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Beth Simon
Want to make a game that ends when you "catch" an object by clicking on it? Or maybe you get points based on how close you came? You'll do that in this class!
This class teaches the concepts of conditional loops and if/else statements. For each concept, we'll start by helping you connect real-world experiences you are already familiar with to the programming concept you are about to learn. Next, through a cognitively scaffolded process we'll engage you in developing your fluency with problem solving with repeat until loops, while loops, and if/else statements in a way that keeps frustration at a minimum.
Read more
Want to make a game that ends when you "catch" an object by clicking on it? Or maybe you get points based on how close you came? You'll do that in this class!
This class teaches the concepts of conditional loops and if/else statements. For each concept, we'll start by helping you connect real-world experiences you are already familiar with to the programming concept you are about to learn. Next, through a cognitively scaffolded process we'll engage you in developing your fluency with problem solving with repeat until loops, while loops, and if/else statements in a way that keeps frustration at a minimum.
Read more
Want to make a game that ends when you "catch" an object by clicking on it? Or maybe you get points based on how close you came? You'll do that in this class!
This class teaches the concepts of conditional loops and if/else statements. For each concept, we'll start by helping you connect real-world experiences you are already familiar with to the programming concept you are about to learn. Next, through a cognitively scaffolded process we'll engage you in developing your fluency with problem solving with repeat until loops, while loops, and if/else statements in a way that keeps frustration at a minimum.
Along the way you will learn about the common challenges or "bugs" students have with these concepts as well as ways to help them find and fix those concepts. You'll also be guided in running classroom discussions to help students develop deeper understanding of these concepts.
Finally, you'll learn how to support interactive learning experiences among your students with Peer Instruction.
Additionally, you will create a resource for your classroom to support an equitable classroom.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/c8u8wz/computational
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What's inside
Syllabus
Course Orientation
Meet Dr. Simon and fellow learners in this class! Find out what you’ll be doing and learning.
Conditional Loops
In this module we will learn about conditional loops and how they vary from fixed loops. We'll examine different examples of both loop types and look at some common challenges that you may come across. Finally you'll create your own conditional loop program and have the opportunity to create an assignment and conduct peer reviews.
Read more
Syllabus
Course Orientation
Meet Dr. Simon and fellow learners in this class! Find out what you’ll be doing and learning.
Conditional Loops
In this module we will learn about conditional loops and how they vary from fixed loops. We'll examine different examples of both loop types and look at some common challenges that you may come across. Finally you'll create your own conditional loop program and have the opportunity to create an assignment and conduct peer reviews.
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Well-suited for learners with programming experience who wish to enhance their CS teaching practice
Provides strategies and tips to support CS learners in developing foundational problem-solving skills
Emphasizes the significance of peer instruction as an effective method for fostering interactive learning and student engagement
Focuses on the practical implementation of conditional loops and if/else statements through hands-on programming exercises
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Create your own learning path.
Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
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Reviews summary
Teaching computational thinking to k-12
According to learners, this course is a highly recommended positive resource, especially for K-12 educators looking to teach computational thinking concepts. Students found the course content, focusing on conditional loops and if/else statements positive, to be clear and well-structured positive. The course effectively connected programming concepts to real-world examples positive and provided practical teaching strategies positive, including peer instruction positive. The assignments positive were seen as engaging and helpful positive, allowing learners to both practice coding and develop resources for their own classrooms. While some mention the difficulty level is beginner-friendly positive, others note that a basic understanding of coding concepts might be helpful but not strictly necessary, suggesting the course starts from foundational concepts positive.
Generally beginner-friendly, some prior useful.
"I came into this with very little coding experience, and I felt the course did a good job of starting from the basics."
"While it says K-12 educators, having a little bit of prior programming knowledge would make some parts easier, but it's not strictly required."
"The course is definitely accessible for beginners, and it builds complexity gradually."
"It's a good introductory course for these specific concepts, assuming you might have basic block coding familiarity."
Instructional approach is effective and engaging.
"Dr. Simon is an engaging instructor! His approach to connecting concepts to everyday life and breaking them down was great."
"The use of real-world examples and scaffolding made the learning process much less frustrating."
"I found the Peer Instruction module particularly interesting and helpful for thinking about my own teaching methods."
"The course structure kept me engaged throughout, and I felt supported in my learning."
Assignments reinforce learning and are practical.
"The programming assignments were challenging enough to make me think, but not so hard that they were discouraging. They really helped solidify the concepts."
"I liked that the assignments involved both coding practice and creating actual resources I could use later."
"The structure of the assignments, moving from simple exercises to building a game or classroom resource, was really effective."
"The hands-on tasks felt really relevant and helped me see how the concepts work in practice."
Offers strategies and resources for K-12.
"As a K-12 educator, I found the focus on common student bugs and teaching strategies like Peer Instruction incredibly valuable. I can immediately use these ideas in my classroom."
"I appreciated learning about peer instruction and how to address student misconceptions. The course provided practical tools for teaching these concepts."
"Creating resources for my classroom as part of the assignment was a major plus. It made the learning directly applicable to my job."
"This course didn't just teach coding; it taught me *how* to teach coding concepts effectively to my students."
Concepts are explained clearly and logically.
"The content was explained clearly and logically. It started from scratch and explained everything in a step by step manner which was easy to follow."
"The way the contents were explained was excellent. Each unit starts with real life examples which make it easy to understand the concepts better."
"The explanations were super clear and the content was organized in a way that made sense. I felt like I really grasped the concepts."
"I found the explanations of conditional loops and if statements very easy to follow, even though I was relatively new to coding."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements with these
activities:
Head First Java
Show steps
Gain a comprehensive understanding of Java programming concepts, including conditional loops and if statements.
View
Head First Java: A Brain-Friendly Guide
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the sections in the book that cover conditional loops and if statements.
-
Take notes and highlight important concepts.
-
Complete the exercises and examples provided in the book.
If statement flowchart
Show steps
Visualize the decision-making process of if statements to enhance comprehension.
Browse courses on
If Statements
Show steps
-
Create a flowchart that represents the logic of an if statement.
-
Include the conditional expression, the true branch, and the false branch.
-
Use the flowchart to trace the execution of the if statement for different input values.
Conditional loop tutorials
Show steps
Review concepts and examples to deepen understanding of conditional loop usage and functionality.
Browse courses on
Conditional Loops
Show steps
-
Find online tutorials or documentation that provide clear explanations and examples of conditional loops.
-
Follow along with the tutorials and try out the examples provided.
-
Take notes or create summaries to reinforce learning.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Conditional loop exercises
Show steps
Practice different types of conditional loops to solidify understanding of their usage and behavior.
Browse courses on
Conditional Loops
Show steps
-
Review the different types of conditional loops available in the programming language used in the course.
-
Create a program that uses a conditional loop to perform a specific task, such as counting the number of times a user enters a specific input.
-
Debug and refine the program to ensure it works correctly.
If-else statement practice
Show steps
Apply if-else statements in practical scenarios to improve decision-making logic.
Browse courses on
If Statements
Show steps
-
Create a program that uses if-else statements to control the flow of the program based on user input or other conditions.
-
Test the program with different inputs and observe the resulting behavior.
-
Debug and modify the program to ensure it meets the desired requirements.
Peer review of conditional loop code
Show steps
Provide and receive feedback on conditional loop code to improve problem-solving and coding skills.
Browse courses on
Conditional Loops
Show steps
-
Pair up with a classmate.
-
Exchange conditional loop code and provide constructive feedback on logic, efficiency, and readability.
-
Incorporate feedback to refine and improve the code.
Interactive program with conditional loops and if statements
Show steps
Demonstrate proficiency in using conditional loops and if statements to create a fully functional and interactive program.
Browse courses on
Loops
Show steps
-
Design the program's logic and functionality, including the use of conditional loops and if statements.
-
Implement the program in the programming language used in the course.
-
Test the program thoroughly to ensure it meets the desired requirements.
-
Optionally, share the program with others and receive feedback.
Head First Java
Show steps
Gain a comprehensive understanding of Java programming concepts, including conditional loops and if statements.
View
Head First Java: A Brain-Friendly Guide
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the sections in the book that cover conditional loops and if statements.
- Take notes and highlight important concepts.
- Complete the exercises and examples provided in the book.
If statement flowchart
Show steps
Visualize the decision-making process of if statements to enhance comprehension.
Browse courses on
If Statements
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Create a flowchart that represents the logic of an if statement.
- Include the conditional expression, the true branch, and the false branch.
- Use the flowchart to trace the execution of the if statement for different input values.
Conditional loop tutorials
Show steps
Review concepts and examples to deepen understanding of conditional loop usage and functionality.
Browse courses on
Conditional Loops
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find online tutorials or documentation that provide clear explanations and examples of conditional loops.
- Follow along with the tutorials and try out the examples provided.
- Take notes or create summaries to reinforce learning.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Conditional loop exercises
Show steps
Practice different types of conditional loops to solidify understanding of their usage and behavior.
Browse courses on
Conditional Loops
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Review the different types of conditional loops available in the programming language used in the course.
- Create a program that uses a conditional loop to perform a specific task, such as counting the number of times a user enters a specific input.
- Debug and refine the program to ensure it works correctly.
If-else statement practice
Show steps
Apply if-else statements in practical scenarios to improve decision-making logic.
Browse courses on
If Statements
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Create a program that uses if-else statements to control the flow of the program based on user input or other conditions.
- Test the program with different inputs and observe the resulting behavior.
- Debug and modify the program to ensure it meets the desired requirements.
Peer review of conditional loop code
Show steps
Provide and receive feedback on conditional loop code to improve problem-solving and coding skills.
Browse courses on
Conditional Loops
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Pair up with a classmate.
- Exchange conditional loop code and provide constructive feedback on logic, efficiency, and readability.
- Incorporate feedback to refine and improve the code.
Interactive program with conditional loops and if statements
Show steps
Demonstrate proficiency in using conditional loops and if statements to create a fully functional and interactive program.
Browse courses on
Loops
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Design the program's logic and functionality, including the use of conditional loops and if statements.
- Implement the program in the programming language used in the course.
- Test the program thoroughly to ensure it meets the desired requirements.
- Optionally, share the program with others and receive feedback.
Career center
Learners who complete Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Computer Science Teacher
Computer Science Teacher
The course, Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements, will provide you with the knowledge and skills to teach these concepts to your students. You will learn about the common challenges students have with these concepts and how to help them find and fix those concepts. This course will also provide you with resources to support an equitable classroom.
Software Engineer
Software Engineer
The course, Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements, will be a foundational course for your studies in Software Engineering. This course covers key programming concepts such as conditional loops and if/else statements, which will be integral to your success in building and designing software applications. Furthermore, the course focuses on helping you understand the challenges students have with these concepts. This will be particularly useful if you work on educational software products for schools.
Web Developer
Web Developer
Conditional Loops and If Statements is a critical introductory course for an aspiring Web Developer. This course will help you understand the foundational programming concepts you will use to build your web applications. Furthermore, the course will help you understand the challenges students have with these concepts. This will be particularly useful if you are working on educational software products for schools.
Data Scientist
Data Scientist
As a Data Scientist, you will use programming to manipulate, transform, and gain insight from data. This course will help you build a strong foundation in key programming concepts such as conditional loops and if/else statements. These concepts will be used throughout your data science career.
Instructional Designer
Instructional Designer
As an Instructional Designer, you will be responsible for designing and developing educational materials. This course will provide you with pedagogical background about peer instruction. You will learn how peer instruction works and its benefits. Some of the materials you create may be used to teach programming concepts like conditional loops and if/else statements.
Curriculum Developer
Curriculum Developer
As a Curriculum Developer, you will be responsible for designing and developing educational curricula. This course will provide you with pedagogical background about peer instruction. You will learn how peer instruction works and its benefits. Some of the curricula you create may be used to teach programming concepts like conditional loops and if/else statements.
Education Researcher
Education Researcher
As an Education Researcher, you may study how students learn programming concepts like conditional loops and if/else statements. This course will help you understand the challenges students have with these concepts and how to help them find and fix those concepts.
Technical Writer
Technical Writer
The course, Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements, is not directly related to the field of Technical Writing. However, the course may be helpful for you to understand the technical concepts that you will be writing about.
Business Analyst
Business Analyst
The course, Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements, is not directly related to the field of Business Analysis. However, the course may be helpful for you to understand the technical concepts that you will be working with.
Product Manager
Product Manager
The course, Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements, is not directly related to the field of Product Management. However, the course may be helpful for you to understand the technical concepts that you will be working with.
Project Manager
Project Manager
The course, Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements, is not directly related to the field of Project Management. However, the course may be helpful for you to understand the technical concepts that you will be working with.
Salesforce Administrator
Salesforce Administrator
The course, Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements, is not directly related to the field of Salesforce Administration. However, the course may be helpful for you to understand the technical concepts that you will be working with.
Systems Analyst
Systems Analyst
The course, Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements, is not directly related to the field of Systems Analysis. However, the course may be helpful for you to understand the technical concepts that you will be working with.
Database Administrator
Database Administrator
The course, Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements, is not directly related to the field of Database Administration. However, the course may be helpful for you to understand the technical concepts that you will be working with.
Network Administrator
Network Administrator
The course, Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements, is not directly related to the field of Network Administration. However, the course may be helpful for you to understand the technical concepts that you will be working with.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/c8u8wz/computational
Reading list
We've selected 12 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements.
Provides practical advice and best practices for software developers, covering topics such as coding, design, and testing.
Provides an in-depth exploration of machine learning algorithms and their potential to revolutionize various industries.
Explores how algorithms can be used to understand and improve human decision-making in various aspects of life.
Examines the challenges faced by large organizations when it comes to adopting new technologies and adapting to disruption.
Provides a framework for building successful startups based on the principles of lean manufacturing and agile development.
Save
Offers insights and advice on building successful technology startups, drawing on the experiences of successful entrepreneurs.
Explores the principles of human-centered design and provides practical advice on creating user-friendly products and experiences.
Provides insights into the creative process and the factors that foster innovation and creativity in organizations.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of artificial intelligence and its potential impact on society.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its impact on society, economics, and the environment.
Provides a concise and accessible introduction to machine learning concepts and algorithms.
Provides a gentle introduction to the basics of Python programming and will appeal to younger learners with its approachable format.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/c8u8wz/computational
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Similar courses
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Effort
5 weeks of study, 2-4 hours/week
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of California San Diego
Instructor
Beth Simon
Language
English
This course belongs to a
collection
called
Computational Thinking & Block Programming in K-12 Education. It's comprised of six courses:
- Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Nested If Statements and Compound Conditionals
- Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Variables and Nested Loops
- Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators Capstone
- Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Abstraction, Methods, and Lists
- Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Sequences and Loops
- Computational Thinking for K-12 Educators: Conditional Loops and If Statements (viewing)
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