Blog 10

There was one constant trend across all of the readings for this final module, coding.  If I could only pick one idea from this week to integrate into my library, I would choose to add coding literacy to my curriculum.  According to the Horizon Report, “It [coding] is a vehicle for combining a range of subjects because it requires the integration of verbal and mathematical skills.  Coding also builds problem-solving skills, encourages collaboration, and can engage students who may otherwise be uninterested in their learning through its link to gaming, robotics, and animation.”  I believe that coding will promote 21^st century skills that students will need to be successful.

I have recently been trying digital breakouts to review library skills in my elementary library.  While the students are enjoying them, I have noticed that many have a hard time with problem-solving and thinking outside of the box.  Coding could be one way to address these issues, while keeping students engaged.  Participating in the Hour of Code would be a great way to start a unit on coding and get students excited.  The tips on planning and prep in “2,445 Hours of Code” will be helpful in getting starting.  Beyond the Hour of Code, using Bloxels could be a way to integrate coding with even the youngest elementary students.  I examined this tool in a previous blog post and hope to be able to purchase a few of these kits during the next school year. 

I have bookmarked many sites as the semester progressed and plan to look towards those to stay informed of technology trends.  I particularly enjoy reading blogs of other librarians as it is helpful to see how they are integrating new technologies.  I also plan to maintain my School Library Journal subscription as it often features emerging technologies and how they fit into library programming.  I am not the most active social media user, but I have joined some librarian groups on Facebook and plan to check those often for programming ideas, book recommendations, and information on new Web tools and technologies. 

References

Colby, J. (2015). 2,445 hours of code: What I learned from facilitating hour of code events in high school libraries. Knowledge Quest, 43(5), 12-17.

Freeman, A., Adams Becker, S., Cummins, M., Davis, A., and Hall Giesinger, C. (2017). NMC/CoSN horizon report: 2017 K–12 edition. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.