What I Learned About the Hour of Code

This is not a perfect post. I'm not sure if it will ever be a perfect post, but it something that has been swimming around my head for the past week, because I guess I'm still trying to process it. So, it is just a post. It won't be eloquent, there might not be a conclusion (sorry ELA teacher friends), maybe it's best to qualify it as an observation and insight.

I had the honor of being invited to kick off Computer Science Education Week (#CSEdWeek) at the flagship Microsoft Store in NYC. The event was wonderful, and I was privileged to be part of a panel that included Hadi Partovi, Emily Reid, and my friend, Chris Aviles.

In just 3 years, the Hour of Code and the resulting movement to teach CS in schools, has become mainstream. It was incredible to see all the blog posts, and social media posts depicting kids (A LOT of them) and adults, thrilled about learning coding. I still have some #latergram pictures to share (everything's a #slowchat for me).

After the main HOC event last week, I had the opportunity to lead the Minecraft Hour of Code tutorial to a group of high school kids from Brooklyn. I assumed they had heard of HOC. They had no idea what I was talking about. I assumed they would be proficient working on the Surfaces. They were for the most part able to use the touchpad, and their minds were blown that the Surface had a touchscreen. In my world, EVERYONE has played, or at least heard of Minecraft. I don't think either was the case for these kids.

After the hour, there were a handful of kids that got it, and loved the experience, while many others didn't, and I'm not sure that they even got why they were having the experience. I did some research afterwards, to learn that the school is a low performing school, having been closed and reopened by the city. It made me wonder about all the things I (we) take for granted: access to technology, being connected, how to motivate students.

I'm still processing, but the experience definitely opened my eyes to why so many educators are leading campaigns to spearhead digital equity. I just didn't get it until last week.

'Tis the Season

Without fail, October to December flies by with holidays every four weeks, then every week in December plus birthdays... Needless to say it's crazy. Crazy before, crazier with a December baby, who's not such a baby anymore, and I'll let you imagine what it's like when you add a commute into the city (that would be the city in NY for all the non-East coasters) to the mix.

Getting older has finally put me in tune with how I'm feeling, and maybe going/staying Whole30 has too. I have learned that I am someone who cannot work without a deadline. Can't cross things off the list until I absolutely have to, kind of deadlines. I work best under pressure, and just flail about in the days leading up to it. This week, I needed to prepare for Hour of Code things. I had to think about how to list the kids, what kind of passwords to give them, yadda yadda yadda. Needless to say, it's not done. Lots of distractions, noisy work space. You name it, it's been thrown my way this week.

*This was last week. I am finally feeling comfortable enough to post it.

Being Intentional

I am really good at making excuses. I shouldn't be surprised that one (maybe both) of my kids are too. If I don't want to do something, consciously, or subconsciously, I won't. Don't get me wrong, I'm really good at getting things done, but things get in my way, and it takes a bit to figure it out.

Take for example, this letter to staff that I've been working on. This is a prime example of "progress, not perfection". I can't get the wording right, so I'm holding back. It's been days that I've been working on it, and when I looked at what I had- it was shameful. Waste of time procrastinating. Am I not being intentional? Maybe. 

Learning the commute, Day 2

Having a plan is a good thing. Last night, I made note of some things I could accomplish on the computer sans wifi. I worked on a spreadsheet to upload to Google Calendar, and did the CST #BFC530. I think I was putting my tech away for MST (sorry @TyrnaD), and by the time I realized it was time to chat, I was already on the platform waiting for the E (no service). Subway rides are going to be used for blogging (just have to remember to post, AND save, but really SAVE, and post).

I REALLY need to be better about not keeping summer hours. It kills me because I work so much better at night, and there's so much to do. 

Learning the commute

I am ridiculously excited to commute to work. Kind of like a kid-FINALLY commuting to NYC like a big girl! ;) but not without concerns. Cost, timing, getting out of the house earlier than I have in 20+ years. Thank goodness for +SteveIsaacs

Things I love: having the time on the train. While there isn't wifi on the train yet (only select stations), I can use my phone when above ground for the Internet. I'll work on blog posts (yeah, right), read AM New York/Time Out NY, or sleep when there isn't any service.

Things I need:

Commute Cam. I would make my YouTube millions on this first commute alone. 

Things I need to learn:

Blog posts don't save when you're underground. Copy and paste to Google Drive or Pages before closing out Blogger.

Taking Notes on Conference Slides

I am having an awesome summer! Usually I'm in Paradise this time of year, but I just attended my third workshop/conference/convening in 3 weeks, and I'm so excited about everything I'm learning, and the incredible connections I've been making! Yay! #nerdy

So I've been trying my best to tweet during sessions, and typically, I take a picture of the presenter' s slide and tweet it out. This week (maybe last week too), I had a little revelation. I must say that I am LOVING, and SO appreciate, presenters that outright share their slides. #nomorehandouts

What I did:

Google Slides- Presenter shares view only version of Slides. Make a copy. Take notes on those slides. Tweet the URL of the slide that you normally would have taken a picture of. Remember to change the share settings of your copy of the slides.

Make a Copy

REMEMBER TO SHARE! That lock, not shared.

Powerpoint- Upload Powerpoint to Google Drive. Open with Google Slides. Take notes in Slides. Tweet the URL of the slide that you normally would have taken a picture of. Remember to change the share settings of your copy of the slides.

Open with Google Slides

#GoMe! #ibloggedtoday

My Adventures in Minecraft- Day 3

More than 48 hours has passed without any game play, but a decent amount of thinking, mainly, "Where is this iron that I need to get my next achievement, and more importantly, get me to the DIAMONDS!".

I tried to ask @leilaboo215, but she plays in creative mode, so resources are always available. I also wanted to play on my iPhone, but learned it is a local game for iPhone.

The Minecraft wiki says that iron can be found in bedrock slightly above sea level (layers 1-63).1 Is this how you would make a superscript? Do I need to cite this?

Today my goal was to find iron ore. Before starting, I figured out what I needed- an iron pickaxe, if it was mined with anything else (like the wood pickaxe), nothing will drop. When I started the game, I noticed there was already 1 block of iron ore in my inventory- How did that get there? I spent a LONG time looking for that last week! Within minutes, I was attacked by a creeper, and respawned with nothing. :(

So I had to start over. I was not pleased with this, and spent a lot of time thinking about whether there was a cheat to respawn back to... a minute before getting attacked. I couldn't help but think, "I don't have time to start from the BEGINNING!" But start from the beginning I did. I actually learned and accomplished a lot today (in Minecraft, not in real life).

-I had to re-mine all my resources. I learned that things that you store in chests will stay put, as long as you remember where you put them.

-I cooked and ate a steak today (raw meat+heat source in the furnace= steak). Hold right click with the steak selected to eat it (1 steak refuels four hunger).

-You cannot attack a monster with a steak, but the scroll wheel makes it easy to select a sword (two stone+stick, vertically aligned- position is everything)

-When you're frustrated, all the blocks look the same.

-I was able to tell the difference between an acacia tree and an oak tree (different bark and height)

-The desert is vast and boring

-Grateful that I tried to mine something in a sand structure on my way to the desert. It was a useful landmark on my way back.

-I found my way back to my "camp" in the savannah!

-Crafted some signs (learned this at #ISTE2015 in the Minecraft and STEM session hosted by Microsoft)

-Signs are posted based on the angle you are facing. My OCD kicked in and I had to adjust the signs that I placed.

-I stored stuff I didn't know what to do with in the chests. Now that I'm thinking about it, I should have stored some things that I've already crafted, so if I do have to respawn, I don't have to recraft all my tools.

-I crafted a REALLY tall beacon (not fancy) at the top of my area (?), base camp (?), to help me find my things. I'll find out what it's really called

-Built arrows with cobblestone in case I got lost. Thanks to @STORI3D_PAST for the suggestion. They got better with iteration.

-A stone pickaxe is far more effective for attacking cows (and I imagine pigs- but they're nowhere to be found). 3 wipes=raw meat and experience points.

-A sword does wonders defending against monsters- even the ones that light themselves on fire!

-FINALLY found iron ore at level 55- meaning y-axis 55. Thanks to @PBJellyGames for the F3 tip!

-Smelted iron ore to make ingots!

-Crafted an iron pickaxe! Diamond ore is next! That's pretty low though. Lots of scary sounds in the mountain. I've been keeping an eye out for monsters, but haven't seen any. Switching between the pickaxe and my sword a lot.

-Save, save, SAVE!

Thank you to everyone that helped today! Especially @mr_isaacs for loving the live tweets!