Teacher Support

Keeping Kids Engaged

• For Quicker Learners in HTML: For quicker learners, as the rest of the class completes their HTML units, encourage them to learn CSS at the same time. CSS is a language that helps with website styling. HTML can be learned without CSS, but learning CSS can help a website look nice. For example, if the class is assigned 3 Skill Struck Voyage Lessons, consider assigning the fast learners 3 CSS lessons as well.
• For Quicker Learners in JavaScript or Python: For quicker learners, during either your JavaScript or Python units, encourage them to simultaneously learn about the other language. Both languages cover the same concepts, but with different syntax. If a student can learn how to accomplish the same challenges with different languages, that builds advanced problem solving skills. Then, if the class shifts over to the other language (Python to JavaScript or JavaScript to Python), encourage them to learn Python 2 or JavaScript 2.
• For students with previous knowledge of a Concept(s): If students have already learned a concept (perhaps from a previous year) and do not wish to review it, emphasize to them the importance of practice. Highlight the fact that since they will have more practice perhaps than their peers, they will learn the material better and build better programming skills. Do this in such a way that doesn’t diminish the other students, but in an encouraging way. There’s great value in simply practicing concepts, so as a teacher don’t avoid assigning concepts previously learned, even if students protest. They may think they understand a concept, but in application may stumble.
• Students who are having a difficult time understanding: For students who have a harder time understanding the concepts, encourage them to practice at home. Skill Struck can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. Encourage them to spend time reviewing the information at home. Encourage students to complete checkpoints again for further practice. Consider encouraging parents to go through the curriculum at the same time so there is a source for help at home.
• For English Learning Students: For students who are working on improving their English, emphasize that everyone is learning these new vocabulary words at the same time. English is the standard language for programming, but the usage of different words and phrases would be new for everyone. Demonstrate great confidence that your ESL students will be able to learn to program alongside their peers.
• Create a Tutor Program: Nothing helps students understand a concept like teaching it. Pairing up the quick learners with those who struggle to learn programming is highly effective. Encourage the quick learners to coach and mentor their peers. Students are often eager to demonstrate their knowledge and skills with programming, so this allows them an opportunity to share. It can be difficult for one instructor to be able to inspect each and every students’ code for bugs, but with a tutor program, the students can help each other.

Student Analytics

Teachers have the ability to view data on their students through the Teacher Portal. At the top of the dashboard, you can view graphs on lesson time and checkpoint attempts for your class. Towards the bottom, you can view the progress of each student individually and filter by section and lesson unit.

Teacher Dashboard not working?

1. Try doing a hard refresh to the page. This is done by holding down the “Shift” key and clicking the refresh button in your browser.
2. If that doesn’t work, Try clearing the cache and cookies of your browser. Instructions on how to do that can be found here.
3. If that doesn’t work please contact Skill Struck support through the live chat found in your portal or by emailing support@skillstruck.com.