Professional Development for Educators

Coding in the K-8 Classroom

Daunted by the prospect of teaching the Ministry of Education’s new computer coding requirements to children from kindergarten to grade 8?

Feeling as if you have no idea where to begin?

OFIS is here for you with our Coding for the K-8 Classroom, a course that will prepare you for the task with confidence.

What You Will Learn

This course is designed to provide educators with two full experiential units that tick all of the required boxes for each years’ coding requirement. We will help you create a dynamic and collaborative classroom environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and engagement.

The curriculum provided in this course is designed to introduce students to basic concepts such as programming, microcontrollers, the internet, data structures, and algorithms. In earlier grades, students will learn how to use simple coding tools to create animations, stories, and games. In higher grades, students will be introduced to a more advanced programming language, Python.

To make learning more fun and interactive, the curriculum includes activities such as coding challenges, game-based learning, and collaborative projects. Lessons include independent and team activities to develop communication, collaboration, and leadership skills as students learn together.

Each module includes practical exercises, and completion of this course will provide the Educator with a complete student-ready unit that draws from the STEAM PBL experiential realm.

Module topics include:

  • Understanding Ministry curriculum expectations

  • Computer and Internet basics

  • Algorithms

  • Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

  • Using Makey Makeys

  • Conditions

  • Loops

  • Data and Procedures

  • Project Development

  • Debugging for Teachers

This course is designed to meet and exceed the Ministry of Education’s new curriculum requirements and will give participants the building blocks to provide coding instruction that is appropriate for any grade and programming language.

What will I leave with at the end of this course that I didn't have before?

You’ll leave feeling renewed confidence in what is required from the new Ontario coding curriculum and the sense that you are prepared to lead your classes with inspiring new ideas. Educators will be given tools and will develop techniques to create a stimulating learning environment that empowers students to think creatively, innovate, and problem-solve using technology. Resources provided in the course include two full experiential units, useful links, worksheets and rubrics, access to a project SharePoint site for ideas, a Makey Makey microcontroller kit, and a conductive materials craft kit.

Am I eligible for this course?

This course is for educators who want to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to teach coding to K-8 students.

Are there any prerequisites for this course?

No prior coding experience is required.

The course entails 35 hours of synchronous, in-person learning over 5 days.

This course is offered in two formats: weekend sessions during the school year, or weeklong sessions during the summer months. Sessions are held in Toronto.

Registration is limited, as smaller cohorts allow for individualized attention to each participant.

OFIS members enjoy exclusive rates for this course. Registrants may be eligible for financial assistance through the OFIS Charitable Trust.

Session dates not currently scheduled.