Continuing on conversations about tech for good, helping our students build global competence, and preparing our children to be successful in an ever increasing digital world, Kelly and Sean speak with Will Richardson, founder of the Big Questions Institute.

“Are we preparing students to identify and confront problems they care about, collaborate beyond classroom walls, and overcome the false dichotomy between local versus global? Do we see our work as educators as the work of building a better world?”

Special Guest: Will Richardson.

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• BIG Questions Institute - Big Questions Institute — The Big Questions Institute was created to help educators of all stripes build their capacity to see and accept this moment for what it is and to peer into the future with skill. We ground that work in "fearless inquiry," a disposition of deep questioning and truth-telling of our practice and mission.
• EMO - LivingAi — Built with multiple sensors and cutting-edge techs, Emo is a cool desktop AI robot pet with characters that can self-explore the world and react to you with 1000+ faces and movements. 
• 9 Questions Free EBook - Big Questions Institute — In this new ebook written by BIG Questions Institute co-founders Will Richardson and Homa Tavangar, we suggest that now is the perfect time to ask whether the learning environments our students need today are the same as the ones schools offered them pre-pandemic. And that this is no time to go back to a "normal" which in many ways wasn't all that great to begin with.
• 10 Books for 2022 - Big Questions Institute — (*Because This Is an Historic Moment for Education)
• Amazon.com: The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Memoir of Friendship, Loyalty, and War eBook : Donohue, John "Chick", Molloy, J. T.: Kindle Store — One night in 1967, twenty-six-year-old John Donohue—known as Chick—was out with friends, drinking in a New York City bar. The friends gathered there had lost loved ones in Vietnam. Now, they watched as anti-war protesters turned on the troops themselves.

This week, Kelly and Sean look over all that happened in 2021 for Teaching Python and commit to some bigger goals for 2022. What were the highlights according to our co-hosts?

From the great guests to the wins in the classroom, Kelly and Sean catch up and kick off the new year together.

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• Amazon.com: Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know eBook : Grant, Adam: Kindle Store — Organizational psychologist Adam Grant is an expert on opening other people's minds--and our own. As Wharton's top-rated professor and the bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take, he makes it one of his guiding principles to argue like he's right but listen like he's wrong. With bold ideas and rigorous evidence, he investigates how we can embrace the joy of being wrong, bring nuance to charged conversations, and build schools, workplaces, and communities of lifelong learners.
• Amazon.com: Terraform: Up & Running: Writing Infrastructure as Code: 9781492046905: Brikman, Yevgeniy: Books — Terraform has become a key player in the DevOps world for defining, launching, and managing infrastructure as code (IaC) across a variety of cloud and virtualization platforms, including AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, and more. This hands-on second edition, expanded and thoroughly updated for Terraform version 0.12 and beyond, shows you the fastest way to get up and running.
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (TV Series 2017– ) - IMDb — A housewife in 1958 decides to become a stand-up comic.
• Amazon.com: LEGO Ghostbusters ECTO-1 (10274) Building Kit; Displayable Model Car Kit for Adults; Great DIY Project, New 2021 (2,352 Pieces) : Toys & Games — This is the ultimate ECTO-1 building kit for fans of LEGO bricks and Ghostbusters looking to build their next model car or simply relax with an immersive hands-on hobby project
• Hacker News - We're two middle school teachers learning and teaching Python [audio] | Hacker News
• Teaching Python Episode 68: Learning How To Learn with Barbara Oakley — This week, Kelly & Sean chat with Barbara Oakley, author of the upcoming books Uncommon Sense Teaching and Learn Like a Pro. Together, we talk about everything from learning Russian to the ways that the brain processes information and how teachers can best help students learn.
• Teaching Python Episode 67: Mu Editor: Part 1 of the Education IDE Series — Kelly and Sean kick off part 1 of their Education IDE series with Nick Tollervey and the Mu Editor, a Python editor for beginners with modes for "pure Python," MicroPython, CircuitPython, PyGame, Flask web apps, and more.
• JoBase | Home — Welcome to JoBase

We sometimes make assumptions when it comes to students and using technology, that students are savvy tech users. Although coding curriculum lends itself easily to incorporating many digital citizenship skills, even the best Computer Science course may not focus as much as you think on directly teaching these important skills. Furthermore, it is a lot of pressure for just one class to bear.

Special Guest: Richard Culatta.

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• Digital for Good: Raising Kids to Thrive in an Online World by Richard Culatta — When it comes to raising children in a digital world, every parent feels underprepared and overwhelmed. We worry that our children will become addicted to online games, be victims of cyberbullying, or get lost down the rabbit hole of social media. We warn them about all the things they shouldn't do online, but we don't do nearly enough to teach them the skills of digital well-being.
• We are ISTE | ISTE — We help educators around the world use technology to solve tough problems.
• Circuit Playground Bluefruit - Bluetooth Low Energy : ID 4333 : $24.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits — Circuit Playground Bluefruit is our third board in the Circuit Playground series, another step towards a perfect introduction to electronics and programming. We've taken the popular Circuit Playground Express and made it even better! Now the main chip is an nRF52840 microcontroller which is not only more powerful, but also comes with Bluetooth Low Energy support for wireless connectivity.

It's the most wonderful time of the year as Kelly and Sean put together a gift guide for techie kids! From transformable robots to glowing toys to soldering stations, we cover the items on our lists for the holidays. Check the show notes for links that support the podcast!

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• Amazon.com : Plugable USB 2.0 Digital Microscope with Flexible Arm Observation Stand Compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux (2MP, 250x Magnification) : Electronics — Useful and fun for students, collectors, testers, and anyone interested in exploring the microscopic world. Includes a microscope camera yet cannot be used as a document camera
• Hakko FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station FX-888D FX-888 (blue & yellow): Power Soldering Accessories: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement — Introducing the HAKKO FX-888D Excellent thermal recovery Heater output has been increased by 30% compared to that of the conventional models HAKKO 936·937. Also FX-888D delivers excellent thermal recovery by using T18 series tips for their terrific heat conductivity.
• Amazon.com: Otamatone [English Edition] Japanese Electronic Musical Instrument Portable Synthesizer from Japan by Cube/Maywa Denki, Black : Toys & Games — BEST SELLING – One of Japan's best selling musical Instrument Portable Synthesizer toys!

This week Sean and Kelly are joined by Dr. Becky Smethurst from Oxford to talk about code and science. Dr. Becky is an astrophysicist, author, and science communicator. Each week, she publishes a video on her YouTube channel explaining a bit about space,

Special Guest: Becky Smethurst.

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• Dr. Becky - YouTube — Your friendly neighbourhood astrophysicist.

This episode is all about working with the data we generate for students, whether it's in the classroom, your school, or your district. Special guest star Rusti Gregory joins us to talk about his transition from the classroom to the data manager role.

Special Guest: Rusti Gregory.

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• Trick or Treat for Programmers — Sure, you know Trick OR Treat, but how about Trick XNOR Treat?

Kelly and Sean revisit some of our favorite hardware that we use to teach Python. From the various versions of the BBC micro:bit to the ecosystem of CircuitPython boards, we talk about all the pros and cons!

Whether you're just getting started with using Python in hardware or you're a seasoned teacher, this episode should have something for everyone. We use hardware to give tactile and tangible feedback for our students when they write code. Students learn to do everything from make lights blink and shimmer to driving motors to using sensors to measure the environment.

Join us on a journey into Python hardware!

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• CircuitPython — CircuitPython is a programming language designed to simplify experimenting and learning to code on low-cost microcontroller boards.
• Micro:bit Educational Foundation | micro:bit — Get creative, get connected, get coding!

Kelly and Sean interview Tom Lauwers, founder and CEO of BirdBrain Technologies about the role of robotics in the computer science classroom. We've used the Finch 2.0 robot, which is designed to use the BBC micro:bit as a foundation for coding and computer science. Whether you're in a traditional classroom, teaching after school, or just trying to get people excited about the POWER OF CODING, robots can play a vital role in learning.

BirdBrain Technologies’ mission is to inspire deep and joyful learning in all students through creative robotics.

Founded at the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University in 2010, BirdBrain is a research-based company that promotes gender equality and diversity in computer science, engineering, and robotics.

A large part of our mission is to assist educators interested in bringing computer science and engineering design into any classroom. We work collaboratively to support teachers with free standards-aligned curriculum and professional development. Our products have been used by thousands of teachers around the world to bring creative design and robotics fun into the classroom!

Special Guest: Tom Lauwers.

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• BirdBrain Technologies - BirdBrain Technologies — BirdBrain Technologies’ mission is to inspire deep and joyful learning in all students through creative robotics.
• Introducing Finch Robot 2.0! - BirdBrain Technologies — Bring computer science to life from kindergarten to college with the NEW Finch Robot 2.0!
• Borrow a Robot Free for 60 Days! - BirdBrain Technologies — BirdBrain Technologies will allow educators in the US to borrow a robot for 60 days for FREE!
• Hummingbird Robotics Kit - BirdBrain Technologies — The Hummingbird Robotics Kit is an easy-to-use, creative robotics tool which allows students to design, build, and program a personally meaningful robot out of any materials, with any device, in multiple programming languages.
• Teaching Python - Blog - RIP Google Colab in Education — The Teaching Python blog post about the end of Google Colab in K-12...
• CREATE Lab — The Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment Lab (CREATE Lab) explores socially meaningful innovation and deployment of robotic technologies.
• Amazon.com: Learn to Solder Kits Hue Soldering Kit | DIY Electronics Projects For Beginners | Practice For Adults & Kids STEM Classes & Events | Science Project Electronic RGB LED Light Circuit Board With Battery : Toys & Games — INTERACTIVE RGB LED KIT - Learn to solder in a unique, engaging, fun, and achievable way! The Hue Learn to Solder practice kit is our second solder project kit designed for beginners but offers more of a challenge than the Blink Kit. It features one large RGB LED light and three small dials. As you turn the dials the brightness of the red, green and blue change in the LED. Try different combinations to make any color in the rainbow!
• Finch Robot Loan Program - BirdBrain Technologies — We are currently lending out the original Finch Robot, which is tethered to the computer with a USB cord and works with computers and Chromebooks only (it does not work with tablets/phones). If you are interested in borrowing the new Finch Robot 2.0, which is wireless and works with computers, Chromebooks, and tablets/phones, please email [email protected] and we’ll let you know when that program is available.
• Amazon.com: microbit V2 Go Kit Programming Development Board STEM Pocket-Sized BBC Micro:bit Computer,Built-in Touch Sensitive Logo,Speaker and Microphone : Electronics — microbit V2.0 is a tiny programmable computer, designed to make learning and teaching easy and fun! Addition of the speaker and microphone：Same great features easier ways to use sound and touch to get creative in the classroom.

Kelly and Sean discuss their latest experiments in the classroom, including student peer code reviews, testing code for correctness, and creating comfy environments for coding.

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• EarSketch — EarSketch helps you

A lunchtime livestream with Kelly and Sean talking about setting up learning environments for students, coaching and setting high expectations for students, and the new tools we're using this year for teaching code.

Note: Kelly's audio track has a bit of echo that we can't eliminate. We'll get it fixed for next time.

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