Sphero Team
Child making colorful art with smart phone.

Educators and parents alike ask themselves how to best prepare students for the future in a world that is changing rapidly with complex problems to be solved. Engaging students early and often in subjects like computer science and technology offers up an opportunity for hands-on application while building problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking skills — all critical for future success. Fostering those skills in the classroom or at home takes a creativity, openness, and commitment. 

This Computer Science Education Week, we’re sharing a few tips from educators and parents to encourage creative computer science and tech learning in the classroom, after school and even at home!

  • Give Kids a Reason to Code. Learning is always more fun when it is relevant and tied to real-world application. Young learners want to apply their learning to something they see or do in the world around them. Take coding as an example, without code computers are simply empty boxes. They need a set of instructions to tell them what to do. With coding, students create meaningful projects in a supportive space.
  • Learn Together. It might sound obvious, but often the best learning environment is one where adults and children explore new concepts and learn together. Establishing an open environment where mistakes are embraced and problem-solving happens as a team enables all students to expand their thinking and be creative.
  • Find a Network. It’s important too for adults not to feel isolated in their role bringing new ideas to the classroom or after school learning space. Create a supportive network by engaging like-minded individuals in your school, district, community, or via online networking. Online idea sharing can be just as effective to build consensus and gain support, which is why both littleBits and Sphero offer community Forums. 

For more information about coding and creativity, explore a littleBits hosted webinar which expands on these tips. If you’re looking to bring coding and creativity into your classroom, be sure to explore the Code Kit, which offers 100+ activities and 10 full lesson plans mapped to educational standards.