teach creativity, collaboration, and self-confidence
• 3 keys to success when introducing robotics to young learners
• For more news on robotics, visit eSN’s STEM & STEAM hub

Educators often focus on how well robotics in education can prepare students for careers in STEM fields. And that’s both true and important. Robotics is an engaging way to kickstart student interest in technical fields and, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM jobs are projected to grow three-and-half times faster than non-STEM jobs.

The lessons learned in the robotics classroom, however, are applicable to any job and life in general. Students learn persistence and resilience, teamwork and collaboration, and problem-solving skills. We’ve seen students in our classes find their own voices and learn to advocate for themselves. Robotics is also a great vehicle for cross curricular experiences that bring the concepts students learn in other classes to life by putting them to use in practical situations.

It’s also true that while leading a programming class can feel intimidating for teachers with little technical background, robotics projects can be successfully facilitated by any teacher and students can even lead each other with the correct resources. At the School for the Talented and Gifted in Pleasant Grove, we teach a variety of robotics and programming courses despite the fact that only one of us had prior experience in related areas.

Here’s how we use robotics to engage students, teach a variety of soft and technical skills, and not lose all our time to lesson planning.

Rooted in competition

Two or three years ago, we shifted the focus of our classrooms from helping students learn all the basics of engineering to competition. When we learn about gear ratios, for example, we might do it by having students compete to win a tug of war competition or robotic sumo wrestling match. Competition is great for engaging students and naturally encourages collaboration within teams. Perhaps most importantly, it gives students a sense of pride in the work they do in our classrooms.

It also forces our students to develop resilience and to become contrarian thinkers. As they try new ideas and fail, and try again with a little more information, they are learning to stick with a challenge even when they seem to be making little progress, and they begin thinking critically about what they might try next and the different ways it might also fail.

Project-based lessons

Because robotics lessons are so often project based, particularly when they are rooted in competition or gamified, they tend to bring in concepts and ideas from disparate fields or even students’ own life experiences. They learn to apply physics in our robotics classes when they use what they have learned about balanced and unbalanced forces to their sumo robot designs. When they are calculating angles to figure out the optimal path for their robot, they are using the math they have recently learned in the real world, answering for themselves the age-old question of math students: “When are we ever going to use this?”

Every day in our robotics classes, we are reinforcing students’ learning from across the curriculum in deeply practical ways.

Students also learn processes that can be applied widely beyond robotics simply by managing their own projects. The projects we use come with guides students follow through each step of a project, including creating an initial design, gathering feedback on it, adding accessibility features, creating a final design, and then presenting their finished products and results to their peers.

We’ve also found that improving rigor for students with a little more technical knowledge is easy with the right program. We have many students who are eager to learn about programming and come to our class with some knowledge of Scratch, for example, and it’s easy for us to adapt projects to ensure they are challenging for technologically precocious students while remaining accessible to those who are just beginning their coding journey.

Simplified planning

As the only programming teachers in our school, we were worried about planning time. One of us teaches five different programming courses and the other had a limited background in programming. We have one hour of planning to prepare for all these classes, so we are grateful to have a supplemental resource that provides everything we need to get started. We use CoderZ because it lines up well with our competitive, multi-curricular, and project-based approach to programming.

It’s so easy to implement that teachers with no background can jump right into teaching, and students can even take over and lead their peers.

It’s such a joy to see the excitement in our students’ faces as they begin digging into each new project, but it’s no match for the satisfaction of watching their confidence grow as their technical and social skills blossom throughout the year.

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That’s when I realized it had been a while since I’d heard a conversation centered on STEM. It used to dominate discussions at education conferences. Teachers, school leaders and policymakers were all focused on how to funnel more students into the STEM fields.

Then COVID-19 hit. The education world was tossed upside down and STEM faded into the background as other, more urgent needs — virtual instruction, students’ mental health, learning recovery — took center stage. 

Now, two years after the pandemic was declared over, STEM conversations seem to be reigniting. Curious about the trend, I reached out to some experts who are developing STEM education tools to get their take. I spoke with Jenny Nash, EdD, head of US Education Impact at LEGO Education, Sean Barton, chief value officer for Curriculum and Strategy at STEM Sports, Jason Innes, director of Curriculum, Training, and Product Management at KinderLab Robotics, and Tony Oran, CEO at Intelitek. 

This conversation has been lightly edited for space and format. 

SmartBrief: Is STEM still a priority for K-12?

Barton: STEM is without question a priority for K-12 students. Approximately 85% of STEM jobs anticipated for the year 2030 have yet to be invented, and over the next 10-plus years, 80% of all jobs will be STEM-related, so the workforce needs all hands on deck.

Oran: Absolutely. STEM is still a high priority. While there has been progress in growing the number of kids that enter STEM or technology career paths, we are far from meeting the goals to address the shortages that currently exist in industry. If the United States wants to maintain its competitive edge in the world economy, STEM focus needs to be maintained and even emphasized more. 

The secondary challenge we are seeing is how to keep kids in STEM programs. Up to now, STEM initiatives have been primarily focused on elementary and middle school students.  We are working on STEM to CTE pathways – guiding middle school students with STEM backgrounds to technology programs that prepare them for careers in industry or higher learning in engineering fields.

Innes: STEM is a priority for many K-12 school districts, but the critical importance of starting STEM education early is still a message many district leaders need to hear. Students as young as preschool age show differences in STEM interest (owing to stereotypes about STEM identity) and in STEM ability (owing to socioeconomic background). These differences only compound as children age. To ensure STEM interest, participation, and success in middle school, high school, higher ed, and into the workforce, we have to give kids positive STEM experiences from preschool onward.

Nash: STEM and STEAM learning continues to be a priority in K-8 and is becoming even more critical due to AI and other emerging trends. At its core, STEM is about connecting subjects and making them relevant to the real world. So, how can AI be integrated into math or science? The classroom should reflect the world, where everything is interconnected. A scientist still needs math and reading skills, right? The skills students develop through a cross-curricular approach are the same skills they’ll need in an evolving world, regardless of the latest trend. It’s essential that students learn to ask critical questions, solve problems, and explore connections between subjects, trends, technology, and the world around them.

A challenge for many schools is how to make learning these subjects more accessible and engaging for all students. Take science for example. Our new research reveals that among students who said science is their least favorite subject 45% describe it as “too hard” and 37% said they are “bad at it.” We need to change the narrative so students can see themselves in the subject – and, ultimately, in related careers.

SmartBrief: What STEM skills gaps are most evident between what is needed in today’s workforce and what is being taught in schools? What do you see as the top STEM skills that are (or will be) in demand? 

Barton: In a progressive society, technology will continue to be in high demand. Accordingly, the gap in technological skills and literacy has narrowed in our schools due to advancements in a myriad of required jobs and skill sets, such as cybersecurity, AI-generated resources and machine learning, biotechnology, data science and analytics, and software development and programming.

Oran: Our focus is manufacturing and industry and we see the greatest need is for technicians. Industry 4.0 is the buzzword, but underneath the title is the need for technicians who can build, operate and maintain those complex automated systems. Industry leaders tell us they don’t have enough technical workers with basic knowledge and skills to troubleshoot and repair systems. We should approach this systematically and teach the fundamental knowledge that technical workers need, then tie this into skills specific to automated manufacturing and automated processes. We should focus on communication, troubleshooting, problem-solving, data collection, and basic programming of systems. With these competencies, students become capable of understanding how systems work and will be able to get jobs in a multitude of industries like logistics, supply chain, manufacturing, industrial automation and more.

Innes: STEM is more than just science, technology, engineering and math. STEM is a set of practices for learning and problem-solving. Technical knowledge is important, but so are curiosity, creativity, persistence, and collaboration. These social skills and executive functioning capabilities are the aspects of STEM most necessary in the workforce. When I talk about starting STEM education early, it’s about teaching kids how to ask questions, propose solutions, test and improve their creations, and share their work.

Nash: Our recent survey found that more than half of science teachers believe the greatest value of science education is its ability to develop curiosity, critical thinking and creativity. These skills also rank among the most essential in reports like the WEF Future of Jobs Report.

With more than 20% of US professionals now working in roles that didn’t exist in 2000, schools must prepare students to think critically, solve problems and become lifelong learners. The best way to foster collaboration, adaptability and innovation is through hands-on, inquiry-based learning.

SmartBrief: Based on the conversations you’re having with schools, where do you see STEM going in K-12? What are educators asking for in products? What are their priorities?

Barton: STEM literacy will become the rule as opposed to the exception at some point in K-12 education. Educators are looking for academic resources that align with their core curriculum and meet the academic benchmarks defined by the district. A teacher’s time is and has always been extremely valuable for both planning and instructional purposes so the implementation of intuitive, standards-aligned practicum is paramount for student engagement and retention of subject matter.

Oran: The biggest challenge for schools is finding qualified instructors to teach STEM topics. Tools should offer all the materials they need to teach STEM subjects, even if they don’t have experience steeped in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. 

Today’s educators understand there are great jobs waiting for their students in the years to come. Many CTE programs have 100% employment rate after graduation so K12 leaders want to teach the most critical industrial skills. What’s interesting is that these are just steps away from STEM classes. STEM robotics clubs go into industrial robotics; coding goes to PLC programming; and science classes progress to mechatronics and smart sensors for industry; and math migrates to instrumentation. Schools just want to be aligned with what is really happening in the workplace and support the companies that surround them.

Innes: One thing we’re hearing about more is the idea of K-12 CTE – career-technical education that begins in kindergarten and goes through high school. CTE administrators face the daily challenge that by high school, half or more of the student body have already self-sorted themselves out of any interest in STEM jobs. CTE needs to start early. That means STEM education starting in K-5, positioned as CTE feeder programs. The goal is not to turn every child into a STEM professional, but rather to ensure that every child has that choice.

Nash: Every school wants its students to be successful and prepared for the future. Yet, findings from a LEGO Education survey found that 77% of global science teachers believe students struggle with complex concepts and curricula, and they’re eager for impactful resources that support every student’s success.

That’s why hands-on learning is valuable: It levels the playing field. Every student can find success when they get hands-on to explore a concept or create a solution to a problem. It naturally allows students to explore and iterate. 

Educators want to deliver engaging learning experiences. The challenge is that they don’t always have the tools, time, training or resources to do so. They need solutions that are intuitive, flexible and impactful, without adding to their already overflowing plates.

SmartBrief: How important is educator input in the development of STEM solutions?

Barton: It’s imperative. Educators provide a perspective through their students’ lenses. If students are not engaged to explore, elaborate and extend on what they have learned, then we need to find resources and solutions that help educators reach all learners, not only as it relates to STEM but all subject matter.

Oran: It’s incredibly important, as is input from industry partners. The best educators are in touch with their local industries and are committed to anticipating what they need. There are a host of industry communication channels. We should listen carefully to their issues and concerns and then work to identify and address current and future opportunities. 

Innes: Educator input drives all successful educational tools and curricula, whether in STEM or any other field. A solid foundation of research and practice ensures product appropriateness for the students it serves. All hands-on, engaging STEM solutions must be developed in communication with working teachers. 

Nash: An education product can only be successful if it works for both teachers and students, which means both must be involved in testing and feedback. Developing a solution that fosters engagement, collaboration, and creativity requires rigor and testing. And conversations with students – we need to think like them.

Designing a better solution for teachers begins by understanding what wasn’t working. Speaking with educators about the challenges they face when teaching science will bring common themes to the surface. These insights should shape the efficacy framework, guide the design process and provide accountability. This ensures that everything is designed to be engaging, accessible and effective for both teachers and students.

How are STEM programs developing in your school or school district? Is STEM a high priority? Let us know. We want to hear your thoughts and stories. 

Kanoe Namahoe is the director of content for SmartBrief Education and Business Services. Reach her at kanoe.namahoe@futureB2B.com.

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Districts must adopt strategies that first ignite student interest in computer science, then engage them with a comprehensive curriculum––all while ensuring sustainable growth and equitable access to programs at all grade levels. Here are five ways to build a successful computer science program that extends to every student across the district and nurtures the ongoing development of additional computer science initiatives:

1. Implement a High-Quality Curriculum Across Grades

A high-quality curriculum is the cornerstone of any successful computer science initiative. To support the ongoing growth and development of a districtwide computer science program, it’s important to implement curricula that are standards-aligned, adaptable to diverse implementations, and designed to engage every student at all levels.

CoderZ provides a comprehensive curriculum that is NGSS- and CSTA-aligned and guides educators and students through a cohesive program of computer science courses for grades 3-12. Implementing a robust and interconnected curriculum ensures equity, consistency, and continuity across the district as students grow and develop their computer science competencies.

2. Foster Student Engagement

A successful computer science program begins with getting students excited about the subject and is sustained by engaging students in meaningful learning experiences that maintain their interest. Game-based learning is a particularly effective way to get learners engaged in computer science, as it utilizes fun and motivating challenges to teach educational concepts. Educators can also tie computer science curriculum to other subjects, creating interdisciplinary activities that appeal to students’ interests and proficiency in other subjects. These learning opportunities make computer science approachable and fun, inspiring curiosity and encouraging student engagement.

3. Develop Structured Pathways

To ensure students have access to continuous engagement in computer science education throughout their K-12 journey, it’s important to establish structured pathways that guide students through progressively advanced learning opportunities. Beginning in elementary school, educators can foster students’ interests in STEM subjects and begin teaching foundational skills––like computational thinking––that will support long-term computer science learning. As students progress through middle and high school, they should engage in increasingly more complex computer science topics, focusing on practical applications and exploring potential future careers.

Structured computer science pathways are supported by platforms and curricula like CoderZ that align with national computer science standards and provide scaffolding for learners. A pathway-based learning approach ensures students have clear educational goals, which can be reached through a cohesive curriculum that builds off of prior learning to achieve mastery.

4. Support Educators with Ongoing Professional Development 

Empowering educators is key to building sustainable computer science programs. Well-resourced teachers can confidently deliver computer science instruction while building community within the classroom and beyond.

CoderZ’s cross-disciplinary, standard-aligned professional development ensures educators can leverage the pedagogical features of our curricula, such as embedded scaffolding and differentiation opportunities, while providing a cohesive and collaborative experience in the classroom. With a special focus on new-to-CS educators, our programs provide teachers with the content knowledge and discipline-specific approaches they need to connect their pedagogical expertise to research-based strategies in computer science instruction. As experts in teaching and learning, educators are given space to develop communities of practice that allow for peer support in the local context, building capacity for responsive programs that engage with broader educational initiatives. To promote this long-term growth, CoderZ teachers receive ongoing opportunities for reflection and deepening of their practice.

5. Build Student Resillience

To sustain consistent learner engagement in computer science initiatives, it’s important to foster student resilience. Resilience––the ability to recover and persevere after challenging experiences––is a crucial skill in the field of computer science. When approaching challenges in a computer science environment, failure is inevitable, but the ability to calmly accept failure, brainstorm solutions, and de-bug a program is an essential part of the problem-solving process.

Educators can help students build resilience through low-stakes game-based learning activities, which provide a fun environment for students to practice overcoming obstacles, learning from mistakes, and strategizing to succeed. Providing opportunities for students to build resilience prepares them to successfully navigate the complex challenges presented in computer science curriculum, as well as future careers.

At CoderZ, we believe that every student needs a foundational understanding of computer science concepts to thrive in future careers, life, and learning. The strategies above provide a roadmap for implementing, expanding, and maintaining successful districtwide K-12 computer science programs. Contact us to learn more about how CoderZ can support your district’s computer science initiatives!

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DERRY, NH — December 17, 2024 — The American Consortium for Equity in Education today announced that CoderZ was named a winner of the 2024 Excellence in Equity – Industry Impact Award in the Math, Science, or STEM solution category. The Industry Impact Awards honor the PreK-20 companies, organizations, leaders, and products whose proven results have advanced educational equity and access for learners. Overall, there were 44 winners named in 29 unique categories.

“Congratulations to all the deserving winners of the Industry Impact Awards, and a heartfelt thank you for the work you do to support educators and students,” said Maia Appleby, communications and editorial director for the American Consortium for Equity in Education. “It’s a joy to announce these winners, highlight their meaningful contributions to education, and it will be just as exciting to see what they do next.”

Nominees for the Industry Impact Awards were asked to provide information about their relevant work supporting equity and access, evidence of their impact, testimonials, and supporting materials. This was the third year of the Excellence in Equity Awards and the first year of the dedicated Industry Impact Awards program.

“We are incredibly honored to receive the 2024 Excellence in Equity – Industry Impact Award in the Math, Science, or STEM solution category from the American Consortium for Equity in Education. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to providing equitable access to computer science education for all students.” said Tony Oran, CEO of CoderZ. “At CoderZ, we believe that every student, regardless of their background, deserves the opportunity to explore and excel in STEM fields. We are dedicated to supporting educators with innovative tools and resources that empower the next generation of thinkers and problem solvers. Thank you to all the educators who inspire us every day with their dedication and passion.”

Every nominee, finalist, and winner of the Excellence in Equity Awards has made invaluable contributions to improving opportunity and outcomes for students. Learn more about the winners at https://www.ace-ed.org/awards.

About Intelitek

Intelitek is at the forefront of training for STEM and CTE. With a focus on Kindergarten to Career the company offers CoderZ, a fun and equitable gamified and game-based learning experience to Industry 4.0 education for CTE. For four decades, the company’s innovative learning solutions have provided learners across the globe with the competencies needed for in-demand careers in production. Driven by its pedagogic commitment to students’ career readiness and lifelong learning skills, the company develops state-of-the-art tools and technologies for engineering, manufacturing, automation, and robotics technologies. These technologies, along with Intelitek’s programs, empower instructors and inspire students to pursue careers in cutting-edge businesses. For more information go to: www.intelitek.com.

About the Excellence in Equity Awards

The annual Excellence in Equity Awards program recognizes the companies, nonprofits, leaders, and educators whose work contributes to the critical goal of ensuring access and equity for every learner. Learn more at www.ace-ed.org/awards.

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With that, here are our top five tips for those new-to-computing teachers who are ready to go beyond an hour and bring computer science to their classrooms year-round. 

1. Recognize Your Strengths  

Starting with any new curriculum or subject can be daunting, but the qualities that make a great computer science teacher are the same ones that make a great teacher in general: creating a positive classroom culture, building student engagement, and responsiveness to individual learning needs. While content knowledge is important, what you already know how to do is much more complex or difficult than any programming challenge you will encounter in the classroom. 

2. Find Your Point of Entry 

Computer science is everywhere, and that means it has connections to almost any other subject. Are you interested in storytelling? Art? Music? Geometry? History? Games? No matter where you’re coming from, there are resources out that will help you to connect your passion to computing, and many of these connections are the basis for entire courses. Many self-taught programmers say that they learned because they were interested in making things important to them, keeping them motivated when things got tough. 

3. Leverage Your Expertise

TIPP & SEE? PRIMM? Parson’s Problems? The jargon of computer science pedagogy can seem as foreign as the jargon of the discipline itself, but many of the pedagogical strategies you see in computing classrooms have parallels to strategies teachers are already familiar with. The techniques you use to help students plan, draft, and edit a piece of writing can be tweaked to support them as they explore computer programs, and many of the inquiry-based methods are pulled directly from science education. In fact, you might respond to the latest research in computing pedagogies with the same comment we got from a veteran educator: “Well, that’s just good teaching!” 

4. Join a community

You don’t have to do this alone. There are plenty of teachers excited to hear about your experiences and share their own, many with years in the computer science classroom (and many more just starting out). The Computer Science Teachers Association is an excellent place to begin, with professional development opportunities, virtual and in-person events, and local chapters that provide supportive communities. Elementary educators may also find link-minded educators at ISTE and its local affiliates, and most social media platforms have active CS education groups. 

5. Go Easy on Yourself

As all teachers know, learning new things can be hard. When coding gets frustrating, or a new concept just isn’t coming together the way that you’d like it to, try to give yourself the same grace you’d give your students, step back, and remember that productive struggle is totally fine, and it doesn’t mean that anything is ‘wrong’. There’s a whole community of educators who have your back, and as professional educators, you are the best positioned people to bring computing education to our young learners. You’ve got this! 

CoderZ is the perfect computer science platform for seasoned and new-to-computer science teachers. Check out our recent webinar featuring educators from Dallas ISD who are in their first-year pilot of using CoderZ for their middle school coding and robotics courses. They love it, and we know you will too!  

The post Empowering Teachers: Going Beyond an Hour in Computer Science Education appeared first on CoderZ.

“We’re delighted to have the opportunity to work with Dallas ISD in supporting their expanding STEM certification programs,” said Tony Oran, CEO of Intelitek. “For the past year, our CoderZ team has been working to build new courses that are specifically aligned to the new TEKS for Technology Applications, so we’re now well prepared to help Texas educators meet those standards.”

The CoderZ platform provides a research-based, pedagogically-advanced approach to teaching STEM and computer science for grades 3-12. The program develops core knowledge in coding, physics, geometry, literacy, and algebra as well as critical life skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and grit. Any teacher, even those without subject area expertise, can integrate CoderZ’s scaffolded and standards-aligned curriculum into instruction.

Ongoing support and professional development aligned to the standards of the CSTA and NGSS make it even easier for teachers to successfully cover CoderZ’s learning material. Educators are guided through the concepts of teaching computer science and computational thinking as they build their confidence in working with the CoderZ platform.

RoboX is an advanced and intuitive platform for programming and operating robotic workcells. Aligned with Intelitek’s Industrial Robotics certifications, the platform features realistic robot kinematics for a thorough learning experience and allows students to explore career options such as engineering, robotic operations, or robotic programming.

The RoboX curriculum delivers fun and interactive game-based learning that can be student-paced, or instructor led. The online application is scalable and scaffolded so that it can accommodate any number of students at all levels of experience. The RoboX web-based environment offers students the flexibility to work in the classroom, in the lab, or from home. Educators can opt to pair the solution with physical robots or use it alone.

Since not all educators who teach industrial robotics are robotics experts, RoboX helps build their knowledge and competencies through professional development resources and robust teacher support such as instructional videos. The platform helps educators monitor student progress through quizzes, grading, assessment tools, and detailed reports at the district, school, instructor, and student levels. The platform also facilitates comprehensive class management, including integration with rostering.

“CoderZ and RoboX are both complete solutions, containing curriculum, engaging virtual applications and teacher resources,” said Oran. “Together they provide a complete and cohesive learning pathway that prepares students in robotics, engineering, and industry and enables them to be informed citizens in a technology-driven world.”

Dallas ISD administrators and educators can learn more by visiting: https://biz.gocoderz.com/coderzfortexas.

About Intelitek

Intelitek is at the forefront of training for STEM and CTE. With a focus on Kindergarten to Career the company offers CoderZ, a fun and equitable gamified and game-based learning experience to Industry 4.0 education for CTE. For four decades, the company’s innovative learning solutions have provided learners across the globe with the competencies needed for in-demand careers in production. Driven by its pedagogic commitment to students’ career readiness and lifelong learning skills, the company develops state-of-the-art tools and technologies for engineering, manufacturing, automation, and robotics technologies. These technologies, along with Intelitek’s programs, empower instructors and inspire students to pursue careers in cutting-edge businesses. For more information go to: www.intelitek.com

The post Dallas ISD Approves CoderZ and RoboX For Pre-engineering and Robotics Certification Programs appeared first on CoderZ.

In an era where AI is transforming software engineering, many are beginning to wonder what the future holds for technology, computer science, and coding careers. Will programming become obsolete in the years to come? More importantly, how can we equip students with the essential skills of tomorrow to ensure they remain competitive and capable in an increasingly technology-driven world.  

While AI might change the day-to-day tasks of computer scientists, programmers, and robotics engineers, it’s not going to make these jobs irrelevant. Understanding how to code allows individuals to create, manage, and improve AI systems, ensuring they function optimally and ethically. Moreover, coding skills are crucial for troubleshooting and customizing AI applications, integrating AI into various software applications, and advancing AI technologies. 

Coding is no longer just a skill for aspiring software developers; it’s an essential literacy in our digital world. From enhancing problem-solving abilities to fostering creativity and innovation, early exposure to coding equips children with the tools they need to thrive in a technology-driven future. By learning to code, young students not only gain a deeper understanding of how technology works but also develop critical thinking skills and the confidence to tackle complex challenges. Here’s why integrating coding into early education is more crucial than ever: 

Coding Enhances Creativity and Problem-Solving Skills 

Coding fosters creativity and innovative thinking in a way that few other disciplines can. When individuals learn to code, they are not just learning to follow instructions but also how to create something new, how to solve a problem in a unique or different way, and how to imagine new possibilities. While AI can automate many repetitive and mundane tasks, it cannot replicate the creative problem-solving and complex system design that human engineers excel at. AI lacks the ability to think outside the box, understand context in a nuanced way, and make intuitive leaps that are often necessary in the creative process. Human coders bring a unique perspective and creativity to their work that AI cannot match. 

Regardless of how advanced AI becomes, human intelligence and creativity will remain an essential aspect of creating solutions that solve real human problems.  

The Emergence of AI Requires Students to Understand Basic Computer Science Concepts 

The tech landscape is dynamic, with new tools and languages introduced into our lives every day. Learning to code early helps students develop a strong foundation in critical thinking, algorithm design, and adaptability, skills that are indispensable as technology evolves​ (TechRadar)​. When faced with a bug in their code, programmers learn to break down the problem, analyze it from different angles, and iteratively test solutions until they find one that works. This methodical approach to problem-solving is invaluable and can be applied to a wide range of challenges in both personal and professional contexts. 

Coding is not just about writing lines of code; it’s about developing a mindset that embraces innovation and continuous improvement. This mindset is crucial in navigating the complex technological landscape of the future. 

Coders are Needed to Think Through Ethical and Human-Centric Design 

AI can assist with technical tasks, but ethical considerations, user experience, and empathy-driven design require human intelligence and creativity. Teaching coding in K12 helps students understand the broader impact of technology on society and prepares them to address these crucial aspects in their future careers​​. At CoderZ, we offer opportunities in our award-winning curriculum for students to think through accessible design as well as ethical and human-centric design.  

Computer Science in Education Prepares Students with Critical 21^st Century Skills like Collaboration and Communication 

Coding education promotes teamwork and communication, essential skills for any profession. Software engineers often work in cross-functional teams, and early exposure to coding can enhance these collaborative abilities​. Learn more abut how gamified learning is a dynamic way to teach social-emotional learning.  

Adapting to AI’s Role

While AI is not a new concept and has been changing our lives for a long time, the new buzz around AI is a major focus. As AI continues to evolve, understanding its principles and applications is crucial. Early coding education can include aspects of AI and machine learning, preparing students to leverage these technologies effectively rather than being replaced by them​ (Built In)​​ (TechRadar)​. 

Learning important skills in coding, computer science and STEM is still the way of the future, but AI could change the way we approach how we teach AI and utilize AI in education. Let’s prepare our students for a future where they can use AI as a powerful tool, not just be passive users.  

If you would like to learn more about how CoderZ can help your school or district scale and standardize a sustainable computer science program that meets the needs of all studenst, connect with us today. We’d love to learn more about your needs and see if we can be of help.  

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Coding is a valuable skill that prepares students for a wide range of future professions and endeavors. In a technology-driven world, learning programming languages is as important as learning English or math.

The importance of coding is further amplified for students who decide to engage in career and technical education (CTE) programs, as programming is a key proficiency required for many technical professions.

By implementing a comprehensive coding curriculum––starting in elementary school and continuing through high school––schools can equip students with essential skills and enhance CTE, often before students even take their first technical education course.

The Importance Of Computer Science Education

Computer science education has expanded significantly over the past decade, but disparities in access persist. According to code.org, nearly 58% of public high schools and an estimated 45% of public middle schools offer foundational computer science courses. Only seven states collect data on computer science education at the elementary school level, and only 36% of elementary schools in these states teach foundational computer science.

Computer science has become an essential skill set, making It crucial for schools to implement curriculum that supports the development of these skills. Through computer science education, students develop their problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration skills.

Students also are able to establish logic, scientific thinking, and computational thinking abilities, which can enhance their achievement in other STEM subjects. This impacts student success across their academic experience: Research has revealed that the average STEM student academically outperforms approximately 70% of their same-age, same-grade peers not participating in STEM programming.

Furthermore, computer science education is the key to so many STEM and technical careers. Computer science curriculum equips students with widely applicable knowledge and competencies. These valuable and marketable skills can prepare students for CTE programs, college, and careers.

Coding As A Gateway To CTE

As a dominant part of computer science education, coding can become a gateway into CTE programs. Engagement in coding curriculum can lead to a deeper interest in technology and related fields, guiding students toward CTE programs and technical careers they may not have considered otherwise. This provides students with a pathway to turn their strengths and passions into reliable career opportunities.

Additionally, coding teaches students skills that are applicable in many technical careers. When presented with the opportunity to participate in CTE, students with coding skills are already equipped with a strong foundation for success. These students are more likely to feel confident enrolling in CTE courses, knowing they have already experienced achievement in their coding courses.

From Kindergarten To Career

Coding empowers students to bring their ideas to life. As early as they can understand language, children can begin exploring technology with an emphasis on coding concepts, developing computational thinking and sparking interests in STEM.

A comprehensive coding curriculum ensures learners are building critical thinking and problem-solving skills throughout elementary school. With a firm understanding of the fundamentals, students can then begin applying their skills to explore coding in a hands-on environment.

CoderZ provides schools, clubs, and individuals with a comprehensive coding curriculum that includes all of the tools and resources needed to empower students in computer science. Through fun and engaging coding courses, students discover how coding and robotics impact real-world problems.

It is the intersection between this real-world problem-solving and a passion for coding that draws many students to CTE programs. Coding skills are in high demand across numerous industries, including manufacturing, automation, and robotics. While a comprehensive coding curriculum can introduce students to these possible careers, CTE provides the real-world knowledge and training students need to acquire and perform technical jobs.

Ultimately, coding is a valuable tool that benefits students throughout their education and into their careers. A comprehensive coding curriculum enhances students’ technical creativity and innovation, preparing them to solve complex challenges. For learners who choose to pursue a technical education, these are invaluable skills which enhance CTE and can be the key to success in technical careers.

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