Greetings! My name is Steve Dembo and I have the pleasure of teaching CSAI for grades 5-8 at Quest. I joined the team at the end of February, and unfortunately only had the opportunity to spend about one month in the building before we switched to distance learning. I’m incredibly excited to be back in the building this year and to be teaching your students all about computer science and artificial intelligence.

While each grade level will have different learning experiences, they will all have opportunities to learn about robotics, circuitry, coding, AI and design thinking. My approach focuses on core experiences to ensure that every student has a firm foundation in these areas, but to do so through open ended challenges that will allow students who are ready to really stretch themselves. Students who need support will get the scaffolding they need, and students who are more experienced in an area will never be held back. I will provide ample opportunities for them to expand upon their existing knowledge and take their skills to the next level. I don’t think students should ever say to themselves, “That was too easy and I didn’t learn anything from it.”

Primary communication will flow through Google Classroom (5th grade) and Powerschool (6th-8th grades). Every week, I’ll be posting an overview of what we’ll be covering, as well as specific information for each grade level as needed. Every student will also be creating a new blog this year, and we will frequently be using that as a means for publishing our work.  Don’t forget to check on your students’ blog periodically to see what they’ve been up to!

Here’s to a fantastic year together!