Overview
To nurture students into pioneers and creators in the digital world, Hong Kong Education City has partnered with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to launch the Computational Thinking Self-Learning Course, designed specifically for students. The course will be launched in two phases, with content restructured based on the CoolThink@JC framework and presented in a new format. Through programming, the course aims to help students develop problem-solving skills, enabling them to confidently face challenges in the rapidly evolving digital era.
The CoolThink@JC Programme
This programme was initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust (“The Trust”) and co-created by The Education University of Hong Kong, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and City University of Hong Kong. Its mission is to nurture students’ proactive use of technologies for social good from a young age, offer equitable access, and mainstream computational thinking education in the formal curriculum. It offers a comprehensive curriculum grounded in rigorous research, fostering computational thinking skills among students. Through a structured learning approach encompassing play, think, code, and reflect steps, students develop problem-solving abilities and creativity through coding activities. The project’s learning materials were adopted and adapted by the EDB in 2023 for its published “Enriched Module on Coding Education for Upper Primary Level”. The CoolThink curriculum is now adapted and integrated into EdCity’s e-learning platform for all primary and junior secondary students.
Online Self-Learning Course Content
The course, divided into three levels, guides students to make stories, games, and animations on Scratch and MIT App Inventor. Both are free programming websites developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US.
Level 1 focus: Scratch
Levels 2, 3 focus: MIT App Inventor
Level 1 Course Overview
Unit 1: Let’s Learn Scratch!
Unit 2: Scratch Dance Party
Unit 3: Make a Maze Game
Unit 4: Tell a Joke with Scratch
Unit 5: Storytime on Scratch
Unit 6: Making Magic
Unit 7: Computational Art I
Unit 8: Computational Art II
Unit 9: Project
Levels 2, 3 Course Overview:
Please stay tuned
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the basic concepts of computational thinking and their application in coding
- Apply computational thinking concepts and practices in real-world problem-solving
- Develop creative thinking, learning to express ideas through computing
- Enhance self-directed learning and exploration skills, boost interest in programming
Target
Upper primary and junior secondary students
Schedule
Level 1: To be launched in November 2024
Levels 2, 3: To be launched in April 2025
FAQ
Q: Where can I take the course?
A: Click the button ‘Join now’ to take the course. As long as you have an EdCity account, you will be able to join the course.
Q: If I do not have any coding experience, can I still join this course?
A: Absolutely! Anyone can learn to code. This program is targeted specifically for beginner coders.
Q: What software do I need for the Level 1 course?
A: We will be using Scratch, a free programming website. We recommend that you create an account on Scratch. To do so, click ‘Join Scratch’ in the top right corner of the Scratch home page. Then, type in a username and password.
Q: How long will it take to complete the Level 1 course?
A: We suggest that you spend half an hour to an hour on each unit. As such, completing Level 1 may take around 9 hours.
Enquiries
About the course:
jenny.tsui@hkecl.net
2624 1091
Technical support:
info@edcity.hk