In this interview with McKay Perkins, we discuss what McKay has learned over the years providing elementary CS/coding professional development, considerations for creating within constraints, teaching a sustainable way for integrating CS/coding in elementary schools, the importance of adapting PD to continuous feedback, advice for becoming a professional development facilitator, and much more.

Click here for this episode’s show notes.

How to Get Started with Computer Science Education

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00:00 Intro

00:56 McKay introducing himself

01:33 How McKay got into CS education

05:15 Something McKay no longer believes after his experiences in education

10:01 What does an ideal PD experience look like?

15:58 Creativity within constraints

18:05 Situating interdisciplinary connections

21:25 How McKay's experiences in PD have informed his own approach

26:15 How instructional design informed McKay's approach

31:55 Advice for learning how to facilitate PD

38:21 Something attendees might not be aware during PD that McKay focuses on

41:46 How McKay practices or iterates on his abilities

43:59 How McKay tries to prevent burnout

46:52 Why don't we assess whether or not kids have fun?

47:46 Tips for online teaching and learning

49:16 What McKay wishes there was more research on

52:32 How I could better assist the CS community with this podcast

54:02 How to connect with McKay

54:20 Outro