#libraries ready to code

[libraryadvocates]

Libraries Ready to Code to release beta toolkit at 2018 Annual Conference - District Dispatch

Select projects from the 27 school and public libraries participating the Libraries Ready to Code program will be featured in District Dispatch posts each week leading up to ALA's Annual Conference in June 2018, when the cohort will release their beta toolkit.

The Libraries Ready to Code (RtC) cohort announced in October 2017 is going strong. The 27 participating school and public libraries are in the midst of implementing their projects. In part, these projects were developed to test a RtC library program framework that fosters computational thinking (CT) literacies among youth. The framework grew from ALA’s ongoing RtC initiative and is the basis for a collection of tools and resources that fully support any library that wants to offer these types of youth programs.

[libraryjournal]

News from the Show Floor | ALA Annual 2017

The American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference, held this year at Chicago’s McCormick Place convention center, June 22-27, included a number of announcements and product launches from library vendors. Here are a few that LJ had the opportunity to learn about in person.

ALA and Google announced an expansion of their Libraries Ready to Code collaboration, while the Library of Congress plans to launch a legislative data “app challenge” later this summer with the themes “innovate, integrate, and legislate.”

[libraryadvocates]

Encouraging Kids to Code | American Libraries Magazine

Nicky Rigg, Google’s computer science education manager, said that the project’s primary focus was on inclusion and diversity, targeting girls and others who are not typically encouraged to develop math and computing skills. “We are still learning from this process,” she said. “In addition to tangible resources, such as teaching aids, that are being designed, … Continue reading Encouraging Kids to Code →

Here’s a quick update on the Libraries Ready to Code initiative!

[libraryadvocates]

Tomball among libraries participating in coding program for kids

Aside from providing the public with books and computer access, the Tomball Community Library is also offering girls a chance to learn to code through the Playbots Coding Club. The Harris County Public Library is one of 28 library systems awarded a $23,000 grant from the American Library Association and Google to teach children to code. Mandy Carrico, a HCPL adult programs librarian, said technology skills such as coding, can be intimidating to many people, but that learning how to code at a young age can be beneficial in the long run. "The younger you're exposed, the more you can see yourself doing these kinds of things," she said.

Playbots Coding Club tries to get more girls interested in developing technology skills

[libraryadvocates]

Computer Science Education Gets a Boost with Library Grants

Dedicated funding helps a national coding program teach students new skills in diverse neighborhoods across the country.

As educators and leaders alike seek to close the diversity gap in the tech industry, the importance of expanding computer science education to students from all backgrounds has become integral.

In an effort to do this, Google and the American Library Association teamed up to launch the Libraries Ready to Code initiative to help libraries establish programs that will teach students computer science and computational thinking skills.

Thanks to more than $500,000 in grants for 28 libraries in 21 states, this program got a major boost to do just that. While the program was established this past summer, ALA reported in late October that this is the first time Libraries Ready to Code has received any sort of dedicated funding.

[libraryadvocates]

The wait is over! The Libraries Ready to Code grant program is now accepting proposals (through August 31, 2017). The program seeks to facilitate the development of  youth programming in libraries that will teach computer science and computational thinking skills. An informational webinar will be held on August 1, 2017 at 2:30 eastern. Visit http://www.ala.org/tools/readytocode to sign up for the webinar and find out how your library can apply for the grant.

[libraryadvocates]

The Congressional App Challenge: Connecting today’s Congress with tomorrow’s coders - District Dispatch

Visit the CAC website (congressionalappchallenge.us) to get more information, and then let your Congressional office know that you’d like them to host the CAC in your district! Most offices are happy to participate if they know there’s interest.

This summer, the House of Representatives will launch the third Congressional App Challenge. From July 26 to November 1, 2017, eligible students will be invited to code and submit their own original apps, either on their own or as part of a team. (Students may compete in teams of up to four, provided at least 2 of the teammates live or attend school within the district they’re competing in). 

[libraryadvocates]

Libraries and the Computer Education Spectrum | American Libraries Magazine

Computational thinking and computer science activities in libraries were the focus of “Ready to Code: Libraries Supporting CS Education,” a panel presentation at this year’s SXSW EDU, held in Austin, Texas, March 5–8.