Break It Down
Staff Development Guide
Training situation: Training (large group)
Length: 120 minutes
Objectives: Participants will learn how breaking problems into smaller, manageable parts is key to computational thinking and building this skill.
Agenda
- Welcome and introduction – 5 minutes
- See the skill in action – 5 minutes
- Practicing computational thinking – 25 minutes
- Process the experience with a gallery walk – 10 minutes
- See the skill in action – 10 minutes
- Break It Down video-based learning module
- Using a graphic organizer – 10 minutes
- Engage in active learning at the computers – 40 minutes
- Process the experience – 10 minutes
- Conclusion – 5 minutes
Video-Based Learning Modules
As you watch the skill video below, think about these questions:
- Who is doing the problem-solving in this activity, the facilitator or the learners?
- What questions does Dagen use to encourage and support active learning?
- How do you know if youth are engaged in active learning?
Now that you’ve watched the video, reflect on what you saw and post your responses.
- How do the computational thinking practices support active learning?
- How could you support active learning with the youth you work with?
- What are the benefits to youth when they are engaged in active STEM learning?
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Considerations When Giving Youth Control
Discuss concerns and the “Developing a STEM Project” Video-Based Learning Module in order to give youth control of STEM learning experiences.