For a long time, tech culture has focused too narrowly on technical skills; this has resulted in a tech community that too often puts companies and code over people. Greater Than Code is a podcast that invites the voices of people who are not heard from enough in tech: women, people of color, trans and/or queer folks, to talk about the human side of software development and technology. Greater Than Code is providing a vital platform for these conversations, and developing new ideas of what it means to be a technologist beyond just the code. Featuring an ongoing panel of racially and gender diverse tech panelists, the majority of podcast guests so far have been women in tech! We’ve covered topics including imposter syndrome, mental illness, sexuality, unconscious bias and social justice. We also have a major focus on skill sets that tech too often devalues, like team-building, hiring, community organizing, mentorship and empathy. Each episode also includes a transcript. We have an active Slack community that members can join by pledging as little as $1 per month via Patreon. (https://www.patreon.com/greaterthancode)
Episode 006: Getting Technology Into the Hands of Children with David Bock
00:17 – Welcome to “PC Principal Shit!” …we mean, “Greater Than Code!”
00:35 – David Bock Introduction and “Smoked Pork” Discussion
04:56 – Teaching Kids Computer Science Concepts
TEALS: Computer Science in Every High School
12:50 – Being Scientifically Literate
Neil deGrasse Tyson YouTube Video
14:13 – Gender and Peer Pressure Dynamics
On @greaterthancode with @bokmann. He had a student who realized "Oh! Computers aren't smart! They're just dumb, really really fast!" :D
— Sam Livingston-Gray (@geeksam) November 2, 2016
22:13 – Curriculum and Good Teaching Languages
C.A.M.S: Coding at Middle School
23:16 – Games as an Entry Point for Programming
34:00 – “K-12 is pretty broad age range. How do you tailor the curriculum for different ages? Do you find that there are things you can teach to older kids that definitely don’t work with younger kids?” — Darin Wilson
36:17 – Understanding Abstract Thought
What’s Going on in There? by Lise Eliot
37:19 – “How do you handle multiple skill levels? Specifically, what can you do to set a culture where kids who know a little more won’t intimidate those who are completely new?” — Jacob Stoebel
40:51 – Getting Equipment and Resources Into the Hands of Students; “How do you deal with equipment? Not every kid rolls up with Arch Linux installed on their Macbook Air, presumably.” — Ben Hamill
45:12 – Tablets vs Computer Learning and Resources; Computer Science vs Computational Thinking
35:56 – Getting Involved with Teaching Kids Technology … but Taking Care to Avoid Burnout
Reflections:
Mandy: Sharing today’s resources with kids who are interested. If you’re in South Central Pennsylvania, please reach out!
Sam: Resources for where to go and where to get started.
Coraline: Reflecting on privilege and thinking about how to get equipment into underprivileged kids’ hands.
Dave: One of the best ways to learn is to teach.
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Special Guest: Dave Bock.