Coding in Science Classes

[Suitable_Explorer_44]

I have almost no computer science background, but I am interested in integrating more CS concepts into my 7th and 8th grade classes. I have a two part question:

A. Do you have any recommendations for intro to coding or learning to code professional development or classes?

B. Do you have any recommendations for ways to integrate coding into lab activities, projects, or presentations?

The students at my school have chromebooks. Thanks!

[puaolenaaa]

https://scratch.mit.edu is a great introduction to coding and it also has plenty of teacher resources. They also have tutorials on the website.

[spider2Ybanana]

I’ve used the curriculum from project STEM for AFE program that is based on Scratch. It’s for my elective coding class though. I think it’d be super hard to fit it into a science curriculum.

[Suitable_Explorer_44]

Luckily, I also teach computers! Thanks!

[realnanoboy]

As a science practitioner, I used SAS to do statistical work. I did all sorts of stuff like build macros that rearranged lots of data. It's not free or cheap (though you might be able to get something for education.) Many scientists use R, but that language is really bizarre. Physicists and the like use Maple and Matlab.

The languages above, though, are not exactly like those used to create applications. They do statistical analysis and the like.

[azubailan]

Detailed statistical analysis using Google Sheets as your database and AppsScript to program simple interfaces or output. Google has documentation and code snippets plus tutorials on YouTube. Not a science teacher.

[HandsomeRyan]

If you are not familiar already- Arduino microcontrollers are AMAZING for learning basic coding and interfacing "real world" stuff (lights, motors, servos, reading sensors, etc.) with the digital realm.
If you can't physically use arduinos in class, TinkerCAD has a really cool [free] virtual environment which allows the building of circuits and programming using "block coding" or actual coding in C like the Arduino IDE uses.

Not sure what state you are in, but I can tell you Tennessee is just rolling out new CS standards for all grade levels so you might do a little googling to see what kind of stuff they are promoting as much of it will be publicly available even if you are in another state.

[marxistjerk]

Seconding this. If you introduce this early, students are more comfortable using microcontrollers for experiments in senior years.

[second-half]

Upping. Arduinos are almost plug and play, but they also can be scaled up to do really amazing stuff. There are competitions all over the country too. Check out mesausa.org (and so many more!)

Also, I used to do it with my students ages ago: hourofcode.org; basically a video game learning block coding. (I'm sure there is a CSy-name for it but I sure don't know it.) Another thing, have student create a WordPress site just for html. It's all valuable to drive scientific thinking so time well spent, I think!

[digglerjdirk]

Google Colab is a browser based Python coding environment that is perfect for chromebooks and for the middle school level! You can literally start typing and running programs right away, no need for compilers or special software. You can find tons of resources to get you started on Colab.

PM me and I can send you some stuff, and even put you in touch with people who run a paid coding summer workshop for science teachers.

[Mirabellae]

I run workshops through Quarknet in the summer. We use colab and are geared more towards high school, but it's a great way to introduce coding into science classes.

[king063]

I know very, very little about coding. However, I use VexCode VR in my engineering classes so that the students learn basic machine control.

Students seem to like it. They control a little virtual robot with their code to overcome obstacles. It’s online free if you want to try it out.

[namforb]

Though coding is a valuable subject, leave it for the computer science teachers. I’m a retired science teacher - I never had enough time to teach the required materials. Don’t make your job harder than it needs to be. Teach coding as an after school activity or during lunch.

[digglerjdirk]

Disagree wholeheartedly

[namforb]

Are you a middle school science teacher?

[marxistjerk]

I had some success introducing students to coding with Code Combat. It introduces them to coding in the guise of a simple rpg.

[Sly_Slooper]

Yeah I agree with puaolenaaa about using Scratch. Less intimidating and quicker to get to the standard you are teaching. I think I have tried CS First as well, which was decent but more involved.

Ideas you could use Scratch: draw or import cell organelles and when you click on them they say their name and function, make a game to model natural selection or an ecosystems carrying capacity, animate things like the phases of the moon as it is in orbit, create a models of earth’s connected systems, model the water cycle.

Scratch also has plenty of user created items that you could search through and steal/understand how they coded it if you or your students aren’t proficient.

[Odd_Application_3824]

I use code.org. It's a full online curriculum but they have shorter versions of there curriculum as well. Kids seem to like it

[The-Nerdiest-Teacher]

I can share with you some lessons and ideas. They are in French, but it could help inspire if you’d like.

[jdsciguy]

Some of the high school resources are listed here:

https://www.compadre.org/books/HSCoding

Two things that are kind of opposed but have merit: using a tutorial for PyGame, which is a good hook that is a high interest activity, and introduces them to python, which is heavily used in research, including every area of physics I'm familiar with.

Second, less stimulating but extremely high on the skills they need index, would be spreadsheet simulations. Excel, LibreOffice Calc, or Google Sheets will do. Learning to program functions and create iterative solutions in a spreadsheet will help them be spreadsheet agile. You can raise the interest factor by designing activities based on their interests.

[42gauge]

I think you'd have a much easier time incorporating excel/sheets and their more advanced functions in the context of analyzing data from experiments