One of the things that I have always loved about VEX 123 is the opportunity it offers for a broad range of students to get involved with coding, and in a screen free way. This is particularly important for our youngest learners and students with special needs, who often do not have access to the same kinds of CS tools or lessons, but who, with something like 123 and the flexibility it provides for how to interact with and code the robot, can learn coding concepts and have really impactful learning experiences.
I wanted to share this video to give some visibility to what Dr. Maya Israel is doing with VEX 123 and a cohort in Broward County Public Schools and their students with disabilities and special needs.
I had the honor of talking more with Dr. Israel at the 2023 VEX Educators Conference and hearing about the work she was doing toward inclusivity in CS education, and was truly inspired. If you didn’t get to see her presentation at the conference this past Spring, you can watch it any time in the PD+ Video Library!
What are ways that you are working toward inclusivity in CS education in your own setting? If you attended the conference, what stuck with you that you brought into your teaching practice this year?
