teaching coding workshops

Whitni WatkinsWeb Systems EngineerAnalog Devices, Inc.

Twitter: @_Whitni Email: whitni.watkins@gmail.com

Teaching Coding Workshops

Answer the Why?

What problem does this solve and Is it worth solving?

As a self taught coder, not having a neutral & welcoming ground to come learn without feeling like I was “asking dumb questions” made it a lonely & discouraging road for learning how to code. Now there is also a major drive to teach coding, to encourage the youth to get involved in STEM related projects through movements like Hour of Code, but what about those who, like me, didn't get that encouragement but have an interest? Where can they go?

Why?

Getting the buy inEven a little bit is enough to get you going.

Ideas

Minimal risk involved Teach 1 or more workshops BYODevice allows for little to no out of pocket cost.

Greater awareness of the Librari*s and Resources

Library as safe spaceTie workshops to national STEM events/dates

Ada Lovelace Day (mid October) Computer Science Education Week (mid December)

Pi Day (March 14)

Your Team

Who’s on First?

-Your team SHOULD include someone who is familiar teaching code. -Your team SHOULD include members of groups who have interest in these types of workshops-Your team SHOULD include library user (who’s willing and interested) that is not library staff-Your team SHOULD NOT be 100% librarians, but it should have librarians-Your team SHOULD NOT be 50/50 librarians & IT but it should have both.

Credit: dodgers.topbuzz.comPhoto

Picking topics.

PC & mobile friendlyTransferable skills

Easy access (free access is BEST!)Entry level friendly

Twitter: @_Whitni | Email: whitni.watkins@gmail.com

Marker boards ARE your friendsMap it out and give yourself a view of the big picture

Outreach

STEM/CompSci Clubs on Campus (or local community)

Computer Science dept. (local school teachers)

Other librariansCommunity center for advertisingLocal Public Library or Academic Library

Student workers, library staff, IT staffLocal news boards

Let others get involved. Invite them even!

Reuse Recycle, Repeat

Our Templates

60 minute workshop5-10min Intro30-40min teaching5-10min discussion**Beginner Level**

90 minute workshop5-10min intro60minute teaching w/ 5min break10-15min discussion**Intermediate Level**

2 hour event10min intro

20min of student presentations 30min workshops (1st

set)Beginning

IntermediateAdv. Intermediate

30min workshops (2nd set)

Beginning Intermediate

Adv. Intermediate20min for demos from workshops & discussion

10min break

60min session - 2 teachers, 2 volunteers

90min session - 3-4 teachers, 2 volunteers

2hr event - 6-8 teachers, 4 volunteers

T[ip]s

Twitter: @_Whitni | Email: whitni.watkins@gmail.com

T[ip]s

Always have at least 2 teachers to provide one-on-one help

Have resources attendees can continue to learn

Always schedule time for discussionShy away from Q/A formationPair up with events that involve Library resources (helps with buy in)

Have a Code of Conduct in place before first workshop

Contact tree

Twitter: @_Whitni | Email: whitni.watkins@gmail.com Credit: https://btoc.hwcdsb.ca Photo

Challenges

Be adaptable. Be flexible. Be imperturbable.

Challenges

Advertising – no unified spot students/staff/faculty looked

Scheduling was difficult Look at main event calendar Know holidays & days off Know academic schedule – when are busy times in the semester

Be flexible

Be adaptable.Be flexible.Be imperturbable.

What would we change?Be adaptable. Be flexible. Be Imperturbable.

Next time…

Develop strong social media presence before first event

More community involvement (reaching out for more student involvement in helping out with the actual workshops)

Feedback opportunities from both attendees and no-comp sci faculty.

Set aside time during the week to plan & do outreach

Developed a strong or formal team, that met frequently

Thank you.

Workshop ResourcesHour of Code https://hourofcode.com/us/how-to Code.org https://studio.code.org/ Code of Conduct example https://github.com/whitni/codeofconduct Template & Ideas http://www.slideshare.net/nimblelibrarian/teaching-coding-workshops Attendee Resources (free to use)CodeCamp https://www.freecodecamp.com/ CodeCademy https://www.codecademy.com/

Twitter: @_Whitni | Email: whitni.watkins@gmail.com