If you are in a group that is not yet familiar with you or each other, start with an icebreaker introduction activity to help learners feel comfortable and open with the class. You’ll find an example in the slides above.
We like to use a collaborative “whiteboard” to assist in that intro activity, but also as a place to all students’ artworks **and speed exercises, perhaps showing them at the front of the class. We love Miro or FigJam.
- Make sure you have an access link for the students before the start of the class, so they can easily upload their screenshots or p5.js links once they’re finished.
Seating arrangements that position the learners in pairs or groups (with round or larger tables) are ideal. Sitting next to each other allows them to mingle or lean to each other for help or support.
Each student will learn code in a different pace and a different way. Some of them may focus more on their own screens and less on you ****— code is much more easily and quickly adopted through real life demonstration! So equal to the time spent delivering material, also give students plenty of time and space to explore and try on their own.
There may be some learners in the room who feel like they’re “falling behind”. This is why we’d prioritise making time for the final “buddy up” exercise. Through pairing up with a friend and remixing each other’s sketches, we’re hoping learners can break out of their shell but also share each other’s knowledge.