It all starts with a bit of power and a bit of action.  What is a circuit?  How can teachers bring circuitry to their classroom?  In my last entry I included some information on circuit blocks.  In the presentation below I started even simpler with AA batteries and holiday lights.  These lights can be purchased with crazy amounts in one box to keep costs down.  By using holiday lights we can also teach techniques such as cutting with wire strippers.  

The presentation goes through the importance of circuitry and why circuit blocks are important in the flow of information from tinkering to robotics.  We tried out some paper circuits with circuit tape and LED lights.  In the presentation there are recommendations regarding products to purchase and freebies I've found.

Not enough circuitry for you?  Towards the end we discussed soft circuits (either with battery pack or with Makey Makey) and some curriculum connections to literature.

I have received so much positive feedback from this presentation that I'm sharing it online.  Enjoy!

During the presentation we tried some of these fun lesson ideas.  We finished off with a presentation by a fellow PBS Digital Learning Media Innovator.

I love the trend at EdCamps and other Innovation conferences to offer a 'teacher play room' where teachers can explore new tools on the market.  The only challenge I've had is figuring out how to play the games once I get back and get myself a copy.  Sometimes there is not enough time to sit and play all of these amazing products at each conference.

So I've searched online and the good news is that some of the unplugged board games have tutorials.  There is real merit in having students do unplugged activities and now with board games we don't always have to craft them all.

​Now, full disclosure (and I know that I'm not the only C.S. teacher to do this) but since sometimes it is challenging to leave a tech infused lesson, especially with code, for a substitute often I leave board games for days when I'm out.  I do this for several reasons.  One of the reasons is that board games don't have power buttons which means they can't 'go down' or have tech issues that a substitute will be left to deal with.  It also forces me when I return to take a good, hard look at instruction of the games for the other classes.  

What I've found is that when I unplug with board games it does two things for the students.  First, it slows them down.  Instructors are starting to see how coding to understand vocabulary such as repeats, loops, functions, if/then, etc when off the tech helps students gain deeper understanding which then they take with them when the tech gets turned back on.  I've seen students create more difficult Scratch projects after playing a few rounds of Code Monkey Island (which is my personal favorite.)

Second, (and I've written this in other posts,) it's all about the manipulates.  What is it about having pieces to hold in your hand that translates for visual learners?  I love it.

Here are some of my suggestions on getting started with coding board games:

• Little Codr
  
• Code Monkey Island  (So much like playing Trouble)
  
• Code Master
  
• Coder Bunnyz (Invented by a 2nd Grader.  Talk about a conversation.)
  
• Robot Turtles
  

How can you expand on Board Games Unplugged?  Have the students create their own board games! 

Don't forget to look through the curriculums of other CS tools you may already own.  For example, ask yourself how you can reuse those Puzzlets pieces in another way.