Next week, we kick off a week of coding, and also a time to talk about the good, the bad and ugly about social media.

Coding is something that could be exciting for every age group – from simple problem-solving skills, to what-if scenarios. Students will log-into places such as Code.org, Khan Academy, Scratch, and Blockly.  I like how Scratch is positioned as a way to “Create stories, games, and animations.”

Two speakers will kick off the week:

Mel Adamaitis – Synapse Studios
“Why Coding Matters”

Dr. Stephanie Schull – Matter Mission
“The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Social Media.”

While we are at it, here are some good resources:

• Social media Use – Fact Sheet  (Pew Research, Feb 2018)
• 7 Reasons Social media is Not Smart for Middle School Kids  (Psychology Today)
• Why Coding matters for kids – Big Think