Date
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Time
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
Location Name
RL 16
Name
The Language of Computation - Supercharging the Future of Learning Today
Description
Attendees will leave with a renewed understanding of computation as a language—expression, construction, and intellectual engagement, not a technical skill. Programming environments like TurtleArt, Scratch, and robotics can be developmentally appropriate and profoundly creative—even for young children using professional-grade software. This isn't about screen time or job prep, but giving children another way to invent and make thinking visible.
I will introduce practices from colleagues in Reggio Emilia, Italy, renowned for humane, learner-centered education. We'll explore how computation breathes life into the hundred languages of children—supporting storytelling, design, and modeling.
Implementation doesn't require new departments or expensive initiatives—just a shift in mindset. By integrating computational thinking into existing projects and honoring it as expression, educators help children explore complexity and construct meaning in joyful ways.
Speakers
Session Type
Traditional Workshop
Track
Project-, problem- and challenge-based learning
Secondary Track
Computer Science
Primary Audience
Elementary School
Secondary Audience
General Educators
Fall Conference Strands
Inspire
MA DLCS Strands
Computing and Society, Digital Tools and Collaboration, Computing Systems, Computational Thinking