Our Mission at Pickcode
During my time in the classroom, I saw firsthand how difficult it is to be a computer science teacher today. Classroom management, kids on cell phones, limited prep time, insufficient PD, emailing parents, entering grades, academic integrity issues… The list continues for a while!
The absolute last thing that I wanted to deal with was an issue with my computer lab that affected my student’s ability to do their work. That realization paired with my background in tech made me start working on Pickcode.
In addition to the issues that I mentioned above, CS teachers in particular deal with:
- Running code on Chromebooks or outdated computer labs
- Monitoring student progress and collaborating with students
- Efficiently collecting student work for assessment
- Students copy pasting code from online
- Curriculum resources that quickly go out of date
The state of the art for my peers in PD programs I attended was to have students upload and download zip files of code to every class period and take screenshots of their finished work. Teachers couldn’t run their student’s code, had limited knowledge of what students were working on during class, and couldn’t effectively collaborate with students on their code.
Students frequently worked on tools designed for professionals that left them confused and losing focus and on the material that teachers wanted them to learn. The list continues, but the point is clear. Current solutions don’t serve students and teachers well enough.
The problems above don’t require rocket science to solve. Simple, reliable, well designed software is all teachers need to simplify their classroom setup and spend more time inspiring students, building relationships, and fostering an inclusive and supportive classroom.
Pickcode won't fix everything about CS education, but we're focused every day on improving our one piece of the puzzle. Are you a computer science teacher or administrator who wants to improve outcomes in your classroom? Email me at charlie@pickcode.io and I’d love to chat.
