This document provides resources for integrating technology skills, engineering design, and coding into STEM education. It discusses constructivism and constructionism in learning. Resources are presented for engineering concepts and design thinking from kindergarten through 5th grade. Computer science and coding resources for kids are also included. The document outlines assignments for creating a Scratch program and designing a lesson plan focused on teaching skills for a technology or media creation tool. Additional resources are presented on coding stories and games, teaching coding to young children, and integrating engineering and STEM concepts into elementary classrooms.

1. Integrating
Technology Skills,
Engineering Design,
and Coding
EDU 5913 - STEM Education for the 21st Century
Module 5

2. THE CONTENT:
Integrating Technology Skills,
Engineering Design, and Coding
Questions for Reflection:
● What is the constructivist theory of learning?
● How does “constructionism” help students to best understand how learn through
“making”?
○ Websites:
■ PBS Design Squad Global
■ Exploratorium - The Tinker Studio - Projects for experimenting with STEM
■ MakerEd - Projects - Projects and Learning Approaches
■ MakerEd Tools and Materials - resources for makerspaces and projects
■ Cooking with Kids - Links cooking to culture

3. THE CONTENT:
Integrating Technology Skills,
Engineering Design, and Coding
● What is Engineering?
● MA DESE K-5 Engineering Frameworks
● Video: Solid Works: From Dream to Design - The spark of possibility that
engineering design thinking creates for students!
● Engineering Design Resources - K-5 - Wonderful resources to bookmark for student
interest/research and for at-home learning connections that can be incorporated into
unit design!
● Engineering Resources - K-5 - Great variety of activities for whole class or small
group learning that promote inquiry, curiosity and engineering
● Computer Science and Coding for Kids
● Artificial Intelligence for Kids - K-5 - products to introduce students to AI by having
them try their hand at “machine learning”

4. THE APPLICATION OF CONTENT
LEARNING
1. SCRATCH Project - Create a Scratch or Scratch Jr.
account; code a simple interactive game or story. Share
your program, and submit a document with:
a. Your name,
b. The Scratch program title that you create,
c. The Scratch online project link( i.e.
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/387510474/ ),
d. Two screen shots, and
e. One paragraph about what the program does

5. Scratch and Collaboration
● Key ‘21st Century skills’ include communication,
collaboration, and creativity
● The Scratch coding platform is expressly set up to
encourage these skills by encouraging creators to
share what they have made.

6. Scratch and Collaboration
● By sharing your creation, others can ‘remix’ your creation and add their
own sprites, behaviors, and artwork- the essence of the creative process.

7. THE APPLICATION OF CONTENT
LEARNING
2. Design a lesson (this is Lesson Plan #4 of the unit) that provides skill
training in a technology tool or media creation tool (which may be used
later in Lesson Plan #5). The technology tool/ use can be varied and could
include:
a. Tools - sewing, using scissors to cut correctly, using screwdrivers, hand looms,
glue guns, etc.
b. Communication media could include how to use iMovie, DoInks (green screen),
Google Slides, etc.
c. Design tools examples could include Google Drawings, KidPix, TinkerCAD,
SketchUp, etc.
d. Research, communication and collaboration examples include Google
Search, Google Image Search, Google Docs, Gmail, Google Earth
e. Simulations include West Point Bridge Designer, Concord Consortium
programs, EdHead

8. THE APPLICATION OF CONTENT
LEARNING: Caveats!
● Lesson Plan #4, with a focus on providing students with skill training in a
technology tool or media creation tool, should enhance your unit by
providing students with a “training” that will help them to accomplish an
upcoming task in the unit
● Select the tools/technologies that are most aligned with your developing
unit and with the developmental abilities of your students (e.g. - in a unit
where PreK students are expected to cut out visuals, this lesson could
incorporate cutting with scissors; it could also be a “how to” on completing a
storyboard diagram, practicing speaking skills while being filmed in iMovie,
using role play and learning props to “be a character”, etc.)
● Older students (Grade 2 and up) will enjoy a more challenging learning
task, particularly if it is modeled, scaffolded, and bookmarked for easy
access!

9. Additional Resources
● NAYEC - Creating Coding Stories and Games
● Coding Games for Kids
● Teach Your Kids Code - Coding for Preschoolers
● How to Get Started Teaching Coding
● Coding Class, Then Naptime: Computer Science For The Kindergarten
Set
● What Does Engineering Look Like in Early Childhood?
● Engineering for Preschoolers: How Young Children Engineer
● PK-12 Engineering in the Classroom
● Integrating STEM into the Elementary Classroom
● 8 Great Videos to Teach the Engineering Design Process
● Tech Buddies: Building Technology Skills Through Peer Teaching