Template Guides for Blockly Keyboard Navigation
Quick Guide
Reference Materials provide more in depth guidance to using keyboard navigation. GIFs, screencasts, audio and transcripts are linked from the slides (as available). Each topic can be accessed individually or the complete guide can be viewed.
The Quick Guide can be used by educators and students to get started with keyboard navigation.
It is formatted as half pages. This makes it easy for educators to print so that it does not take up too much room in the limited space of many classrooms. The formatting can be adjusted as appropriate to your context.
Reference Materials
PowerPoint reference by topic
Definitions:
Getting Started
The Toolbox and the Workspace
Block Navigation in the Workspace
Using Parameters
Best Practices when Programming
Google Slides reference by topic
Definitions:
Getting Started
The Toolbox and the Workspace
Block Navigation in the Workspace
Using Parameters
Best Practices when Programming
Other Media
The Toolbox and the Workspace
Navigating within the Toolbox
Adding a Block from Toolbox to Workspace
Block Navigation in the Workspace
Notes:
These resources are intended as templates to create keyboard navigation guidance for your Blockly-based platform. The organization of the documents, the order of the items, the terminology, etc. have been determined by a group of elementary and middle school educators based on their experiences in real classrooms with real students.
The GIFs and screencasts were created using the MakeCode micro:bit interface for demonstration purposes. We created only a few, but on the slides there are suggestions about where they are recommended.
These guides were created for use with a PC. We suggest making a version for Macs as well.
Formats: the more the better!! These templates have been made accessible, so please consider that when editing them. We have amazing partners at Accessible Community who can help check accessibility!
From a teacher “I love when things are in Docs, Slides, etc. so I can edit before pushing them out to students and ensure that everything matches our login processes, devices, etc.”
Thanks to the Maryland educators who created and provided guidance on these resources:
Jennifer Siderius, Frederick County Public Schools
Benjamin Hurley, Washington County Public Schools
Britt Simmons, Caroline County Public Schools
Jennifer Starr, Howard County Public Schools
Jennifer Weaver, Baltimore County Public Schools
Jessica Leedy, Prince Georges County Public Schools
Josephus Hastings, Wicomico County Public Schools
Todd Pozen, Prince Georges County Public Schools
Virginia Fulton, Prince Georges County Public Schools
Please be in touch
with your questions, comments, and suggestions: elissa@codeintheschools.org