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Educational Design & Technology

Digital Learning Resources

Digital Content Resources - Computer Science

These resources have not been examined for compliance with the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA)  and Education Law 2-d, therefore schools that choose to utilize any of these resources must ensure compliance where applicable. For more information on Education Law 2-d and data privacy and security in general  please refer to NYSED’s Data Privacy and Security webpage.

The sites below are provided as options and sources for ideas and inspiration only. The list is also not exhaustive; there are many quality resources and learning activities available online.

General

  1. Common Sense Education(link is external) (Grades PreK-12)
    • A nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century.
  2. CS4All(link is external) (Grades K-12)
    • The Computer Science for All (CS4All) Blueprint is an academic and implementation guide for teaching computer science in New York City public schools.
  3. Amazon: Future Engineer(link is external) (Grades 2-12)
    • Amazon supports free computer science during COVID-19, this is a growing list of free CS courses and resources.
  4. CSTA Resources(link is external) (Grades K-12)
    • Computer Science Teachers Association compiled resources to support seaching during COVID-19. Teaching CS is already difficult, and moving to a virtual environment can be challenging, so we have compiled this list to help teachers support their students during this trying time.
  5. PBS Learning Media(link is external) (Grades K-12)
    • Engineering & Technology. Discover resources and projects that connect students to engineering design practices and future careers.

Programming/Coding

  1. Code.org(link is external)
    • Code.org includes “unplugged” activities, as well as smartphone-compatible activities for students who may not have immediate access to reliable internet or laptops.
  2. Tynker(link is external) (Grades K-12)
    • Tynker offers self-paced online visual programming courses for children to learn coding at home, as well as specially designed curriculum for schools and camps. Tynker makes it fun to learn computer programming for kids ages 5+.
  3. Code Academy(link is external) (Grades 9-12)
    • Codecademy is an online interactive platform that offers free coding classes in 12 different programming languages including Python, Java, JavaScript (jQuery, AngularJS, React.js), Ruby, SQL, C++, Swift, and Sass, as well as markup languages HTML and CSS.
  4. CodeSpark Academy(link is external) (Grades K-3)
    • CodeSpark’s mission is to make computer science education accessible to kids everywhere by having no reading requirements, closing the gender gap and being free for schools. It is a learn-to-code platform for kids ages 5-9.
  5. Vidcode(link is external), (Grades 3-12)
    • Vidcode offers research-backed standards-aligned computer science courses, focused on open-ended projects for teens. Vidcode courses teach computer science, object oriented programming, web programming, design, & JavaScript.
  6. Codesters(link is external) (Grades 6-8)
    • Codesters combines a fun online coding platform for students, a powerful learning management system for teachers, and built-out coding lessons so you can start teaching kids to code in your school today.
  1. Scratch(link is external) (Grades 3-11)
    • Scratch is a free programming language and online community where you can create your own interactive stories, games, and animations. With ScratchJr, young children (ages 5-7) can program their own interactive stories and games.
    • Scratch Jr.(link is external) also available (Grades K-2)
  2. Alice(link is external) - Alice 2(link is external) (Grades K-5); Alice 3(link is external) (Grades 6-12)
    • Alice is an innovative block-based programming environment that makes it easy to create animations, build interactive narratives, or program simple games in 3D. Alice is used by teachers at all levels from middle schools (and sometimes even younger) to universities, in school classrooms and in after school programming, and in subjects ranging from visual arts and language arts to the fundamentals of programming and introduction to java courses.
  3. Kodable(link is external) (Grades K-5)
    • Kodable teaches kids core programming concepts through engaging games developed with real teachers and kids at home or at school and gives teachers a complete K-5 coding curriculum for the classroom.
  4. Daisy the Dinosaur(link is external) (Grades K-3)
    • This free, fun iPad and iPhone app has an easy drag & drop interface that kids of all ages can use to animate Daisy and make her dance on their screen. Kids will intuitively grasp the basics of objects, sequencing, loops and events by solving this app's challenges.
  5. CodeMonkey(link is external) (Grades K-3)
    • CodeMonkey is a fun and educational game-based environment where kids learn to code without any prior experience.

Game Creator

  1. Kodu(link is external)
    • Kodu lets kids create games on the PC via a simple visual programming language. Kodu can be used to teach creativity, problem solving, storytelling, as well as  well as programming.
  2. GameStar Mechanic(link is external) (Grades 2-12)
    • Gamestar Mechanic uses fun, game-based quests and courses to help you learn game design and make your own video games! Gamestar Mechanic is a game and community designed to teach kids the principles of game design and systems thinking in a highly engaging environment. It is designed for 7- to 14-year-olds but is open to everyone.
  3. Codea(link is external) (Grades 6-12)
    • Codea for iPad lets you create games and simulations — or any visual idea you have. Turn your thoughts into interactive creations that make use of iPad features like Multi-Touch and the accelerometer.