Coding for Smiles
Operation Code Happiness matches elementary students with district leaders
By My Nguyen
At Keith Elementary School in West Bloomfield, Michigan, kindergarten and third-grade students have been meeting once a week to develop their writing skills.
Paired by their teachers, the students use their combined creativity and critical-thinking skills to complete collaborative assignments. However, the students are not composing short stories, essays, reports, or poetry.
Instead, they are creating colorful, dynamic projects using the online programming platform, Scratch.
Last December, kindergarten teacher Juliann Snavely and third-grade teacher Angela Colasanti joined forces in the spirit of computational thinking.
Although their kindergarten and third-grade classes had been paired for several years as “Reading Buddies,” Juliann and Angela wanted to introduce their students to another kind of language — programming.
Time set aside each week for “Reading Buddies” naturally morphed into “Coding Buddies.” During each session, the teachers observed their students approach their work and engage one another in new, exciting ways.
Fueled by their students’ enthusiasm, they then formed Operation Code Happiness, a project that matches elementary school students with district leaders and connects them through coding.
The Scratch Foundation recently spoke to long-time colleagues and collaborators Angela and Juliann to learn more about the project.
Tell us about Coding Buddies program.
Juliann Snavely: The Coding Buddies Program is a way for a third-grade student to collaborate weekly with a Kindergarten student. Together, the partners work creatively on coding projects. Each third grader is able to mentor their kindergarten partner. The kindergartner, meanwhile, is able to complete tasks and work beyond their capabilities due to their partner’s support. Working together, we hope to encourage the students’ growth mindset and resilience in the face of problem solving. In addition, it is our goal to build and nurture students’ creative confidence and computational thinking beginning in Kindergarten.
Angela Colasanti: Our Coding Buddies program grew out of our curiosity to try coding with our students after Juliann was exposed to the importance of coding after visiting family in San Francisco. Although initially we couldn’t find much information online in terms of a curriculum for coding at the elementary level, Juliann and I became committed to the idea of teaching our students to code after exposing them to the concept with “Hour of Code” activities. The excitement in the room was palpable as the kids raced from friend to friend to see what they were doing, and then back to their own computer to try something new.
Tell us about Operation Code Happiness.
J: Operation Code Happiness began because Angie and I noticed that the students were more engaged in their coding projects when they felt there was a real-life application and audience.
As a result, we developed a project in which a third-grade student could write a letter of introduction attached to a unique 7-question survey to be sent via Google Forms to members of our school district’s leadership. For example, the third graders reached out to our superintendent, principals, director of technology, etc. After our district leaders, or VIP’s, completed their surveys, the responses were sent directly back to the third-grade student. Each third grade student then shared the responses with their kindergarten Coding Buddy. The buddies worked collaboratively in three or four sessions to design a project in Scratch that contained elements that would make their VIP smile with happiness.
Once the projects are complete in May, we are inviting our VIPs for a Coders Showcase. During the Showcase, the Coding Buddies will have an opportunity to share their design with their VIP as well as discuss and answer questions pertaining to the work they have done with Scratch and coding this school year.
How did you get started?
J: Angie and I have taught at Keith Elementary in the Walled Lake Consolidated School District for at least 15 years together. In addition, from 2009–2013, we were our school’s Professional Learning Communities (PLC) Co-Chairs. Throughout this time and beyond, Angie and I have collaborated to plan professional development nights for our staff as well as for state-wide school improvement conferences. Therefore, in the fall of 2014 when I decided that I wanted to begin a coding club at school, I easily shared my opinions, ideas, and vision regarding coding with Angie. Angie, being one to value best practice, quickly became interested. Together, we spent the fall collaborating on ways to make a Coding Club work at school.
After some thought, we determined that we should begin coding with our own students before we jump into planning a club. Our students were already paired together as Reading Buddies, so one December day, we decided to have our students complete the “Hour of Code” together. The students were enthusiastic, engaged and working collaboratively. Therefore, due to their immediate interest, instead of isolated reading and writing activities, Angie and I began to plan weekly coding projects for our buddies to work on together.
A: What we were searching for was a real-life application for them to apply their new coding skills in a way that was not only personally meaningful, but also affected the lives of others.
Operation Code Happiness arose out of brainstorming ideas for something that would fulfill that criteria. The project also incorporated letter writing and survey writing, using Google documents and Google forms. Just the idea of sharing their work via Google Drive/email was empowering for the kids, and they anxiously awaited the responses so that they could begin coding.
What was your background in coding prior to this project?
J: Prior, to this project, I did not have any experience with coding or computer science. My background is in education with a major in math. In high school and college, I was not required to complete any computer science courses to meet my graduation requirements.
My interest in coding began in the spring of 2014 after a trip to San Francisco to visit family. In San Francisco, I felt a creative energy and noticed how the city embraced innovation and the power to problem solve. I wanted to bring this creative energy and culture of innovation home with me to Detroit to be shared with my son. I soon came to realize that coding was the foundation of this innovation and creativity. I spent some time researching coding with kids. The articles I read clearly supported my thinking that kids needed be learning computer science skills as early as kindergarten. I also soon discovered that there are many free apps and programs that one can access in order to begin coding. At this point, I am learning to code right along with my students.
A: I don’t have any background in coding. I’ve just been having fun learning along with the kids.
Why did you decide to use Scratch for Operation Code Happiness?
A: We decided to use Scratch because of the variety of projects that expose kids to different elements and styles.
Our students had explored the different activities within “Hour of Code,” and they were working their way through code.org’s 20-hour “Intro to Computer Science course.” We found the Scratch website and started introducing the kids to the different projects. We alternated the projects with the 20-hour course to help keep the kids inspired and engaged. We felt we had a system for progress monitoring with the 20-hour course, and we had the Scratch curriculum of projects for level management and lesson differentiation.
The kids love to be able to just create and go at their own pace which allows them to learn in leaps and bounds. They immediately become both learners and teachers, owning their learning as they strive to code bigger and better projects that incorporate new and different elements.
Why do you think Scratch resonates with young children?
A: Scratch resonates with young children because of their natural intrinsic motivation to create. It is a fun, engaging platform that allows students to achieve success in baby steps or giant leaps. It’s very comfortable for kids because they feel very accomplished no matter their level of expertise.
J: Scratch seems to be a doorway to creativity and thus, resonates with young children. Upon moving the first block, their mental image becomes a reality. As their mental image becomes a reality, the students’ confidence in their ability to code immediately grows. No two projects ever look the same. Scratch can be successfully utilized by students with varying abilities in coding. Scratch is easy to understand and students are able to work at their own pace.
Why are coding projects like this important in your community?
A: It is very important to expose kids to coding with projects like this because it shows them — especially girls — that coding is not just for technical engineering purposes. They begin to understand that coding is a crucial life skill that can help them literally change the world.
In the case of Project Code Happiness, they have changed the lives of their VIP’s by coding a creation that will bring them joy. Our project has also served to expose our school district’s leaders and curriculum and instruction decision-makers to the importance of coding. We hope that they will see that coding is not something to be afraid of. It is not hard. It is as essential in our students’ lives as any of the subject areas we teach each day.
J: For success in the 21st century, coding is an essential skill. Currently, in our community, students are consumers of technology. As educators, we need to help students see themselves as producers of technology. Through coding projects like ours, we can foster our students’ ability to think, create, and ask questions that they want answered.
What plans do you have for Operation Code Happiness next year?
J: The Operation Code Happiness project gives our students a real life purpose for coding and shows that they can improve the lives of others through coding. We want our students to understand that coding is a creative skill not purely a computational technical skill. Next year, we hope to expand Operation Code Happiness. We would like to support our troops at home and abroad by reaching out and creating a project with code that will make every member of the military smile with happiness.
A: We plan to continue our work with coding and to add to our repertoire of projects that will inspire and engage our students in the world of coding. Our goal is to share a love of coding with our students and set them up with personal login codes for websites like Scratch so that they can continue to improve their coding skills, even after leaving our class.
What advice do you have for teachers who’d like to begin a coding program at their schools?
J: For a teacher who would like to begin a coding program at their school, I would advise them simply to begin! Don’t make the mistake of overthinking timelines or let what if’s and obstacles stand in your way. Start small and be reasonable in your expectations.
In addition, reach out to other educators and computer science experts in your community or online who are advocating and interested in coding. Build a network of support for yourself! Finally, remember that you do not have to have a master’s degree in computer science to code. Have fun and learn along with your students.
A: Just begin. Don’t overthink it. Don’t worry about having a structured plan or unit. Let the kids take the lead and celebrate what they create. Learn together. It’s potentially the most important thing you will teach them.
My Nguyen is Communications Specialist for the Scratch Foundation.
