TechnoTurtle

A curriculum unit using Python and the Turtle library to program spirographs, mad libs, mazes, and games. Elementary students learn to code loops and variables, apply conditional logic, and debug to fix errors.

teaching Python on Chromebooks

Teaching Python on Chromebooks is Easy with Trinket

When teaching Python on Chromebooks it can be difficult to find an extension that allows students to easily write, edit, run, and save their programs. There are a few extensions available, however often they do not import Libraries such as Turtle or display images, which makes some programming activities for beginners impossible to complete. A …

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Collaboration and Coding is Fun and Fosters Team Work

Collaboration and coding are two skills a successful programmer seamlessly merges together to design high quality programs. Programming requires teamwork. In fact, to build and deploy a program involves many people that have a diverse skill set. Collaboration and Coding Prepares Students for the Workplace To get student ready for STEM careers, teachers should include …

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Teach Debugging to Beginners to Build Confidence

It is important to teach debugging to beginners right away. Debugging is when a programmer finds “bugs” or errors in their code and fixes them to improve the program. This is an essential programming skill. So much so, that it should be taught at the beginning of a coding unit. Where Are the Debugging Strategies …

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Techniques to Teach Debugging Strategies

When designing a Python programming unit, include lessons with techniques to teach debugging strategies. Debugging is the ability to find and fix errors in code. It is a vital skill for young programmers to master. Don’t hope that students will discover these strategies on their own. Instead, guide them through proven methods. Explicit Strategy Instruction …

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