Balancing Project Based Learning With Building competencies

Can Backwards Design or Understanding by Design adequately equip teachers to design meaningful learning experiences? ... I argue they don't when teaching programming skills.

In an ideal world, the time spent in any secondary-school classroom should be less than fifty percent driven by the curriculum, a small percent driven by teacher passion and experience, and as much time as possible driven by student practice and exploration. This talk (slides) looks at the design structure of my Grade 9 - Introduction to Programming course ([my online planning documents here](https://www.notion.so/df70203009a64290b7e7d1b4bb133fc0?v=2e54a52771114e85ba993e56027a2dba)).
This one semester, elective course is designed to meet students' needs for autonomy, competence and connectedness. It is driven by a set of CSTA standards and 4 miniprojects:

- [Space-scape design ](https://www.notion.so/Space-Scape-0292f35aa4de45c29bc8b16ea88bbc78)
- [Interactive canvas design](https://www.notion.so/Custom-Canvas-a034b355e88d47a0a655d6a03a903a81)
- [Covid dataset visualiser](https://www.notion.so/Data-Visualizer-f5bd9eead2b440d3afccbc17fbd5cb5a)
- [Game design](https://www.notion.so/Game-Design-b6fa1984cdd0454eb2972eb93b7882fa)

Which leads to these 6 modules of learning:

- Sub-procedures
- Events
- Inputs and outputs
- Inheritance
- Lists
- Abstract data types

This structure creates learning experiences with a low floor of entry, high ceilings for exploration, and wide walls to engage students of all interests and backgrounds. Join me as I strive to develop conseptual understandings while also providing an environment for students to become confident programming practitioners.

Transcript

1. BALANCING PROJECT BASED LEARNING WITH BUILDING COMPETENCIES Tyler Beatty
2. LEARNING EXPERIENCE AUTONOMY COMPETENCE Curriculum Student Teacher
3. 3 LESSON DESIGN LEARNING DAYS CONCEPTS 3 LESSONS 3 PROJECT INQUIRY Modules: - Sub-Procedures (Problem Solving) - Events (User-centered design) - Inputs/Outputs (Systems) - Inheritance (State/Behaviors) - Managing Data (Abstraction) - Big Data (Social Needs) - Control Structures (Design Planning) Projects: - Space-scape - art - Custom Canvas - Survey System - CovidVisualization - Game Design = 6 DAYS