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The Code’s the Thing:
Coding a Growth Mindset

By Jen Perry 45+ minutes
Level
For Everyone
Subjects
English Language Arts,
Other
components
  • Programming
  • Data
  • Technology and Society
Tools & Languages
Unplugged

Key Coding Concepts

  • Debugging

Terminology

Debugging

Finding problems in code and solving them.

Learners will explore how developing a “growth mindset” is an essential requirement in being a successful coder. Learners will understand that coders have to take risks, be willing to make mistakes, gain knowledge from their mistakes, accept feedback, and persevere in adverse situations. After viewing growth mindset videos, learners will create their own dramatic skits as they act like coders.

Materials

  • Props for a dramatic skit (optional)

Before the lesson...

  • Preview growth mindset videos and select based on learners’ age

Preview Growth Mindset Videos

Videos for K-6:
Class Dojo has an excellent collection of growth mindset videos (5 videos approx. 2 minutes each)
Sesame Street: Do Growth Mindset
Sesame Street: The Power of Yet

Videos for Older Learners:
Mindset Works has a collection of videos
Maybe It’s My Fault: Michael Jordan Commercial
TedEd Growth vs. Fixed Mindset an Introduction

Discuss the term “growth mindset”

  1. Ask your learners when they have shown a growth mindset?
  2. Why do coders need to have a growth mindset?
  3. What is debugging? Why do coders need to have a growth mindset when debugging code?

Dramatic Skit

In small groups, learners can create their own short skits pretending to be coders. The first skit will be about coders who do not have growth mindsets and the next skit will be about coders who have a growth mindset. Provide an opportunity for learners to share their skits with their class.

With your class, create your own skit rubric or use a pre-developed rubric such as the Skit Rubric by Scribd.

Use the ‘Mindset Works: Effective Effort Rubric’ to assess learners’ growth mindset during future coding projects.

Coding: Provide learners with the opportunity to demonstrate a growth mindset when working on their own coding projects.

English: Journal prompt ideas:

  • What is something you want to improve on?
  • Write about a time when you failed? How did you feel?
  • What is a time you demonstrated a growth mindset?

Math: Make connections between math and developing a growth mindset: Growth Mindset Song For Students (2019) (Math Songs by Numberock)

Technology & Society (History of Technology): Explore key figures who overcome challenges (for example, Ada Lovelace).

Data & its Uses: Explore this ‘Education.org’ article about growth mindset and data for educators.

Videos for K-6:
Class Dojo Growth Mindset videos
https://ideas.classdojo.com/b/growth-mindset
Sesame Street: Do Growth Mindset
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnrHZ_uvtxk
Sesame Street: The Power of Yet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLeUvZvuvAs

Videos for Older Students:
Mindset Works has a collection of videos
https://www.mindsetworks.com/videos
Maybe It’s My Fault: Michael Jordan Commercial
https://youtu.be/9zSVu76AX3I
TedEd Growth vs. Fixed Mindset an Introduction
https://ed.ted.com/featured/qrZmOV7R

Skit Rubric by Scribd
https://www.scribd.com/doc/1452102/Skit-Rubric

Mindset Works: Effective Effort Rubric
https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/mindset-net-site/FileCenter/3JIQAYABR8M8GHQCQ05Q.pdf

Growth Mindset Song For Students (2019) (Math Songs by Numberock)
https://youtu.be/0roRXBlEuRs

Growth Mindset in a Data-Driven Culture (education.org, 2015)
https://eleducation.org/resources/growth-mindset-in-a-data-driven-culture

Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash
https://unsplash.com/photos/9GL6YGDJ-tw

Teach lessons that are tied to your existing curriculum! https://bit.ly/CLClessons

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    The K-12 Computer Science Framework

    Although learning how to build digital projects is a key part of Computer Science education, students should also learn a wider set of skills and competencies that will help them to harness the power of digital technologies as both creators and consumers. A comprehensive approach to K-12 Computer Science education includes learning about the following five focus areas:

    View Framework ➝

    Programming

    By the end of high school, students should be able to create a simple computer program.

    Computing and Networks

    By the end of high school, students should understand and be able to use the tools and devices commonly used to build digital projects.

    Data

    By the end of high school, students should be able to explain how we use computers to create, store, organize, and analyze data.

    Technology and Society

    By the end of high school, students should be able to explore the ways in which technology and society have mutually shaped each other.

    Design

    By the end of high school, students should be able to apply design principles to the digital projects they create.