Get students excited about digital literacy, computational thinking, and coding concepts through a series of virtual sessions. Join the Northern Coding Academy team for a week of lessons and challenges where multiple classes and grades can participate together!
Digital Skills Week has two parts. The first part consists of four (4) 45-minute live virtual sessions (1 per day) with your Northern Coding Academy instructor.
The second part is dedicated to completing asynchronous challenges. These challenges will take up to 3.5 hours to complete.
Digital Skills Week is a new program providing digital learning opportunities to underserved students in rural and high-needs urban areas throughout Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
This program is funded through the Government of Canada's CanCode program, and is provided at no cost!
Storybook Coding
Recommended for: Kindergarten to Grade 2
How do you use coding to tell stories? What even is code? Students will explore the concepts of “sequencing” and “variables” through both traditional and interactive digital stories, then apply that knowledge to create a story of their own!
Dates:
October 23-26, 9:45 to 10:30AM
October 23-26, 1:15 to 2:00PM
November 27-30, 9:45 to 10:30AM
December 18-21, 1:15 to 2:00PM
January 29 - February 1, 9:45 to 10:30AM
February 26-29, 9:45 to 10:30AM
March 18-21, 1:15 to 2:00PM
*Chromebook or Tablet based activity optional
Coding in Nature
Recommended for: Grade 1-3
You're probably thinking, what do nature and coding have in common? More than you'd think! Students will explore how patterns, loops, and other coding concepts manifest in the natural world. Then, students apply those concepts to understand the changing seasons, the four elements, and life cycles.
Dates:
September 25-28, 9:45 to 10:30AM
October 3-6, 1:15 to 2:00PM
March 11-14, 1:15 to 2:00PM
March 18-21, 9:45 to 10:30AM
March 25-28, 1:15 to 2:00PM
*Chromebook or Tablet based activity optional
Cryptic Coders
Recommended for: Grade 3
How can you use computational thinking to solve problems? In this program designed especially to meet the outcomes of the new grade 3 computer science curriculum, students will decode messages and crack logic puzzles as they learn all about pattern recognition, decomposition, and algorithms. Become a junior codebreaker and embark on a journey of mind-bending fun!
Dates:
November 6-9, 9:45 to 10:30AM
November 6-9, 1:15 to 2:00PM
December 4-7, 1:15 to 2:00PM
January 9-12, 9:45 to 10:30AM
February 5-8, 1:15 to 2:00PM
March 4-7, 1:15 to 2:00PM
* Chromebook or Tablet based activity optional
Game On!
Recommended for: Grades 4-6
Why do we find it difficult to disconnect from our devices? Does social media affect self esteem? How do you stay safe online? Students will learn to navigate the internet with confidence, get tips on how to avoid deception, and embrace a growing library of online tools and digital wellness features.
Dates:
September 25-28, 1:15 to 2:00PM
October 16-19, 9:45 to 10:30AM
October 16-19, 1:15 to 2:00PM
December 4-7, 9:45 to 10:30AM
December 18-21, 9:45 to 10:30AM
January 29 - February 1, 1:15 to 2:00PM
March 25-28, 9:45 to 10:30AM
*Requires Chromebooks
Creative Coders
Recommended for: Grades 4-6
Where do you use code? Math, science, and.... well, any subject! Students will learn coding concepts then apply them creatively to visual art, poetry, and music. Students will then create a multimedia art project in Scratch to demonstrate what they’ve learned!.
Dates:
October 3-6, 9:45 to 10:30AM
November 27-30, 1:15 to 2:00PM
December 11-14, 1:15 to 2:00PM
January 15-18, 9:45 to 10:30AM
February 12-15, 1:15 to 2:00PM
March 11-14, 9:45 to 10:30AM
*Requires Chromebooks
Fact Finders
Recommended for: Grades 5 to 7
What is research? How can we be sure the content we find online is accurate? Students will learn to think critically about the media they consume on platforms like TikTok and on the internet more generally. Learn about bias in the media, copyright laws, and why a graph isn’t always what it seems. This program highlights climate change, health, vaccines, and more.
Dates:
November 14-17, 9:45 to 10:30AM
November 14-17, 1:15 to 2:00PM
January 9-12, 1:15 to 2:00PM
February 5-8, 9:45 to 10:30AM
March 4-7, 9:45 to 10:30AM
*Requires Chromebooks
Digital Wellness
Recommended for: Grades 7-12
Why do we find it difficult to disconnect from our devices? Does social media affect self esteem? How do you stay safe online? Students will learn to navigate the internet with confidence, get tips on how to avoid deception, and embrace a growing library of online tools and digital wellness features.
Dates:
October 31 - November 3, 9:45 to 10:30AM
October 31 - November 3, 1:15 to 2:00PM
December 11-14, 9:45 to 10:30AM
January 15-18, 1:15 to 2:00PM
February 26-29, 1:15 to 2:00PM
* Phone recommended, Chromebook acceptable
Media Sleuths
Recommended for: Grades 8 to 12
What is “fake news”? How about peer review? Can you identify bias in a source? Students will use critical thinking skills to examine the spread of misinformation and to evaluate the credibility of content they encounter online. Understand how to apply copyright laws and discuss the ethics of copyright with respect to new machine learning technology. Learn about scientific research methods, how statistics can be misleading, and why a graph isn’t always what it seems. This program highlights health, vaccines, artificial intelligence and more.
Dates:
November 20-23, 9:45 to 10:30AM
November 20-23, 1:15 to 2:00PM
February 12-15, 9:45 to 10:30AM
*Requires a Chromebook
