In this episode of 1.001 Dents, we explore how educators are teaching coding, even without a background in computer science. Our guests, Bram van Mil and Ale Suizzo share their experiences of fostering creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration among their students through coding projects.
Episode Highlights:
Bram's Journey into Coding:
- Bram describes the structure of workshop time at his school, where students choose activities based on their interests. Initially planning to use Keynote for app design, he was prompted by his students' desire to create real apps to explore Swift Playgrounds. Bram highlights the learning curve for both him and his students, emphasizing the collaborative learning process and the importance of embracing errors as learning opportunities.
Ale's Creative Approach to Literature and Coding:
- Ale shares his journey of incorporating coding into literature and history lessons, focusing on making Dante's Divine Comedy engaging through coding projects. By using Swift Playgrounds and other apps, Ale's students created interactive experiences that brought the literary work to life.
- You can download his student’s app here. https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/la-commedia/id6451362356?l=en-GB
Challenges and Successes:
- Both educators discuss the challenges of teaching coding without a prior background, including navigating new technologies and managing diverse student projects. They share their successes, highlighting how coding projects have enhanced students' creativity, problem-solving skills, and engagement with the curriculum.
Student-Led Learning:
- The episode emphasizes the importance of student-led learning, with Bram and Ale providing guidance and resources while allowing students to explore, experiment, and learn from their initiatives. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and confidence among students, encouraging them to pursue their interests and solve problems creatively.
