In this interview with Stacie Mason and Peter Rich, we discuss recommendations for introducing and integrating computational thinking in the classroom, the importance of contextualizing computational thinking within coding practices, peer and family influence on learning to code and to think computationally, lessons learned by researching coding and computational thinking, our perspectives on whether computer science and coding should be a mandatory subject, 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

01:06 An introduction by Stacie and Peter

01:42 How Peter and Stacie got into CS education

10:14 Something they believed when they first started teaching that they no longer believe

14:04 Advice for integrating computational thinking in the classroom

21:29 How their backgrounds informs their approach to teaching computational thinking

24:40 How their research has impacted their understandings of education

31:08 What surprises have they had with their own research?

35:05 Misconceptions other educators have

37:41 What they wish there was more research on

40:55 How they try to prevent burnout

44:18 How they try to improve their craft as educators

46:08 Questions for the field

55:23 Advice for teachers

58:08 How to connect with Peter and Stacie

58:45 Outro