When Tiffany Benitez started her school’s STEM and robotics club, four Galena Park Independent School District students signed up for it. She was a teacher at the time, and the group’s size quickly doubled to eight as more students learned about the opportunity. Soon, this district elementary science specialist’s robotics capabilities were maxed out.

The Challenge
“I only had two robots, so even if kids pleaded to join the club, we just couldn’t accommodate them,” said Tiffany Benitez, Galena Park ISD’s District Elementary Science Specialist.
The Solution
“With CoderZ, all of our students now have the opportunity to learn computer coding, and that positively impacts equity,” said Benitez. “There’s no more having to say, ‘No, our club is full.’
The Result
Several of Galena Park ISD’s campuses use CoderZ in their technology enrichment classes and others have a weekly “enrichment hour” scheduled with campus digital learning and assessment coordinators.

Click Here to Download a PDF of this Case Study

During the spring of 2020, Galena Park ISD invited 15 students to join the club based on their teachers’
recommendations, grades, and conduct. Within just a few weeks, the club’s size reached 50 kids. At that
point, Benitez knew she needed to find an innovative way to accommodate that thirst for STEM and robotics knowledge, and one that didn’t require the district to purchase 50+ robots.

Benitez, who didn’t like seeing four students “standing around” while the other two worked on the physical robots said, “Most of the students were bystanders who weren’t involved or learning.”

Breaking Down the Barriers
Benitez learned about the CoderZ K-12 computer science virtual robotics platforms when her district
participated in the Amazon Cyber Robotics Challenge and used the LEGO EV3 robot, for which CoderZ offered a virtual version.

“I just keep adding and adding new students,” said Benitez. “Multiply that across all 15 schools and it’s clear just how impactful the virtual robotics platform has been for the school district.”

“The students were able to actually see the robot that they were programming on their screens. They just felt like they didn’t miss a beat and they weren’t being left out,” Benitez said. “They loved the experience.”

Thanks to CoderZ’s innovative online learning environment, Galena Park ISD’s students are learning how to program real and virtual robots using 3D robotics simulation. Benitez no longer has to cap her club’s capacity, which means more kids are getting the hands-on, 21st century skills that they’ll need for college and career.

Increasing Equity in K-12
For the 2021-22 school year Galena Park ISD opened up the robotics club to students in grades K-5. This helped level the playing field for kids who may not otherwise be exposed to technical education in a district where the student population is 79.3% Hispanic and 15.2% African American.

The district’s STEM/robotics program has a vision of creating opportunities for inspiring young people to be STEM leaders by engaging them in programs that build STEM skills that inspire innovation and foster well–rounded life capabilities including higher-order thinking, self–confidence, communication, and leadership.

“All of our students now have the opportunity to learn computer coding, and that positively impacts equity,” said Benitez. “There’s no more having to say, ‘No, our club is full’ or watching students stand around while their classmates work on the physical robots.”

A Platform that Teachers & Students Love

The first time Benitez used CoderZ she was impressed by how easy the platform was to use. It provided
lessons that she could use, plus missions and challenges for the students. Having resources in her corner
helps Benitez created engaging lessons for her expanding robotics club. When you’re using robotics hands-on, you have to create the lesson in a way that keeps pushing students, challenging them, and increasing the difficulty levels.

“Now, CoderZ does that for us instantly,” said Benitez. “As a teacher, I love the pacing that it provides for the students. I no longer have to do that. It was done for me via the program’s own curriculum.”

CoderZ also regularly asks for feedback and input on the platform, knowing that teachers are an integral part of the program success. “CoderZ is always supportive and helpful when we need them,” said Benitez, who likes the platform’s scoreboard, where students can see how they measure up against their peers and other groups.

“They love to try to get out in front and lead,” said Benitez, “but they also really like being able to help each other and the leaderboard gives them the data they need to be able to contribute on that level.”

This especially important for soft skill development, which is yet another benefit of using CoderZ. Students learn how to naturally coach and encourage one another—skills that translate well in college and the workforce.

“The peer coaching is so wonderful to see because they can apply that to other subject areas, like math, reading, and science,” Benitez explained. “Students support one another because they want to see their classmates get to that next challenge.”

The knowledge attained through computer coding also aligns with other subjects that students take in school. For instance, coding, programming, and sequencing are all used in math for measurement. The platform also encourages the natural “tinkerers” to get in there and figure out tough problems by testing theories and hypotheses. These skills are valuable in science classes and other subjects.

The virtual nature of CoderZ also encourages experimentation without any negative consequences. It also provides mini tutorial videos with step-by-step instructions for the often-complex engineering design process. This helps prep students for college and career success in engineering fields.

“There are just so many places where they’ll be able to apply this type of engineering knowledge, problem solving, and critical thinking,” said Benitez.

Relishing the Chance to Compete

Several of Galena ISD’s campuses have used CoderZ in their technology enrichment classes and others have a weekly “enrichment hour” scheduled with campus digital learning and assessment coordinators. “They use CoderZ during that time with our K-5 students,” said Benitez, who sees this as yet another way for schools to incorporate the platform into their school day.

In some cases, those campus initiatives have turned into competition among the participating campuses. The students love it, with the elementary schools (which don’t have sports teams) really enjoying the competitive nature of the platform. “We have a spelling bee, a geography bee, a STEM competition and several math competitions,” said Benitez. “They all have so much school pride, so they really relish the opportunity to compete against other campuses.”

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Competition has long been recognized as a powerful motivator that, when well-facilitated, can bring out the best in individuals. It can push us to test our limits, foster creativity, and develop problem-solving skills. It can open doors to demonstrate how we work with others and collaborate – especially under pressure, how we offer help and support to our team, the importance of knowing when to lead and when to follow, and how we can create environments that cultivate feelings of inclusiveness and belonging.  

When it comes to the world of coding and robotics, these principles hold true.  

The launch of Fall CoderZ League heralds an exciting opportunity for students to engage in friendly competition with students from all over the world, while honing their coding abilities.  

CoderZ League – What Is It and How Does It Work 

CoderZ League is a highly anticipated coding competition that provides a unique platform for students to showcase their coding prowess in a virtual environment, alongside their teammates and classmates. The league is organized by CoderZ, (that’s us!) a leading provider of educational robotics and coding solutions.  

The league is comprised of various missions designed to test participants’ coding skills, logical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. These missions are carefully crafted to cater to students of different skill levels, ensuring an inclusive and engaging experience for all participants. With our user-friendly interface, our platform allows students to seamlessly navigate through the challenges presented in the league, and by participating in the Fall CoderZ League, students will learn to apply multidisciplinary knowledge while using coding concepts in a practical and fun manner. 

Each year the Fall CoderZ League finals are LIVE streamed on TWITCH – adding to the excitement of the competition for the students. Many classrooms or even schools will rally around their teams who make it to the finals, to watch the competition, almost like a pep rally.  

Learning & Competition: A Dynamic Duo 

Research has shown that competition plays a vital role in the learning process, offering numerous benefits to students. Here are some key insights into the value of competition: 

1. Motivation and Engagement: Competition taps into students’ intrinsic motivation, spurring them to work harder and persist in their efforts. The desire to outperform peers or to win alongside their teammates fosters an engaging learning environment that encourages active participation and commitment. 

2. Skill Development: Competition provides a platform for students to refine and apply the skills they have acquired. In coding, for example, participating in a league like the Fall CoderZ League allows students to practice problem-solving, critical thinking, and algorithmic design, thereby strengthening their coding abilities. 

3. Collaboration and Teamwork: While competition can sometimes emphasize individual achievement, when facilitated properly it also fosters collaboration and teamwork. To participate in CoderZ League, students will form teams of up to six (League Tip: the closer to six teammates, the easier it is to maximize your score!) to tackle challenges collectively, promoting cooperation, communication, and the sharing of ideas.  
   
   Such collaborative experiences develop crucial interpersonal skills that are essential in today’s interconnected world. Kerstin Dumas, a Literacy Specialist and Teacher at Highland Goffes Falls School District recently utilized CoderZ League in her classroom. She observed incredible transformations in her students while immersed in the competitions. Most notably, over the course of the competition, students began to shift from a focus on their own personal glory to helping their team or even others in their class understand and learn to master a specific mission. She notes that one of the coolest things about her experience with CoderZ League is watching certain students transform into leaders, and watching students who had previously fallen behind in school climb back up. According to Dumas, “…they were incredibly engaged. And the problem-solving piece, that piece was crucial to their development.” In fact, Dumas reports that 75% of those who participated in CoderZ League were recognized for their academic growth in achieving a level of distinction on the New Hampshire State Assessment, and additionally academic improvement was observed in every student who participated in CoderZ League.

4. Resilience and Perseverance: Competition teaches students the value of resilience and perseverance. Facing challenges and setbacks during a competition encourages individuals to learn from their mistakes, adapt their strategies, and strive for continuous improvement. These skills are transferable to other areas of life and contribute to developing a growth mindset.  

5. Real-World Relevance: Competitions like the Fall CoderZ League simulate what it’s like to apply your knowledge to different and new contexts, often under time constraints or with other limitations or barriers – just like in the real world.  By solving complex problems, students gain a deeper understanding of how coding can be used to address real-world challenges, enhancing their ability to transfer knowledge to future projects. Video gaming and eSports even can be used to inspire kids to become programmers or hardware designers. 

Fall CoderZ League provides students with an immersive learning experience that celebrates their achievements and encourages continuous growth. Time and time again, one of the best parts of getting to sit down and discuss with teachers who have previously used CoderZ League competition in their classrooms is hearing them describe so many incredible ‘Ah Ha’ moments their students experience within the competition. 

Check out the winners for Fall CoderZ League 2022.  

Competition can be a powerful tool in education – igniting motivation, engagement, and skill development. As we continue to live in a rapidly changing world of technology, students can never have too much tech. The Fall CoderZ League presents an exceptional opportunity for students to develop a passion for computer science while also having fun.  

Ready to provide international competition to your students and give them a fun way to sharpen their coding skills while also developing important life skills such as perseverance, collaboration, and problem-solving? Registration is NOW OPEN for Fall CoderZ League.

Register Here: CoderZ League – Register 2023 (gocoderz.com) 

The post CoderZ League: Combining Fun and Learning Through the Power of Competition appeared first on CoderZ.

Game play is almost always synonymous with the fun and joy that forms our core memories as children, and much of our entertainment as adults. On the flipside, “learning” and “school” aren’t always considered fun. How many times have you heard a kid say, “ugh, but I don’t wanna go to school today”, or heard a parent say, “finish your homework and then you can play.” 

And yet, games involve many of the same components as learning like, repetition, trial & error, feedback, etc. In fact, as you play a game, especially one that provides an appropriate level of challenge, you are constantly evolving, learning and growing throughout the experience.  

How Do “Play” and “Games” Contribute to Learning? 

We all know that in order to play a game, learning the rules is required (aka, arguably the LEAST fun part of a game), but it’s more than that. There is continuous learning that continues as we play a game. (And a lot of the learning is the fun stuff).  

But what is it exactly about games that are so stimulating? Why are many of us (or our children) so determined to conquer a level in a video game – even through blood, sweat, tears? But how could that same energy applied outside of a video game feel so daunting? What elements of game design are effective in the classroom? Are there aspects of pedagogical design that get overlooked when trying to incorporate game-based learning? These are all questions that excite us and keep our gears moving.  

Nerding-Out Over Game-Based Learning  

Game-based learning is an increasingly popular educational tool that is making its way into classrooms around the world. By incorporating game-based learning into the classroom, teachers can increase student engagement, help students to better retain information, and create an enjoyable learning environment.  

But what exactly is game-based learning?  

Game-based learning (GBL) is the use of interactive tools and digital games to engage students in the learning process. It is a form of educational technology that is designed to be both fun and educational. In game-based learning, students are presented with a simulated environment in which they must use both existing knowledge and skills, while also acquiring new knowledge and skills, to complete objectives and progress.  

eSports… But Make it Academic

Many schools are catching onto the value of GBL, and for good reason. There are countless benefits that serve as a trifecta for satisfying the needs of students, teachers, and administrators.  Game-based learning provides opportunities for:  

• Active learning 
• Problem solving 
• Critical thinking 
• Creativity  
• Immediate feedback 
• Practicing adaptability and flexibility
• Trial and Error
• Immersion

Research tells us that there is considerable evidence that GBL paired with extracurricular activities produce:  

• Positive impacts on student self-esteem 
• Increased focus in class 
• Increased participation, engagement, and attendance 
• Improved academic performance 

Game-based learning provides an outlet for fun and a break from sometimes more traditional forms of learning. It engages students who are visual and kinesthetic learners. It provides opportunity to work in teams and collaborate. It even mirrors the way many tech and highly technical jobs practice a procedure or mission for many careers, using simulations to practice until perfection.  

Because many students utilize games in their personal lives, GBL also provides a form of engagement and learning that can feel more comfortable, which can help improve confidence and reception of immediate feedback, and remove feelings of imposter syndrome and confusion when learning complex concepts.  

Game-based learning is also an effective way to help students to better retain information. Studies have shown that students who engage in game-based learning are more likely to remember and understand the material they have learned than those who use traditional methods of instruction. This is because games are interactive and engaging, making it easier for students to remember the material.  

By making learning fun and engaging, students are more likely to be interested in the material and be more willing to participate in the learning process. One study found that students who used game-based learning scored an average of 20% higher on tests than those who did not.

Game-Based Learning – Teachers Enjoy the Benefits, Too 

Bringing something brand new to the classroom can feel intimidating. Afterall, students aren’t the only ones who have to learn something new when a new platform is introduced. And there are barriers to introducing game-based learning in the classroom.  

For teachers, adding another thing when they are juggling so much is a big ask. But many teachers report observing the benefits of game-based learning in their classroom. When surveyed, it was found that 81% of teachers who used game-based learning in their classrooms reported that it had a positive effect on student engagement and motivation.  

As many states begin to introduce new legislation requiring Computer Science or Digital Fluency standards in classrooms of all grade levels, game-based learning is an opportunity for not just teachers, but administrators to explore as well.  

Check Out a Recently Recorded Webinar All About Game-Based Learning  

Our Director of Pedagogy, Elizabeth Bacon, and Head of Marketing, Anna Grymes, recently hosted a webinar “The Value of Bringing Game-Based Learning to Your Classroom.” The webinar covered:  

• Ways that games encourage behaviors that support student learning 
• What game-based learning is and the elements of games that lead to great learning experiences 
• How to leverage game design principles to develop engaging and effective learning experiences 

Gain access to our Game-Based Learning recorded webinar here.  

The post Game-Based Learning: Maximizing Engagement and Learning Outcomes with Fun appeared first on CoderZ.

Are you ready to introduce computer science in your classroom? Have you been looking to enhance motivation, boost confidence, and provide an exciting hands-on opportunity this semester?   

Spring CoderZ League kicks off in less than three weeks (March 27^th) and the training camp is NOW OPEN! 

Play, Compete, CODE with Spring CoderZ League 

We can all agree, gamified learning and learning through play is one of the best ways to engage students.  

Add a dash of *international* competition (NBD but your students will feel super cool), and you’ve unlocked a whole new excitement level.  

Spring CoderZ League is a global, byte-sized competition where students develop and employ their coding and digital robotics skills through team-based missions. This competition provides a taste of the popular Fall CoderZ League, where students can compete globally to demonstrate and apply their coding skills. 

Spring CoderZ League is designed to allow students to: 

• Gain momentum and excitement in their coding journey through a spring competition 
• Practice and apply 21^st century skills – competition provides a unique opportunity to advance critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity 
• Work together as a team to accomplish a shared goal  
• Compete and play alongside classmates and students from across the globe 
• Gain confidence and experience to be ready for the popular annual Fall League, our signature competition with even more action and fun! 

Who is Spring CoderZ League designed for? 

Just like in the fall, students of any skill level can participate. There is no prior coding experience necessary and in fact, this is a fun way for students to dip their toes in the water before they begin coding curriculum next school year or enter the Fall League competition.  

However, this condensed version of League does not include the Pro Division and only includes Novice Division and Junior Division. (Don’t worry! Pro will be back for the Fall League!) 

Previous Novice teams can benefit by entering the Spring CoderZ League at the Junior level, and get a taste of a more advanced playing field and a mini version of what the fall will bring.   

Teachers also do not need experience in coding, and the competition allows teachers to get a glimpse of what is offered in the coding curriculum and a taste of offering digital robotics coding in the classroom. While the curriculum comes with many teacher resources, this coding competition still meets teachers where they are at and provides guidance for teachers to give their students an awesome experience.  

Competition without Complication 

Even for new-to-CS teachers, Spring CoderZ League provides competition without complication. We recognize the value in having an experience that is not only fun for students, but also fun for teachers. The symbiotic relationship of both the teachers and students enjoying an educational experience fosters the foundational steps of learning through enhanced engagement, motivation, encouragement, and interest.  

Spring CoderZ League offers a robotics competition that is equitable and inclusive. You can play in the classroom and at home. The competition encourages students to:

• Collaborate with their peers and delegate different responsibilities
• Think outside of the box
• Work under unique constraints that can mirror real-world application constraints.
• Practice important elements of Social-Emotional Learning like building relationships, emotional awareness of self and others, empathy, flexibility, optimism and perseverance.   

How do I know which division to choose? 

No prior experience? What a great place to start! 

The Novice division is an introduction to STEM, where teams work together as they navigate Zappy the robot through engaging missions. Students experience the fundamentals of robotics including basic principles of coding with Blockly using simple chain commands. 

Recommended for: 4th-6th Grade 

Basic coding knowledge? Junior is the place to be! 

Teams will compete to unlock new games and challenges to get their virtual 
robots to the finals! As they practice their coding using Blockly, students also develop computational thinking and creative problem-solving skills. 

Recommended for: 6th-9th Grade and previous Novice participants 

Need something more advanced? The Pro Division will be back in the fall, serving up the competition for those ready to take on coding in Python. In the meantime, check out our curriculum for advanced coders. 

Access Spring CoderZ Resources to Get Started  

View our recorded webinar that goes over all of the in’s and out’s of Spring CoderZ League, plus access to preview videos of each of the games that will be featured in the Spring competition.  

Click here to get exclusive resources.

Gamification and competition encourage students to learn and develop skills while also having fun! Celebrate the successes of the school year while creating computer science confidence in your students in preparation for next year through a fun-filled, global coding competition. 

Level up your students’ gamified learning 

Get Bonus Content by Registering NOW! 

The competition officially starts March 27^th when students will have access to begin playing missions where they earn points toward the competition, but the Training Camp with access to all of the activities to begin preparing and practicing is OPEN NOW. The sooner you join the competition, the more opportunity your students will have to practice, play, and win the competition. To learn more about the timeline of the competition click here. 

Check out the webinar with access to bonus information and an inside look at the games here.  

Learn more about the Spring CoderZ League here. 

Register Now

The post Bring Digital Robotics Competition to Your Classroom with Spring CoderZ League appeared first on CoderZ.

CoderZ League 2022 Championships were broadcast LIVE, Thursday, January 12^th. The final games were streamed on Twitch, where coders were put to the challenge to compete in an international competition against fellow learners from across the world.  

Want to see the excitement for yourself? Check out the recording from the Twitch stream of the 2022 CoderZ League Championship here.  

Congratulations Winners! 

CoderZ League Pro Winner: Team – Master 

CoderZ League Junior Winner: Team – Granny’s Graveyard 

CoderZ League Novice Preliminary Winners: Teams – T-X Coders, Robotic Griffins, R-Kids 

Students competed from across the globe, pouring their hearts and minds into the competition and we are so impressed by all who participated. The skills, knowledge, determination, and openness to learn made this competition incredibly epic. 

View our CoderZ League Hall of Fame to see all the winners past and present.  

Learn more about CoderZ League Competitions. 

A Digital Robotics Coding Competition Unlike Any Other 

CoderZ League is the ultimate international coding competition for kids, where students form teams made up of up to six members battle through games and missions to attain the title of CoderZ League World Champions.  

At the beginning of the 2022-2023 academic school year, thousands of students joined the competition from every corner of the globe and ranging in all skill levels – some having no prior coding experience while others entered the tournament with a more expansive coding background.  

The competition for the Fall League is broken up into three divisions:  

• Novice – an introduction to coding and an opportunity to gain STEM fundamentals  

• Junior – an opportunity for students to expand and challenge their coding skills while applying 21^st Century Skills to learning 
• Pro – an advanced competition for students who are ready to take on the ultimate challenge while learning and applying multidisciplinary STEM concepts like physics and geometry 

Students enter the competition and begin building team cohesion through collaborative bonding activities like creating a team flag, practicing different roles, and delegating responsibilities.  

Check out 5 Winning Tips for Teachers From Our Community 

Students begin in the training camp to prepare for the competition and from there, start acquiring points for their team through missions and challenges.  

The top teams in the competition will enter into a bracket-style tournament – the March Madness of coding competitions that are organized based on geographic location.  

From there, the top teams go on to compete in the finals where their code will be live-streamed as they duke it out to earn the title of CHAMPION. 

Igniting a Passion for Computer Science, CoderZ League Takes Gamified Learning to the Next Level 

Creating buzz and excitement around computer science, CoderZ League helps build momentum and turn up the notch on enthusiasm and engagement in the classroom. Dr. Yuvraj Verma, an inner-city teacher at Martha Gaskins Elementary School within the Birmingham City Schools System in Central Alabama participated in this last season of CoderZ League.  

In an article he wrote for eSchool News, he describes how robotic gamification helped his elementary students love STEM. He was looking for a coding curriculum option that provided programming efficiency, automation, and replicable actions, and noted that the “…differentiation [within CoderZ] enables inclusion among diverse learners (i.e., students with special needs, English Language Learners, etc.)”. According to Dr. Verma, “…I was surprised that the program also taught my students practical life-skills as well, including teamwork, resilience, and relationship building.” Dr. Verma lead his students to become the Eastern-US Champions of the Fall 2022 CoderZ League Robotics Competition. 

Students at Douglas Elementary in Texas rallied around their classmates and cheered them on in the competition. The coders put themself to the challenge and made their school so proud! Although they didn’t win the competition, they gained so much through the entire tournament, not to mention, the momentum and excitement around STEM that was brought to their school was a special experience for all. They gathered in their school’s gymnasium to cheer on their classmates and watch the competition live on Twitch! 

Enhancing engagement through gamified learning 

When students are evaluated on what they’ve learned, their average evaluation scores improved by 35% when gamification was involved in the learning process. Some scores even improved as much as 89%.  

The CoderZ League competition continues to fuel new motivation for students to engage in STEM and apply themselves in a way we don’t often get to when it comes to learning computer science in the classroom. Competition is such a great driver of learning, as is play.  

As we at CoderZ strive to provide opportunities for students to learn in ways that engage and encourage them with accessible and equitable opportunities, we are continuously being inspired and reinvigorated by the ways educators bring coding options to their classrooms and the creativity behind ways to engage and uplift students (sometimes even at an entire school level) to new challenges and exciting opportunities.  

Interested in bringing the competition to your school?  

CoderZ is offering a byte-sized version of the competition with Spring CoderZ League, which is designed to:

• Celebrate the end of the school year with a competition that allows students (and teachers) to have fun while practicing and applying 21st century skills  
• Continue to hone their coding skills with an easy-to-use platform
• Allows educators to dip their toes into coding curriculum and gain first-hand experience seeing just how easy it is to use computer science in the classroom.
• Open the doors for more students to participate who weren’t able to join in the fall.

*Novice division games include: Robogolf, Discoblock and Moon Base. Junior Division games include: Farm Fever, Lasers vs. Baloons and Jungle Gym. Pro unavailable for Spring 2023 but will return for Fall CoderZ League 2023

The big competition will also be back in the fall, and in the meantime, Spring CoderZ League is an amazing time to give your students a taste and help prepare them to compete and win BIG!  

Register Now for Spring CoderZ League Challenge.

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