Google Unveils 'Code With Google,' Awards $1 Million To CS Teachers Group

theodp writes: TechCrunch reports that Google kicked off the 2019 Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Conference in style with the announcement of Code with Google, a new coding resource for teachers which collects Google's own free course curriculum on teaching computer science and coding. Google also announced a $1 million grant to the teachers group alongside the unveiling of Code with Google. To hear Google tell it, Code with Google -- much like bacon -- makes everything better. An English and Language Arts teacher, blogs Google Education VP Maggie Johnson, "didn't know much about computer science, but wanted her students to get familiar with coding because it can help with other skills, such as critical thinking and collaboration. So she tried a [Google] CS First activity where students coded different endings [video] to the story they read in class. Melissa says that, in a short time, 'the kids were problem solving, troubleshooting, and helping one another. It was incredible to hear the conversations about coding and the other concepts we were learning in the room.'" Johnson is also on the Board of tech-bankrolled Code.org, which reported it had spent $91.4 million (thru Dec. 2018) to get CS into K-12 schools (Google is a $3+ million Code.org Gold Sponsor). Not too surprisingly, one of the CSTA 2019 keynotes will be delivered by employees of Platinum Conference Sponsor Google, including a former CSTA Executive Director (CSTA is currently led by Code.org's former Director of State Government Affairs -- it's a small K-12 CS world!).

Re:

[jellomizer]

(lisp ( in ( code ( I ) ) comma ( false ) ) )

.

Computer Science vs Coding

[jellomizer]

I wished they would separate Software Coding with Computer Science a little better.

I would actually call Computer Science, Computational Science. As this is the science behind how to perform computations. Coding is more of a variant of Shop Class (Now I am not dissing Shop Class as I feel that Shop with Home Economics are vital components to a proper education), because way coding is taught, it is more to a point here are all your tools and commands that you can do, and have at it, the teacher may guide students with common methods and best practices. But this is just building programs, using some Computer Science Principals. But Computer Science isn't about coding, but about how to perform a type of calculation. Working out fastest ways to get to it, breaking the problem down to individual steps and finding a process to do it efficiently.

Coding is to Computer Science as Writing is to Ligature.

Is it?

[Viol8]

Alan Turing and Tommy Flowers managed to invent the concepts for a programmable computer before they wrote a line of code.

Sure, being able to program certainly helps to understand the concepts at the low level, but for higher level stuff knowing how to use whatever mickey mouse point-n-click language they used in this class is utterly irrelevant.

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[ShanghaiBill]

Alan Turing and Tommy Flowers managed to invent the concepts for a programmable computer before they wrote a line of code.

That doesn't mean that is the best way to teach it.

"Theory before practice" usually results in confused and unmotivated students who don't see the utility of what they are learning.

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[oh_my_080980980]

LMOL yes by all means best to do something without knowing why you are doing it...jackass.

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[The Cynical Critic]

You do know that Computer Science is an offshoot of pure mathematics? Even today it's essentially still a specialized math degree as long as what's being taught is actual computer science and not software engineering under a more marketable name (which is unfortunately quite common). A lot of what computer scientists do is literally working with equations and computing-related mathematical problems that can and often is done with pen and paper.

Seeing how common this misunderstanding of what Computer Scie

Re:

[oh_my_080980980]

Coding IS NOT a first requirement for computer science. Computer programming is a tool. Not the end all be all of computer science.

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[alvinrod]

I think it's okay. We call the basic techniques and practices we teach young kids "math" even though they never get into the theory behind it or work on proofs. I do believe that the problem solving steps that one engages in while writing a program are probably more important than learning the programming language itself. Learning to code is a bit like learning any other language, but if you can't write a beautiful poem, a great novel, or even just an interesting opinion piece with that language then what h

Re:Computer Science vs Coding

[BarbaraHudson]

Coding is far from shop class. Shop class will eliminate those who can’t be trusted to use tools safely (if Darwin doesn’t first). With coding, safety (security) usually isn’t even an afterthought. And actually finishing something?

If shop class was like coding:

Your chair has only one leg!
It’s version 1.0
But it’s unsafe.
We’ll release a patch.
Will the patch add 3 more legs?
Of course not! That would remove any reason to buy the upgrade! We’re just going to patch it so that the leg falls off. Then we can sell them a cushion so they’re a bit more comfortable sitting on the floor while waiting for the upgrade.
Just how stupid do you think people are?
Look around you. Version 3 will have adjustable legs. They won’t stay adjusted properly, so we’ll have to release a patch while people wait for version 4. Version 4 will require them to purchase each leg separately, kind of like downloadable content if you want the full product.
Never underestimate the things people will do because of the fallacy of sunk costs.

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[jellomizer]

There is a lot of problem solving skills needed for wood working.

One of the signs of a Good Wood Worker is the ability to repair and fix problems on the fly with their design, or made a building mistake.

That fancy inlay may actually covered a spot where they drilled a hole in the wrong spot. Why does the chair have arms, well without it it was wobbely, so they added the Arms to make it more sturdy.

Your use of safety is kinda mixed. Power Tool Safety would be like Proper Posture in coding. or at least havin

Is the 1 million tied to "Respectful Code" ?

[RedK]

https://dailycaller.com/2019/07/08/revealed-google-respectful-code-policy/ [dailycaller.com]

Wouldn't want any pesky Slave/Master processes or Blacklist/whitelists now would we.

Re:Is the 1 million tied to "Respectful Code" ?

[Curunir_wolf]

https://dailycaller.com/2019/07/08/revealed-google-respectful-code-policy/ [dailycaller.com]

Wouldn't want any pesky Slave/Master processes or Blacklist/whitelists now would we.

Need to be sensitive to your diverse coder team that might be triggered. It's important.

We have eliminated all references to master/slave by using "mistress/cuck" instead. Everyone agreed on this much more acceptable terminology. Also, instead of blacklist/whitelist we now use Nazis/Wokes. Much more modern, non-triggering, and obvious which is bad and which is good, right?

We're still struggling a bit with "redline." We're also working on a replacement term for our "border diagrams" since it's triggering to our undocumented coders.

Today we will be meeting about how we are referring to parts of plugs, since calling them "male" and "female" parts raised objections. Sounds like we're going to have to start calling them "top" and "bottom" instead.

Worked so well

[AHuxley]

for the BBC Micro.
All the students learning to code and how to think about computers.
Until they all went out and got US Windows PC, Macs and imported game consoles.
All that education with computers got the UK nothing over the decades.

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[religionofpeas]

I'm not sure why you think that concepts learned on a BBC Micro couldn't be applied to different systems.

All that education with computers got the UK nothing over the decades.

The company that designed the BBC Micro, Acorn Computers, evolved in the current ARM company which designs the CPUs that are in almost every phone.

Stop letting corporations control the education!

[Anonymous Coward]

This is rediculous, besides being obvious advertising and early indoctrination to the google universe this is really only geared to be useful to them. Besides the indoctrination and advertising the main purpose of teaching everyone to code is to keep a lid on salaries by having more people fighting for fewer jobs as is the normal march of automation.

Not everyone needs to learn to code just like not everyone needs to learn to be a doctor or an engineer. The other main problem is that learning to code does no

Re:

[Bite The Pillow]

Let me help you.

"...the kids were problem solving, troubleshooting, and helping one another. It was incredible to hear the conversations about coding and the other concepts we were learning in the room.'"

This only happens when you already have a few students who know what they are doing, and they don't trust the teacher to teach the others. And the knowledgeable ones can't have a reputation as know it alls. It's rare.

There you go, an actual retort as opposed to theodp canned up rage. Many people supporting

"Coding" in Scratch

[Pollux]

So, I watched the video cited in the description involving students "coding" different endings. I just had a really hard time watching this and calling it coding.

Does anyone else feel weird in that way? I mean, to me, it feels like saying that, because I can make boxed Mac & Cheese, that makes me a professional chef. Or because I filed my taxes with TurboTax, that makes me a professional accountant. Or because I'm really good at Microsoft Flight Simulator, that makes me a pilot.

Calling it coding mak

Re:

[tomhath]

FTFA:

"didn't know much about computer science...", but wanted her students to get familiar with coding...So she tried a [Google] CS First activity where students coded

So she doesn't know anything about coding, but in the first exercise her students coded code. How would she even know they were coding code?

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[Ol Olsoc]

FTFA:

"didn't know much about computer science...", but wanted her students to get familiar with coding...So she tried a [Google] CS First activity where students coded

So she doesn't know anything about coding, but in the first exercise her students coded code. How would she even know they were coding code?

Because it conformed to Google's respectful coding policy? That's the only important part.

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[GuB-42]

Scratch is coding with training wheels but it is still coding.

For me, the important part about coding is getting the computer to understand what you are trying to do. You need to describe the process, step by step, cover every case, leave no room for interpretation. It doesn't matter if you assemble colorful blocks or if you write serious text files, the general idea is the same.
Dealing with the compiler can come later. In fact, it should come naturally. Dragging blocks becomes annoying once you start doing