Atlanta, Georgia | December 9, 2024
Georgia Tech’s Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing (CEISMC) is participating in Computer Science Education Week (CSEd Week) by offering a variety of online activities for student and teachers using EarSketch, the free, web-based coding/music remixing platform which was co-created by Tech School of Music Professor Jason Freeman and Professor of Digital Media Brian Magerko over a decade ago.
Throughout the week, the EarSketch team will hold virtual challenges, Hour of Code activities, (including bilingual sessions), and provide updated information on the new competitions. Students will learn the basics of block coding and Python while remixing beats from top recording artists.
CSEd Week, which runs from December 9-15, is a nationwide initiative to inspire K-12 students to learn more about computer science, advocate for equity and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers and partners to the field.
“Using EarSketch during CS Education Week is a great way to engage students in computer science by tapping into their creativity,” said CEISMC Program Director Sabrina Grossman. “EarSketch combines music and coding, allowing students to learn essential programming skills and also see firsthand how technology powers artistic expression. It’s a fun, hands-on approach to demystifying code and showing how STEM connects with their everyday passions.”
The events will kick off on Monday, Dec. 9, at 10 a.m. with “Manufacture Your Music: Design, Produce, Remix.” Then at 1 p.m., the next session will be “Radical Remix: Make Beats, Learn Code, Be Radical,” in which students will learn about the latest competition to remix soundtracks to a new Roku documentary about Renee Montgomery. The film is about her inspiring journey as a WNBA player who took the radical step to opt out of the league, become a social justice activist, and eventually become a co-owner and executive of the Atlanta Dream.
EarSketch is also partnering with BreakBeatCode to offer a 40-minute on-demand session on Monday to learn the basics of making music with code. Teachers will have access to live Q&A with BreakBeatCode coaches to provide technical support and teaching assistance.
On Tuesday, Dec. 10, CEISMC will host a virtual challenge, “Beat Ad-Libs: Who Can Remix the Top Beats? Wednesday, Dec. 11 kicks off at 10 a.m. with "Student-Centered Computing Hour of Code.” Participants must have an EarSketch account to join. Also, at 10 a.m., CEISMC is hosting a Spanish-language bilingual workshop called “Ritmos and Beats: Hora Bilingue del Código.”
Thursday, Dec. 12 features another virtual challenge, “Quiz Beats: It’s an EarSketch Kahoot.” And on Friday, Dec. 13, the Hour of Code workshops conclude with “Bells, Loops, and Drums: Let's Code a Winter Jingle” at noon. In this workshop, students will use block coding in Python to create a winter celebration remix.
Teachers and students can join in the fun, as all EarSketch workshops are free but require registration which can be completed online here.
--Randy Trammell, CEISMC Communications
