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Computer literacy used to mean keyboarding and spreadsheet drills. Today, with tech jobs going begging, programming has become a core 21st century skill - and not just for number nerds. Crafting elegant code requires as much artistry as composing music or a poem. Plus, it's fun! Your software engineers will lose themselves in this month's activity. No fair peeking!.
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| Activity: Program a Friend
 In this activity, students learn basic computer programming and software engineering concepts by building an obstacle course, then steering a blindfolded friend through it by using a series of commands. They re-run the maze to improve on their "program."
View Activity RELATED LESSONS Bits and Binary (Grades 4-12) That (Motion) Captures It! (Grades 5-7) Learning Roomba (Grades 6 - 9) MORE LESSONS: Grades K-5 | Grades 6-8 | Grades 9-12 |
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Feature: Computer Science Rocks!
 Who says STEM is for nerds? Not rock star will.i.am. The technology-loving Black Eyed Peas singer thinks computer coding is so cool, he's enrolled in a programming course at the California Institute for the Arts this fall. Your students can take it with him: it's a free, online course, or MOOC.
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RELATED FEATURES:
Code Calling: Why Schools Should Teach Programming
England Mulls Coding for All Kids
Computer Science Students Network
Prodigy Programmer Dreams in Code
eGFI's Computer Science Resources
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| Spotlight: Shell Eco-Marathon
Could your school design and build a car capable of squeezing 3,587 miles from a single gallon of gas?
That's the fuel-efficiency record achieved at the Shell Eco-marathon in Houston this year. Register your high school or college team for 2014 contest before October 25.
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Announcements
Code Academy. -- Find activities, online tutorials, games, and other free resources to help kids as young as six learn computer programming and develop apps. Learn more.
MIT STEM Game. -- MIT's Radix Endeavor, a massive multiplayer online (MMO) game, capitalizes on student interactions to build and assess STEM knowledge and skills. Learn more.
K-12 Computer Science Funds. -- Google RISE (Roots in Science & Engineering) awards up to $50,000 to create or expand computer science programs. Learn more.
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 It's never too early to learn about engineering. Along with our 5th Edition magazine and classroom cards, Engineering, Go For It offers an engaging children's book in its collection of learning materials.
"If I Were an Engineer," from the American Society for Engineering Education, is a fun, 40-page rhyming book that introduces engineering to kids 5 to 8 years old. It includes a parent page that explains the various engineering disciplines. Price: $7.95 Now available in our store and on Amazon.com! |
