Empowering Educators

A Deep Dive into Our St. Joseph County Fall Training Sessions

As we reflect on the fall season, we are thrilled to share the success of our recent training sessions for local educators. This fall, we had the privilege of working with eight dedicated educators, and we are excited to continue this journey, with the goal of reaching 30 educators by the end of 2024! 🎉

Our training sessions cater to both elementary and middle school educators, recognizing the unique needs of different age groups. The focus is on popular coding tools like Scratch and Code.org, ensuring that educators not only understand these platforms but can effectively incorporate them into their teaching methodologies.

Making Coding Cross-Curricular

Teachers shared that one of the most impactful aspects of our training was the guidance on making coding cross-curricular. Understanding the demands teachers face, particularly with the emphasis on language arts and math for state standardized tests, we provide valuable resources on seamlessly integrating coding into existing subjects. This not only makes learning enjoyable for students but also enhances learning without consuming precious class time, adding variety to the curriculum 🧑‍🏫.

Simplifying Expectations

Initially, educators hesitated, thinking they needed to teach coding daily for at least 30 minutes to be effective. Our training clarifies that educators don’t need to teach coding every day for it to be impactful. We empower them to infuse coding into existing lesson plans and offer breakout activities that students can engage in a few times throughout the school year. This approach ensures a smooth and enjoyable incorporation of coding into the learning experience.

Diverse Applications of Training

We are delighted to see educators taking the training in various directions to suit the needs of their schools. For example, Navarre Middle School is harnessing the knowledge gained to create an after-school coding program, providing students with an opportunity to explore coding beyond regular class hours. Other schools are integrating coding into their regular curriculum.

We also saw a mix of educators, from classroom teachers to librarians, showcasing the dynamic ways schools can harness the collective strengths of their staff members. What’s particularly cool about this diversity is the realization that you don’t have to be a classroom teacher exclusively to bring coding to your school effectively. One of South Bend Code School’s standout success stories features a librarian and media specialist who not only embraced coding herself but also spearheaded its introduction in her school. This diversity in roles enriches the learning landscape.

It’s important to note that these training sessions are entirely free. We come to your school and encourage educators to join as teams, fostering a collaborative learning environment. The three-hour training is designed to be insightful, impactful, and, above all, practical for immediate implementation.

As we move forward, we invite more educators to join us on this exciting journey! Together, let’s transform education and prepare our students for the digital future.

South Bend Code School is an award-winning program founded in 2015 to combat the technology skills gap at the earliest level by reforming technology education and making learning skills in coding and computer science equitable. Since our inception, we have provided computer science education to over 1,300 students through after-school programs as well as program and school partnerships. For more information, email info@southbendcodeschool.com.