Facilitator Guide -- Computer Literacy
This guide is for the adult supporting the lessons. You do not need to be a technology expert. Curiosity is more useful than expertise.
Purpose
Computer Literacy teaches children ages 8-12 how computers, the internet, and AI tools work -- and how to use technology responsibly, safely, and creatively. The curriculum builds digital citizenship alongside technical understanding.
Who This Is For
Parents and caregivers, classroom teachers, homeschool families, after-school programs, and libraries. The facilitator's job is to support exploration, not to provide technical answers.
How to Run a 10-20 Minute Lesson
Before the session (5 min): Read the lesson. Note what the student will explore or create.
During the session:
- Open with the warm-up question (1-2 min)
- Explain the main concept briefly (2-3 min)
- Student explores or tries the activity (5-10 min)
- Discussion about what happened (3-5 min)
- Close: "What would you try next?" (1-2 min)
Recommended Session Flow
| Step | Time | What You Do |
|---|---|---|
| Warm-up | 1-2 min | Opening question or observation |
| Concept | 2-3 min | Brief explanation |
| Exploration | 5-10 min | Student tries the activity |
| Discussion | 3-5 min | What did you notice? What went wrong? |
| Close | 1-2 min | Next question or reflection |
The Debugging Mindset
One of the most important things this curriculum teaches is that errors are normal and fixable. When things go wrong (and they will), model curiosity instead of frustration: "Interesting -- what do you think happened?" The Debugging Lab (Week 11) formalizes this, but the mindset applies throughout.
Adapting for Different Settings
One child at home: Run lessons on a shared device. Sit next to the student -- your job is to ask questions, not type. Let them struggle productively before stepping in.
Homeschool group: The coding lessons (Weeks 9-11) work well in pairs. The AI lessons (Weeks 13-14) are excellent for group discussion about what AI can and cannot do.
Classroom: Pairs well with project-based learning and digital citizenship curricula. The Creator Showcase (Week 18) works well as a class presentation event.
Limited technology: Most lessons can be adapted for one shared device or even paper-based versions. See Offline Use for details.
Supporting Different Learners
Younger learners (8-9): Focus on Weeks 1-8. The CAD extension weeks are better for older learners.
Older learners (11-12+): The AI lessons (Weeks 13-14) and the CAD extension are most engaging. Challenge them to explain AI capabilities and limitations accurately.
Reluctant participants: Some children are hesitant around technology. Start with something they already use (a familiar app or game) and build from there.
Handling Sensitive Topics
Digital safety (Week 1, referenced throughout) may raise concerns about online interactions. Focus on behaviors and decisions, not on scary scenarios. "What would you do if...?" is more useful than descriptions of risks.
Avoid collecting or viewing students' actual online accounts, passwords, or messages.
Checking Understanding
- "How would you explain to a friend what the internet is?"
- "What is one thing you can do now that you could not do at the start?"
- "What is one question about computers you still have?"
Privacy and Student Data
No student data is collected. Student projects stay on the student's device or are printed. Nothing is submitted to the website.