The Latest From Code Savvy

Our newsletters highlight a variety of people, organizations, and resources that are doing work to broaden participation and expand equitable and engaging computer science and STEM opportunities. We are honored to work in this space along with so many talented and passionate individuals and want to help bring attention to their work.

Reflection – #DaunteWright #BlackLivesMatter

The Code Savvy organization would like to express our grief and outrage at the killing of Daunte Wright that took place Sunday in Brooklyn Center. Brooklyn Center is among the communities our Code Savvy programs serve as part of our mission to promote equitable access to Computer Science to all children in Minnesota. As an equity-focused community organization, Code Savvy denounces racism and oppression in all forms. It is therefore with solidarity, that we offer our heartfelt condolences to Daunte Wright’s family, friends, and everyone impacted.

If you would like to support the family and the community you can contribute to the family’s gofundme and any of these Brooklyn Center community services.

This week’s spotlight and project-inspiration theme is: April is Poetry Month!

This week’s focus is “Connections between Poetry and Programming”

April is “Poetry Month”. We won’t be spending the entire month focusing on poetry, however we did want to take a week to explore the connections between poetry and programming. While they may seem different at first, the two share many foundational components. Read on to find out more!

This week’s focus is “Connections between Poetry and Programming”

April is “Poetry Month,” when many students in schools focus on poetry. Students may practice skills such as structure of different types of poems, choosing intentional words, and using proper punctuation. While it may not seem that programming a computer and writing a poem are similar, they actually have quite a bit in common!

There have been papers and articles written about the connections between writing and programming, with a consensus that strong writing skills help develop strong programming skills. Both writers and programmers have to take abstract ideas and translate them through written language. Both tasks require following rules and structures in order to communicate effectively. Strong programming and strong writing also both require an artistic, creative mindset to be successful.

There is even much to be said about writing strong code so that other human programmers can understand it as well, not just a computer! Programming often happens in collaborative teams with teammates helping one another find bugs, think of ways to accomplish goals more efficiently, and tackle new problems together. If other people can’t understand the code, it is difficult to work together. That is why strong writing skills can help develop strong programmers. This month for poetry month, we encourage you to help students to see their code from a more creative and artistic point of view in order to be the best programmer they can be!

As you are practicing your own coding skills, you could try a fun project that connects coding and poetry, such as this Poetry Generator from the Raspberry Pi team. Or you could use Scratch to use animation to bring your favorite poem to life. Be sure to share whatever you come up with!

share your CS to Go projects!

How to Share: We invite CS to Go with Code Savvy participants to consider sharing your projects publicly with the Code Savvy and greater #MNCodes community via video with Flipgrid. We can’t wait to see what you create! Please be sure to follow online safety guidelines and get adult permission before sharing. You can find our Privacy Policy here.

Catch Up on Past Weeks’ CS to Go and Bytes of Inspiration Videos

CS to Go and Bytes of Inspiration with Code Savvy are our response to the current health crisis — Code Savvy’s programs have come together to share weekly youth- and educator-centered videos that focus on creating new things with computer science. You can find all CS to Go and Bytes of Inspiration videos under Distance Learning on our website!

Other Happenings

Code Savvy’s MNCodes Educator Training Program and Opportunities

Scholarships Available for CSTA 2021

Each summer the Computer Science Teacher’s Association hosts a large nation-wide conference. This year will be virtual, and CSTA is offering scholarships that subsidize 100% of the program cost to support teachers whose limited financial resources may prevent them from attending. Learn more about our scholarship opportunity and apply by April 30. Read more about scholarships here.

CS Integration Curriculum Showcase

As part of the MNCodes Cohort, educators are asked to create lessons that integrate computer science with another curricular content area such as literacy, math, science, or others, and align to both CSTA and MN Academic Standards. We will use this space to regularly showcase various curriculum resources that have been created by current or former MNCodes Cohort members.

Creative Storytelling with Scratch

Looking for other ways to connect literacy skills to coding? This project uses Scratch to make connections to creative storytelling, connecting skills such as characters, dialogue, setting, and plot. Check out the lesson resources here. To see other projects that integrate CS into core content areas, you can browse our database on the MNCodes website.

Coffee + CS Ed Zoom Call

Looking for more ways to connect with other educators interested in CS Ed? Or do you have ideas to share, questions or want to try out a resource in the company of other K12 CS Educators? Check out Coffee + CSEd Chats – every Friday at 8am, CT. Anyone is welcome to join! Details and Zoom info can be found here.

Code Savvy Summer Camps

We are offering two in-person summer half-day programming camps for kids ages 11-13 at The Works Museum. In these camps, kids can learn the fundamentals of coding, including topics like app development, website construction, coding languages, and much more.

Beginning Thunkable – Learn to make mobile apps with Thunkable using drag and drop code blocks! You will create a variety of apps using components like translator and image recognizer, and put together clicking games such as space invaders!
Website Design – Learn how to construct a website using HTML, styling it with CSS, and making it interactive using Javascript. You will leave the class with published web pages!

Visit https://codesavvy.org/code-camps/ for more information.

CoderDojos

Our winter/spring schedule is now available here. Our next virtual event is this Saturday, April 24! – Register Here. Hope to see many of you there. Sign up for email notices – CodeDojoTC and Rebecca CoderDojo.

IT Connect Connect Community announces “A Gal’s Guide to the Galaxy” – The Ultimate Guide for Women in STEM. Minnesota Aspirations in Computing – SPARCS program leader Katie Hendriksen has assembled an amazing cast of STEM characters who are presenting on a wide range of STEM topics. Get registered now….then invite some friends and schoolmates to join you. It’ll be a BLAST!

MN Cup Applications Close this Friday

Minnesota Cup (MN Cup) is kicking off its 17th season! Applications for the 2021 competition are open from March 15 – April 16. MN Cup connects current and aspiring Minnesota entrepreneurs to education, mentorship, seed capital, and the broader community.

Find out more and apply here!

Best Prep Summer Offers 2021 Minnesota Business Venture Camp

Minnesota Business Venture – MBV is a virtual four-day business and career development summer camp that brings together students in grades 9-12 to learn business, leadership, and financial literacy skills.

This is a great opportunity to network with students from across the country, hear from business owners, build skills needed for your resume and future job, learn information you’ll need for college applications, and help you learn about the career you’d like in the future.

Visit https://bestprep.org/minnesota-business-venture/ for more information.

More Code Savvy

About Code Savvy

Code Savvy empowers youth and educators with the knowledge, skills, and support to create with technology while interrupting and counteracting gender, racial, and socioeconomic gaps in computing. We create opportunities for hands-on computer science learning that inspires learners to transform the future.

Visit our website to learn more →