Education and Child Care
More than 60 teachers from the Lower Mainland gathered today at the Microsoft Centre of Excellence in downtown Vancouver to learn basic coding techniques from some of the best instructors in the industry – all to make sure B.C. students have the skills they need to succeed in today’s changing world.
Education Minister Mike Bernier joined teachers in an interactive ping pong ice breaker game. Teams had to create a simple algorithm to guide a blindfolded teammate to retrieve a ping pong ball. The game helps develop communication and critical thinking – vital skills needed for future success.
Coding is a hands-on way of teaching students how to analyze a problem, determine the steps to fix that problem and then create directions so a machine can carry out those steps. Whether or not students pursue careers in the technology sector, these are vital critical thinking skills for future success.
(flickr.com) Lighthouse Labs, in partnership with Kids Code Jeunesse, is leading two-day training sessions throughout the province, providing teachers the digital literacy skills required to captivate and empower students in grades 6 to 9 in the skill of coding.
All 60 school districts have been invited to send two teachers to attend one of six regional sessions taking place in Victoria, Vancouver, Chilliwack, Kelowna, Trail and Prince George. Follow-up training sessions will be available in spring 2017.
(flickr.com) Teaching children coding also supports the #BCTECH Strategy, a key component of the BC Jobs Plan to support the growth of the province’s vibrant technology sector and strengthen British Columbia’s diverse knowledge-based economy.
Mike Bernier, Minister of Education –
“Preparing our kids for their future is our most important job, and getting teachers trained to teach coding and the new curriculum is just one way we are doing that. These workshops are a great opportunity for teachers to connect with the skills they need to train their fellow teachers and connect students with tomorrow’s skills today.”
Jeremy Shaki, co-founder of Lighthouse Labs –
“Lighthouse Labs is proud to support the Ministry of Education in training teachers across British Columbia. Investing in our teachers is an integral part of introducing our children to the world of technology. With the goal of showing Canada's next generation that code can be a vessel for any passion, you start with teachers and the rest grows from there."
Kate Arthur, co-founder and director of Kids Code Jeunesse –
“Teachers are leading children into the 21st century. We want teachers to know that they can count on us for the training and tools they need to bring learning into the future.”
Edoardo De Martin, director of Microsoft Vancouver –
"Education is a focus for Microsoft Vancouver, from research partnerships to product development and community engagement. We are proud to be welcoming teachers into our space this week as they prepare to bring coding into the classroom."
Quick Facts:
- Government has awarded a two-year contract to Lighthouse Labs, in partnership with Kids Code Jeunesse, to deliver regional training sessions on coding curriculum for teachers.
- Founded in 2013, Lighthouse Labs is an immersive, modern approach to teaching web and mobile software development. With a hands-on curriculum built by a community of industry experts, Lighthouse Labs focuses on transforming passionate people into agile programmers.
- Kids Code Jeunesse is a Canadian not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering kids, teachers and parents with the skills needed to thrive in a technology-driven society.
- While coding is currently an optional part of the Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies K-9 curriculum that is being implemented this school year, many teachers already teach coding.
Learn More:
Earlier this year, Premier Christy Clark announced funding to help connect students with coding, new curriculum and computers. Learn more about this announcement: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2016PREM0065-000994
Learn more about Lighthouse Labs: https://lighthouselabs.ca
Explore B.C.’s new curriculum: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca
For more information on the #BCTECH Strategy, visit: http://bctechstrategy.gov.bc.ca/
The B.C. government has launched a new parent engagement process to better understand how parents want to be informed of their student’s success from kindergarten to Grade 9. Participate in this process by visiting: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/yourkidsprogress
