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by Kasey Bell

The Hour of Code is coming! Are you ready?

This post and podcast episode will give you everything you need to get ready to participate in the Hour of Code and Computer Science Education Week in 2022 (Dec. 5-11).

In case you haven't been paying attention, computer science skills are vastly becoming some of the most in-demand skills of the twenty-first century. In fact, some call it a new " superpower."

But we have a big problem. There more computer science jobs than the U.S. can fill with qualified candidates.

Computer Science has become part of every industry. Technology is everywhere and coding is the backbone of how it all works.

So we can't sit idly by and hope that some of our students will decide to take an interest in Computer Science, we need to give them exposure to coding and build those foundational skills.

The Hour of Code will not only give our students computer science skills but also help us cultivate creativity and critical thinking skills.

Guess what? You don't have to be a coding expert to facilitate these experiences with your students.

(See also The Beginner's Guide to the Hour of Code.)
Listen to this article.

Gearing Up for the Hour of Code

What is Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) and The Hour of Code?

Computer Science Education Week or CSEdWeek is an annual program designed to inspire K-12 students to take an interest in computer science. The program was originated by the Computing in the Core coalition, Code.org, and is supported by partners and educators worldwide. The philosophy is simple but significant: every student deserves the opportunity to learn computer science.

The Hour of Code is a global movement in over 180 countries and is a quick way to introduce coding to students or anyone. Anyone can learn the basics of computer science in a fun and easy way! By spending as little as one hour, you can spark coding interest in your students with one-hour lesson plans, tutorials, interactives, and games.

How to Run an Hour of Code

Ready to get started? Running an Hour of Code doesn't have to be complicated. The resources are abundant and easy-to-follow. Sign-up here to get FREE resources!

The activities are self-directed. Teachers do not need to stand in front of the class and actually teach code! This is easy, y'all!

No matter what grade level you teach, or what devices you have available, every student can participate in the Hour of Code and learn the basic principles that apply to all programming languages (like sequencing and looping). There are even options to go "unplugged" if you do not have access to devices in your classroom because students can learn computer science principles with something as simple as a deck of cards.

Classroom Tips

When your students come across difficulties it's okay to respond:

"I don't know. Let's figure this out together."

"Technology doesn't always work out the way we want."

"Learning to program is like learning a new language; you won't be fluent right away."

What if a student finishes early?

Students can see all tutorials and try another Hour of Code activity.

Or, ask students who finish early to help classmates who are having trouble with the activity.

Celebrate!

Coding Resources & Lessons

There are hundreds of free resources, lesson plans, tutorials and events that bring the power of coding into the K-12 classroom. Below is a short list of some favorites. CLICK HERE: to get all the Hour of Code Activities.

Title

Description

Languages

Devices

Ages

Dr. Seuss' The Grinch
Learn to program drones and a high tech sleigh with coding magic to capture presents and navigate down the mountain to return Christmas to Whoville.

English

modern browsers, smartphones & tablets

8-14

Write Your First Program

Drag and drop blocks to learn the basics of computer programming with self-directed tutorials and lectures from Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates.

37 languages

modern browsers, smartphones & tablets

4 - 104

Kodable
Students learn the fundamentals of programming through the game.

English

All modern browsers, iPad, iPhone

5+

Minecraft
Use blocks of code to take Steve or Alex on an adventure through this Minecraft world.

Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Czech, Danish, German, English, Spanish, Greek, Persian, Finnish, French, Croatian, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Georgian, Korean, Lithuanian, Burmese, Dutch, Norwegian (Nynorsk), no, Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified)

All modern browsers, Android tablet, iPad, Android phone, iPhone

6+

Code with Anna & Elsa
Let's use code to join Anna and Elsa as they explore the magic and beauty of ice. You will create snowflakes and patterns as you ice-skate and make a winter wonderland that you can then share with your friends!

Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Czech, Danish, German, English, Spanish, Greek, Persian, Finnish, French, Hebrew, Croatian, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Georgian, Korean, Lithuanian, Dutch, Norwegian (Nynorsk), no, Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified)

All modern browsers, Android, iOS

6+

Animate a Name
Pick a name and bring the letters of the word to life using code. Choose a nickname, a pet's name, an animal, a sport, a place or a hobby.

English, Spanish (Mexico)

All modern browsers

6+

NASA Moon 2 Mars
Explore NASA's exciting new efforts to reach the Moon and then Mars. Students can design their own animated mission patch, imagine their life as an Artemis astronaut on the Lunar Gateway, and more. Beginners can try step-by-step tutorials, while experienced programmers can create their own original projects with block or text coding.

English

All modern browsers, iPad

11+

Code Monkey

Online game where students program a monkey to catch bananas as they learn a real programming language.

16 languages

modern browsers, iOS and Android

14+

Computer Science Unplugged

No computer? No problem. As mentioned earlier, you can still teach and learn the basic principles of computer science without any computer or device at all. Try CS Unplugged, which is a collection of learning activities that teach computational thinking concepts without the need of a computer or device.

© Shake Up Learning 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

Filed Under: Tagged With: Coding, coding, csedweek, hour of code Computer Science, edtech, educational technology, Free Resources for teachers, Guide, Hour of Code, Instructional Technology, Mobile Learning, STEM, Student Centered

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by Kasey Bell The Hour of Code is coming! Are you ready? This post and podcast episode will give you everything you need to get ready to participate in the Hour of Code and Computer Science Education Week in 2022 (Dec. 5-11).

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UNESCO: Shaping the Future of AI Education

From September 4 to 7, 2023, three members of the App Inventor community-Dr. Natalie Lao, Pedro Philippi Araújo, and Daeun Yoo-were invited to share their expertise on AI education at the inaugural UNESCO Digital Learning Week in Paris, France. A reboot of UNESCO's Mobile Learning Week, Digital Learning Week is touted as the "new annual flagship event on digital learning and the transformation of education."

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UNESCO: Shaping the Future of AI Education From September 4 to 7, 2023, three members of the App Inventor community-Dr. Natalie Lao, Pedro Philippi Araújo, and Daeun Yoo-were invited to share their expertise on AI education at the inaugural UNESCO Digital Learning Week in Paris, France.

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Build and deploy software collaboratively with the power of AI without spending a second on setup.

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The rubber duck debugging method is as follows:

1. Beg, borrow, steal, buy, fabricate or otherwise obtain a rubber duck (bathtub variety).

2. Place rubber duck on desk and inform it you are just going to go over some code with it, if that's all right.

3. Explain to the duck what your code is supposed to do, and then go into detail and explain your code line by line.

4. At some point you will tell the duck what you are doing next and then realise that that is not in fact what you are actually doing. The duck will sit there serenely, happy in the knowledge that it has helped you on your way.

Note: In a pinch a coworker might be able to substitute for the duck, however, it is often preferred to confide mistakes to the duck instead of your coworker.

Original Credit: ~Andy from lists.ethernal.org

FAQs

If ducks are so smart, why don't we just let the ducks do all the work? It would be wonderful if this were true, but the fact is that most ducks prefer to take a mentoring role. There are a few ducks however that do choose to code, but these are the ducks that nobody hears about because they are selected for secret government projects that are highly classified in nature.

Where can I learn more about rubber duck debugging? More information can be found at wikipedia.org, lists.ethernal.org, codinghorror.com, and zenhub.com.

Where can I hire my own duck? Great question! Amazon.com hosts a wide selection of affordable ducks that have graduated with a technical degree from some of the world's leading universities. You can also try a free debug session by chatting to an online duck. See rubberduckdebugging.com/cyberduck for text based help or ddiy.co/rubber-duck-debugging for video help calls.

Why does this site exist? As a young intern in 2008 I repeatedly pestered a mentor of mine similar to Kevin's Rubber Duck Story and eventually my mentor pointed me at the 2002 lists.ethernal.org post by Andy, which paraphrased a story from the 1999 book The Pragmatic Programmer. That night I ordered a rubber duck from Amazon and purchased this domain name as a way of owning up to my behavior.

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WeDo 2.0 | Elementary School STEAM Solution | LEGO® Education

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This award winning solution is based upon the latest science standards and was created to enhance students' curiosity and science skills. The set is delivered in a storage bin along with sorting trays, labels, a Smarthub, a Medium Motor, Motion Sensor, a Tilt Sensor, and enough building elements for two students.

The accompanying desktop and tablet supported software provides an easy-to-use programming environment and includes the WeDo 2.0 Curriculum Pack, which covers life, physical, earth, and space sciences, as well as engineering. The accompanying eLearning program helps teachers to become confident users of the WeDo 2.0 Core Set.

Please check our System Requirements to ensure your device(s) are compatible with the WeDo 2.0 solution before you purchase.

*Tablet not included

Confidence

Build Confidence with LEGO® Education WeDo 2.0

LEGO ® Education WeDo 2.0 is an intuitive hands-on solution designed to develop elementary school students' curiosity and confidence to solve real-life problems through engaging STEAM projects. Easily adaptable to fit any learning environment, WeDo 2.0 challenges students to define problems, ask questions, and design their own solutions-setting them on a path to become lifelong learners.​

"Put it in the hands of the children to investigate. MILO [the LEGO ® Education WeDo 2.0 mascot getting started robot] introduces young children to a world of discovery."

MARY MEADOWS
Head of School, Andrews Academy-Creve Coeur
Creve Coeur, Missouri

Teacher Resources

Get Started

After you purchase your solution, getting started is easy! This is where you will be guided on how to start using your solution in the classroom.

Professional Development

LEGO ® Education courses provide teachers the opportunity to experience lessons from a student's perspective, master classroom management, and explore best practices in classroom implementation. Courses support ongoing teacher training and development needs.

Support

We have FAQs, teacher guides, software and videos that will provide what you need to get the most out of our solutions for your students.

Consumer Service

If you need help with anything else, contact our Consumer Service. They are here to help you make the most of your product.

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WeDo 2.0 | Elementary School STEAM Solution | LEGO® Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This award winning solution is based upon the latest science standards and was created to enhance students' curiosity and science skills. The set is delivered in a storage bin along with sorting trays, labels, a Smarthub, a Medium Motor, Motion Sensor, a Tilt Sensor, and enough building elements for two students.

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Snapology Best Kids Franchise | LEGO & Robotics Parties & Camps

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Snapology! Rated Kids Enrichment Franchise! Inspire children to Learn & Play with LEGO, Robotics and STEM activities for birthday parties, after-school classes and summer camps.

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STEM Kits & Robotics for Kids | Inspire STEM Education with Sphero

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As a leading STEM learning company with interactive robotics & STEM education kits, Sphero teaches kids to code at home & in classrooms. Order online now!

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Tinkercad | From mind to design in minutes

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Tinkercad is a free, easy-to-use app for 3D design, electronics, and coding.

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ROBO 3D Printers is the consumer's choice top personal 3D printer in the market. We offer amazingly priced 3D printers, accessories, and more for all consumers.

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Bosch Power Tools B.V. 2021, all rights reserved

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DREMEL® DigiLab 3D Printer 3D45 Printers | Dremel

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This kit is the perfect choice for creative and experimental 3D printing with ease. The 3D45-02 kit includes the Wi-Fi enabled Dremel 3D printer 3D45, 1 spool

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Thingiverse - Digital Designs for Physical Objects

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Download files and build them with your 3D printer, laser cutter, or CNC. Thingiverse is a universe of things.

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Glowforge's powerful lasers precisely cut, engrave, and score hundreds of different materials.

Glowforge's powerful lasers precisely cut, engrave, and score hundreds of different materials.

See if you qualify

See if you qualify

Project Print-A-Toy
Start spreading the joy

What magic will you create with Glowforge?

What magic will you create with Glowforge?

What will you create with Glowforge?

Swipe to see more ⭤
See what else you can print

What will you create with Glowforge?

What will you create with Glowforge?

Swipe to see more ⭤

What will you create with Glowforge this spooky season?

What will you create with Glowforge this spooky season?

What will you create with Glowforge?

Swipe to see more ⭤

Go from inspiration to creation

5. Celebrate!

Go from inspiration to creation

Go from inspiration to creation

Powerful tools for every creator

Powerful tools for every creator

Whether you're creating projects in the classroom, products in your workshop, or prints at home, Glowforge has the laser you need.

Whether you're creating projects in the classroom, products in your workshop, or prints at home, Glowforge has the laser you need.

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Meet Glowforge, the 3D laser printer that makes magical things at the push of a button.

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Flipgrid is where social and emotional learning happens! The leading video discussion platform for millions of PreK to PhD educators, students, and families.

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TECHNOLOchicas is a national initiative of the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and Televisa Foundation designed to raise awareness among young Latinas and their families about opportunities and careers in technology. TECHNOLOchicas uses the powerful stories of Latinas from diverse backgrounds, who are in technology fields, and recognize the power of innovation to change the world.

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Through PLTW Launch, students become hands-on problem solvers and learn to collaborate with their fellow students.

They begin each module with an engaging ebook story featuring the characters Mylo, Suzi, and Angelina, who introduce the challenge students will work together to solve. Then, in a series of activities that build upon each other, students are challenged to become confident in trying new things, to learn from mistakes, and to apply what they know to find solutions.

PLTW Launch addresses Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core State Standards for Math and English Language Arts, and other national and state standards. To best fit the needs of your students and school, the program's 10-hour modules are flexible and customizable: They can be implemented independently or in tandem with one another, at the grade level you want, at any time.

Additionally, all PLTW Launch modules are now available in both English and Spanish, reinforcing our commitment to ensure access to all students, including America's 5 million English Language Learners.

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Pre-Kindergarten | Kindergarten | First Grade | Second Grade | Third Grade | Fourth Grade | Fifth Grade Connected to Pre-Kindergarten Standards Connected to Kindergarten Standards Connected to First Grade Standards Connected to Second Grade Standards Connected to Third Grade Standards Connected to...

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Ready to start inventing?

First set up takes seconds. Start out easy with a banana piano. Then create game controllers, invent musical instruments, make voting machines, and light up paper circuits. Connect Makey Makey to the world of things around you, and the possibilities are endless!

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Simple Invention How-To Guides For Makey Makey - Makey Shop

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If you need some help with your Makey Makey, look no further. Heres a collection of helpful information to get your new project started, or maybe just some useful tips and tricks to finish up your invention.

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We are pleased to partner with Beats Unlocked to offer free Facebook workshops introducing students to basic coding through music. Beats Unlocked brings culturally relevant programming to middle and high school students in underrepresented communities increasing access to STEAM education.

Step Into the Beats Unlocked Studio

The workshop can be implemented in-person or virtually and includes flexible facilitation options. At the end, your students will have the opportunity to showcase their beats and enter a Beat MVP contest to win prizes like an Oculus headset! Through this experience, students gain an outlet for creative expression while building confidence and computer science skills.

Why Educators Love Beats Unlocked

"This workshop not only allowed the students to learn fundamental concepts of computer science in an engaging way but also introduced the students to people who looked like them within the tech industry. That level of exposure will have an everlasting impression on the students." - Ernest Holmes, CodeHouse

Join the Beats Unlocked Community

Workshops are designed to be led by an in-classroom or after-school facilitator with a group of students ages 13+.

Facilitators are provided with a suite of resources including detailed guides, a beats rubric, instructional videos and more.

Sign up today to become a Beats Unlocked Facilitator! Registration closes on November 12th.

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Bringing Beat-making and Coding to Life with Beats Unlocked

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We are pleased to partner with Beats Unlocked to offer free Facebook workshops introducing students to basic coding through music. Beats Unlocked brings culturally relevant programming to middle and high school students in underrepresented communities increasing access to STEAM education. The workshop can be implemented in-person or virtually and includes flexible facilitation options.

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Computer science (CS) can be found everywhere. From computational thinking to problem solving, coding, and beyond, the CS skills students learn in the classroom can lead to exciting opportunities. This December, join Code with Google to ignite every student's future, no matter their dreams.

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Computer science (CS) can be found everywhere. From computational thinking to problem solving, coding, and beyond, the CS skills students learn in the classroom can lead to exciting opportunities. This December, join Code with Google to ignite every student's future, no matter their dreams.

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Applied Digital Skills Coding Collection

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Applied Digital Skills Coding Collection

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We picked out a few unplugged (or offline) and online activities we really like for PreK - 2 grade students and shared them below. You can also use MakeyMakeys, BeeBots, Dash and Dots, OzoBots, or Osmo if you already have them in your classroom or school.

You can find MANY more Hour of Code activities at https://hourofcode.com/us/learn.

Thanks to our friends at Google, 2nd-9th grade public school teachers who engage their students in the new CS First Hour of Code coding activity, An Unusual Discovery, can earn a $100 DonorsChoose.org gift code.

CS First has launched a new activity to celebrate the Hour of Code, a nationwide initiative from Code.org to introduce millions of students to computer science and computer programming, happening on December 3-9. (You can complete your Hour of Code activity anytime, though.)

The new activity, An Unusual Discovery, uses video-based lessons for students with digital lesson plans for teachers - no computer science background required!
Here's how it works: Classroom rewards for Google's CS First activity, Hour of Code

1. Review the activity overview and teaching materials for An Unusual Discovery here.

2. When you're ready to teach the Hour of Code activity, send your students to g.co/csfirst/discovery to complete the activity. For the Spanish version, head to g.co/csfirst/descubrimiento. (Please note that the Spanish site won't be live until November 15.)

3. The activity takes 20-60 minutes to complete. It starts with an introduction video, and then your students will watch additional videos to learn basic coding principles. They'll use these skills to tell their own stories about two characters discovering an interesting object.

4. Help at least twenty students complete the activity to qualify for the classroom rewards.

5. While your students are working, snap a photo that shows your whole class engaged in the activity, but that does not include identifiable student faces. We recommend taking a picture from the back of the class.

6. When all your students are done, fill out this teacher feedback survey to let us know. As part of the form, you'll be asked to upload your photo of the class doing the activity, so be sure to have that image handy.

7. Once you've filled out the survey, the DonorsChoose.org team will email you a $100 gift code within 2 weeks, while funds last. We'll update this page if we're ever running low. For the best chance of receiving a gift code, complete the activity by December 31st, 2018.

Spread the Word Before, DURING CSEW and Celebrate AFTER your Hour of Code!

Use the hashtags #HourOfCode #CS4Aldine #AISDHOC #Allin4Aldine on social media to spread the word before your event and to celebrate afterwards!

Questions? Contact Us!

Hour of Code is a wonderful way to build excitement and provide students and educators opportunities to code! Please contact Shaina Glass if you're interested in incorporating Computer Science and coding into your classroom, school or learning community.

If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to Shaina ( snglass@aldineisd.org) or your campus' Digital Learning Specialist for more information.

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We picked out a few unplugged (or offline) and online activities we really like for PreK - 2 grade students and shared them below. You can also use MakeyMakeys, BeeBots, Dash and Dots, OzoBots, or Osmo if you already have them in your classroom or school.

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December 7th-13th is Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek), an annual celebration of computer science learning for K-12 students. Use these activities to support and inspire coding, design, and design thinking! For more information, visit https://csedweek.org/

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Computer Science Activities - Seesaw Activity Collection

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December 7th-13th is Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek), an annual celebration of computer science learning for K-12 students. Use these activities to support and inspire coding, design, and design thinking! For more information, visit https://csedweek.org/

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Instructional Technology Initiative / CSEd Week

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Share pictures of your event on Facebook and Twitter and use the hashtag #HourOfCode.

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iWCVdQtOwcAbuvwsPMG6lXHv2uSVW4LxFHtFasVVG58/edit