Incorporating Design Thinking Within “Genius Hour” with Laura Discenza

#CSK8 Podcast - A podcast for computer science educators

In this interview with Laura Discenza, we discuss advice for getting started with learning how to teach CS, speaking with arts educators about the intersections of the arts and CS, regularly incorporating the “20% free learning/creating time” into the school day through a “genius hour,” avoiding overly scaffolding learning in the classroom, the importance of having fun with CS in elementary school, and much more.

Click here for this episode’s show notes.

How to Get Started with Computer Science Education

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00:00 Intro

01:18 Laura introducing herself

01:36 How Laura got into CS education

04:09 What Laura would recommend for someone who is knew to CS

06:02 What Laura wish she knew when she first got started

08:13 How Laura approaches the intersections of the arts and CS

10:27 What CS and arts educators can learn from each other

12:15 How to speak to arts educators about CS

16:17 What is the Genius Hour?

19:01 How COVID impacted Genius Hour

21:20 Advice for starting a Genius Hour

23:23 How to support students with Genius Hour

28:15 What an ideal learning environment looks like

29:58 What's holding back the field and what can we do about it?

34:03 How Laura iterates on her abilities

35:05 How Laura prevents burnout

38:45 Advice for focusing on equity and inclusion

42:55 What Laura wishes there was more research on

43:39 Something a listener might be able to help Laura with

45:07 How to connect with Laura

46:10 Outro