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?