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?
Explore More Like This
Strategies for Making All Youth Feel Included
Pay attention to the strategies the facilitator uses to make everyone feel included so you can use them in your learning experiences.
Developing Strategies for Reflection
Learning happens when we reflect. Take time to reflect on your strategies for reflection.
Giving Youth a Role
Make Your Own Rules activity to learn how to support giving youth more control over their learning.