iPads, MakerEd and More in Education

While computer science (CS) and computational thinking (CT) have received increasing attention over the past decade, CT integration in early learning settings is an emerging area of focus. Our National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded project, a collaboration with SRI International, Edfinity, and Curious Media, aimed to identify CT skills aligned with the abilities and interests of preschool children (age 3-5 years). The project looked at how those skills could be integrated in common preschool and home STEM learning experiences in mutually supportive ways.

Over the last few years coding has exploded in the educational field, and where we once only saw coding occurring during computer science classes for the intermediate grades or high-schools, has now become mainstream with our younger learners.
Coding has been around since the invention of the computer, so what sparked this change?

I reached out to Tereza Salerno after seeing a tweet online. Tereza had mentioned she tried coding this week with her class. Curious, I sent her an email asking for more information. Have a read through of our conversation below. My biggest take away is the sense of accomplishment her students felt. Amazing!