Tech Programming For Kids and Teens

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1 Tech Programming For Kids and Teens At Manheim Township Public Library A little about my background.. Some questions may not be answered this afternoon! Accounting - MBA/CMA No computer programming experience No MLS Elementary/Middle School Teaching Certificate Mission to serve all patrons year-round Teens 1

2 Year-round program offerings - Adults and Seniors Book Clubs Art Exhibits Computer Instruction Photography group Crafts Classes Retirement Workshops Mah Jongg Author Visits Toastmasters Preschool Patrons - Core Programming for Youth Services Baby Storytime 3x per week Toddler Storytime 3x per week Preschool Storytime 3x per week Parachute Programs 3x per week Passive programs (Duplos, Dress-up, Market, Puzzles, Computers, Coloring, Play Kitchen) Programs for Kids and Teens Summer only: Book club, STEM Program, Crafts, Character Events, Theater, Reading logs/prizes Year-round (1x/month unless indicated): - Lego party - Therapy Dog (1x/week) - Family Movie night - Board Game night - Teen cooking - Teen advisory board Paradigm thinking: Kids are too busy during the school year to come in for regular programming - so we don t offer much... 2

3 December, 2014 Megan Eshleman was approached by local coding group, and we held our first: International Hour of Code event! (actually it was four hours long!) March, Launched Monthly Coding Club Coder Dojo organization brought the program to us (already running in Duke Street Lancaster location). Library provides the space and equipment, facilitates registration - they provide volunteers with expertise and a desire to give kids motivation to code. Baby Steps: Lessons Learned Anticipate demand! We were thrilled to have such interest but sad to have to turn away kids due to fire code constraints! 3

4 Baby Steps: Lessons Learned Teens gave us feedback We want our own session; don t want to hang out with little kids on our own time Created two sessions: Junior - (7-12) Teen - (13+) Growing the program: Teen mentors - the secret sauce Core group of volunteer teens who have interest and ability in coding Find them by word of mouth, or from AP Computer Science teacher The programmers supervise the teens in terms of coding instruction, but actually work side-by-side with Teens volunteer in the Junior session (earning them in equal roles service hours for H.S.) Teens mentor kids and gain experience in leadership 4

5 Librarian s role: Provide space Provide equipment Answer parents questions! Librarians don t have to know anything about coding to run a Coder Dojo! Coder Dojo: Teen session A meetup for teens with a common interest (all things tech) Projects develop organically, or can be driven by the adult volunteers App development Website creation Raspberry Pi Advanced coding languages Minecraft mods How to build and run a server Junior Program Management: What Works? Green cup on top: I m fine; don t hover! Red cup on top: Please help me! I don t use a yellow cup...unless you have a good reason to! 5

6 December nd Annual International Hour of Code (yes, four hours long again!) Coder Dojo (avg mo.) 28 patrons 112 patrons 18 patrons But still.this is another 1x per month program. Minecraft Launch March 1, 2016 (Test Phase) Welcome to Minecraft Club! at Manheim Township Public Library 6

7 Why Parents and Teachers like Minecraft OPEN-ENDED PLAY - Kids discover the features of the game as they play - endless variety in this sandbox game! COLLABORATION - Kids love to help each other defeat mobs (monsters) RESEARCH - Kids are highly motivated to read online and check out books to learn skills to help them obtain rare inventory or build complex projects STEAM, Humanities, Languages teachers have all successfully employed EDU to deliver lessons. Teachers with Minecraft background enjoy developing lessons in this format. What is the Minecraft Club? Minecraft EDU - built on the same technology as commercial Minecraft Exclusive to schools and libraries Purchased prior to acquisition by Microsoft...no longer available to buy. Moving to a new platform... What is changing with the new platform? Minecraft EDU $18/client and $42/server license, perpetual Install on unlimited machines, usage limited to number of licenses owned Patrons must come to library to play on our server $25/month cloud server OR run your own free Minecraft in Education $5 per student per year Account follows student - play from any location Moderator controls-unknown at this time Downloadable Lesson Plans Support team from EDU moving to this product Great moderator controls Shared library of adaptable worlds 7

8 Patrons 5/17/2016 Minecraft = Coder Dojo Similar audience (easy to market MC at CD events) Teens also interested in coaching/volunteering Digital policy is similar Crossover branding Mojang-produced game for Hour of Code ComputerCraft mod for Minecraft Minecraft Coder Dojo Need to run as a whitelisted server set up in advance - think about how that works for your library May not be able to use library s event registration system Limited to number of licenses purchased (EDU) Need dedicated server/it support OR cloud server Kids play together online - need to set expectations for behavior Minecraft EDU - Constraints # of licenses used at any given time cannot > 18 Staff # of laptops owned by library and shared with other programs # of staff hours to oversee program (All Youth Services staff = Part Time) Meeting Room demand for paid rentals, competing programs Massive interest (160+ filled an interest survey) Looking at another 1x/month program or...time to think outside the box: 8

9 PC Reservation system - Drop-in programming! Your library card # unlocks your reservation MTPL s Minecraft Club Structure Guarantee of playing time (N hours per month). Servers run full time, and you can sign up for dates and times that meet your preferred playing style. Ability to sign up for limited large sessions with skilled coaches or make appointment to play unsupervised anytime the library is open. Alternatives for you? Host a public server Pro: Lots of choices, price points Con: Patron must already have Minecraft account OR: Con: You must maintain all license/ password credentials and log patrons in each time. Your tech-savvy, responsible teens might be great resources to assist in setting this up! For further information, check out this article in SLJ: 9

10 When you are on your own... 10

11 Now...let s talk about the program! Supervised multiplayer server groups: Limited (for now) - Cross-train existing and future Youth Services staff - Learn as we go: group size, mix - Need certified teen volunteers - NOTE: Supervision is virtual, (no child care provided) - Playing guides available to borrow by request Supervised Multiplayer: NOOBS New to Minecraft Play is tutorial based No saved work Supervised Multiplayer: SURVIVAL CHALLENGE Show off your skills and learn new ones either from friends or teen coaches! Earn experience points by completing increasingly difficult challenges. Join the various Orders Wooden Sword: Pts Stone Sword: Pts Iron Sword: Pts Golden Sword: Pts Diamond Sword:

12 Turtle Coding Computer Craft EDU included in cost of MinecraftEDU license Turtles are essentially robots that can be programmed to do all of the tasks that your avatar performs. Turtles can mine, farm, build while your character takes care of other survival tasks. Advanced features develop coding skills while having fun Supervised Multiplayer: CREATIVE CHALLENGE 32 players per world Usually some sort of building prompt (not mandatory) Players return all month to complete project Screenshots can save projects and share with community Our first month prompt What I would like to see in Overlook Park (the site of our library) And now the accountant comes out of hiding... MINECRAFT SESSIONS - ACTUAL VS. PROJECTIONS Spring session: forecast # of volunteer coaches 4 4 # of members enrolled # of sessions - March 190 Summer # of sessions - April 145 # of sessions/month- Summer est

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14 Baby Steps: What We re Learning Set expectations! - Each session lasts 3 months, and new parents and kids must attend an informational meeting to be admitted to whitelist - Parents and kids both sign a contract agreeing to online and physical behavior rules as well as honoring appointments. - Explain consequences and reasons behind them (e.g., using too many licenses Baby Steps: What We re Learning Successful launch: - Over-communicate at first - Practice signing in at informational meeting. - White glove service - be there in person for the first drop in - Reference key of library cards and avatar names 14

15 Using the cloud server - benefits Login from home to build or modify worlds, check on players Server records everyone who accesses the world so easy to track program participation Cloud service staffers respond immediately to any issues Daily automatic backups on their end, unlimited backups from your access point. Switch playing modes in an instant Cost - ongoing at $25 per month Using the cloud server - downside Uncertain long-term support if Microsoft pulls plug. Per their rep We plan on keeping the service alive as long as there is demand for it. Beyond that I don t have any insight. If something does go wrong, it s up to you to discover it. Once you alert them, they are extremely diligent in getting you back on track. Why offer tech programs to kids and teens? 15

16 Reason #10 - Kids and teens need libraries, too! Kids will associate the library as a welcoming place to be with friends Through play, kids will collaborate and meet like-minded peers Reason #9 - Priorities in affluent communities Hypercompetitiveness may manifest itself in academics and sports, relaxed fun and play may be devalued Jonah Green, MSW. Working with Affluent Families. February 26, Reason #8 - Priorities in underserved communities Programs like these are hard to find. MT s Minecraft Club draws kids from our adjacent city as well as some more rural towns...kids from all kinds of backgrounds play together without any thought of racial, ethnic, developmental, or class differences. 16

17 Reason #7 - Teens can get leadership skills Great for college portfolios Confidence-builders (gamers tend to be quiet, but open up when helping little gamers) Teach responsibility and other career skills Reason #6 - You can piggyback even more ideas Minecraft - 3D creations Minecraft Show-&-Tell Google cardboard crafts Reason #5 - Makerspaces! Lots of local groups will welcome the chance to work with you if you provide space, after that people will come! Teens are already doing lots of innovative hacks, this gives them a community! 17

18 Reason #4 It s Easy to Start! 1) Find space 2) Find experts 3) Get out computers 4) Have fun! Reason #3 Tech and Art can coexist! What would you like to see at our park? Reason #2 - Coding is a valued skill A few of your kids or teens will decide they like coding enough to pursue a career. It will be a good decision! US. Dept. of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook - Faster than average employment growth, higher than average salaries 18

19 Reason #1 - Dispel myths about library relevance Not the tired repository of books that is on its way to obsolescence because of the Internet... Questions? Playtime! Go to 19