Learning Together

I’ve just officially expanded Flipping the Focus with online learning experiences, designed to help learners build future-ready, AI, coding, and computational thinking skills through meaningful, engaging projects.

The first featured experience: 🐍Python Story Machine

📖Through a self-paced, 7-module online course, learners can create interactive stories, adventures, and decision-based narratives while developing Python coding skills in accessible and creative ways.

✨Designed for varied audiences and learning contexts, this first experience blends:

✔ Coding

✔ Creativity

✔ Computational thinking

✔ Storytelling

✔ Logic and problem solving

More learning experiences will continue to be added over time, including Turtle Art and Dice Games courses!

🚀 Explore this first experience, bookmark the website, and subscribe to notifications.

https://www.flippingthefocus.ca/online-learning-experiences.html

📢 Now booking Summer Coding & AI workshops 👇

✔️ I lead hands-on sessions within your camp/program
✔️ micro:bit AI + Python creative coding
✔️ Cornwall, Ottawa, and Kingston regions (in-person). Travel possible.

24+ years in education. Real skills. Real engagement.

Check out this post to learn more ⬇️⬇️⬇️

📢 Now Booking: Summer Coding & AI Workshops!

I’m currently partnering with schools, camps, organizations, and community groups to lead engaging, hands-on Coding and Artificial Intelligence workshops for students aged 10–14, as well as educator professional learning.

👉 Important: I provide in-person workshop facilitation as part of your existing camp, program, or learning event. I do not organize or run full camps—I collaborate with your team to deliver high-impact learning experiences within your schedule.

📍 Availability: Workshops are offered in-person across the Cornwall, Ottawa, and Kingston regions. Travel to surrounding or more distant locations may also be arranged.

What Students Will Explore:

➡️AI in Action - Train simple machine learning models and bring AI to life through interactive, physical computing projects.
➡️Creative Coding with Python - Design and code original stories, games, or geometric art, blending logic with creativity.
➡️Vibe Coding & Innovation - A student-driven approach where learners explore, experiment, and create projects that reflect their own ideas.

Key Skill Development:

✅️Computational thinking & problem solving
✅️Creativity and design thinking
Digital literacy and AI awareness
✅️Collaboration and communication
Confidence with emerging technologies

How I Support Your Program:

🙌Seamless integration into your existing schedule, camp structure, or learning event
🙌Flexible formats (single sessions, half-day, full-day, or multi-day series)
🙌Fully facilitated, hands-on and student-centered workshops
🙌Designed to complement your program goals while offering something innovative and future-focused

Why Work With Me:

With 24+ years in education, I bring experience as a classroom teacher, curriculum leader, and system-level consultant in digital learning, coding, and mathematics education.

I specialize in designing learning experiences that are engaging, accessible, and grounded in real classroom practice—helping students build both skills and confidence with emerging technologies.

Learn More/Request Workshops at https://www.flippingthefocus.ca/coding-ai-workshops.html.

If you’re not sure where to start, message me to start a conversation.

Chris Stewart
Founder & Faciltator, Flipping the Focus

𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁. 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀, 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗵, 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿!

I’ve bundled together 6 engaging Python teacher resources to span Grades 4–10, designed to help teachers introduce text-based coding in meaningful ways.

Inside the bundle, you'll find:
🎲 Probability Dice Games – simulation, randomness, and strategic thinking
🔢 Number Games – logic, loops, variables, and interactive programs
😄 Fun Name Generator – strings, lists, user input, and functions
🎨 Python Turtle Graphics – geometry, art, patterns, and algorithmic design
🐉 Story Machine – storytelling, coding narratives, and creative writing themes
💡 Scaffolded projects that move learners from beginner coding skills to more advanced computational thinking

These resources are built for real classrooms and emphasize:
✔ Student engagement
✔ Step-by-step progression
✔ Mathematical thinking
✔ Creativity + problem solving
✔ Well-detailed guides
✔ Great for STEM, enrichment, coding clubs, or classroom use

If you're looking to bring coding alive in your classroom with projects students enjoy, this bundle was designed for you!

Check it out: https://bit.ly/coding-across-grades

Python Story Machine: Interactive Coding Projects for Grades 5–10

This guidebook blends Python coding, storytelling, and computational thinking to help students create interactive, choice-based adventures while learning key programming concepts.

Students progress from:

✔ random story generators
✔ conditionals and branching narratives
✔ dictionaries and character traits
✔ functions, loops, and gamified scoring systems

What I love most about this project is its cross-curricular potential--bringing together:

💡 coding
📚 literacy
🧠 problem-solving
🎮 creativity and game design

The projects are designed to support a wide range of learners while helping students see coding as a creative tool for building and storytelling.

Check out the preview: https://bit.ly/python-storytelling

Developing Critical Thinking in the Age of AI

💡"We should be responsible for decisions made with AI because we train the AI."

💡"When you use AI, make sure facts are accurate, related to the question, and information is not outdated."

💡"AI can be helpful for learning when needing ideas..."

💡"Before trusting AI, ask how it's working and if it's helpful."

Students in Grades 6 to 8 and their teachers have been exploring AI's strengths and limitations by examining and discussing different real-world scenarios!

Curiosity ✅️ Noticing and wondering ✅️ Critical Thinking ✅️ Developing AI Literacy ✅️

🙌 Big thanks to St. Mary Catholic High School Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School - Cornwall St. John Catholic Elementary School St. Joseph Catholic School - Toledo St. Francis Xavier Catholic School Brockville Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario for their continued participation in Growing Up Digital: A Hands-on AI Learning Lab.

With the learning series now coming to a close, we’re looking forward to unpacking our collective noticing and sharing to help ground future conversations about developing AI Literacy!

What should I know about AI as a thinking partner?

"AI can give wrong answers."
"I think how you say things to AI really matters."
"You need to test the code to make sure the suggestions are ok."
"I had to fix some of the code and redirect the AI."

Students in Grades 6 to 8 and their teachers have been exploring AI's strengths and limitations by collaborating with an AI coding assistant!

Curiosity ✅️ Noticing and wondering ✅️ Creativity ✅️ Critical Thinking ✅️ Developing AI Literacy ✅️

Big thanks to St Mary Catholic School Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School - Cornwall St. Joseph Catholic School - Toledo St. John Catholic Elementary School St. Francis Xavier Catholic School Brockville Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario for their participation in Growing Up Digital: A Hands-on AI Learning Lab.

The series wraps up in May with an analysis of AI's use in various classroom and teaching contexts.

How does AI learn?

💡"It learns from humans and not just knowing."
💡"To improve, we could be more precise with the information we give it."
💡"How many things can I train AI to do?"

Students in Grades 6 to 8 and their teachers have been exploring AI's strengths and limitations by training their own machine learning model.

Curiosity ✅️ Noticing and wondering ✅️ Creativity ✅️ Developing AI literacy ✅️

📢Big thanks to St. Mary Catholic High School, Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School - Cornwall, St. John Catholic Elementary School, St. Joseph Catholic School - Toledo, and St. Francis Xavier Catholic School Brockville, Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario for their participation in Growing Up Digital: A Hands-on AI Learning Lab.

The series continues with an investigation of AI's use as a coding partner!

Launching this Spring! Growing Up Digital: A Hands‑on AI Learning Lab

What does it really mean to prepare students for a world shaped by artificial intelligence?

This spring, I'm exploring a 3‑part AI Literacy Learning Lab designed not around tools, but around thinking, with teachers and their students. Growing Up Digital is a hands‑on, classroom‑based learning series that helps students:
- understand how AI learns,
- explore how humans collaborate with AI, and
- practice critical thinking, responsibility, and ethical judgment in the age of AI.

Rather than asking “What can AI do?”, these lessons centre on more important questions:
- How does AI work, and what are its limits?
- How do we stay in control of our thinking when using AI?
- Who is responsible for decisions made with AI?

Across three connected lessons, students move from: demystifying AI, to preserving human agency, to practicing thoughtful judgment in real‑world scenarios.

This work reflects a commitment to human‑centered learning, where technology is used purposefully and responsibly in service of students’ growth as thinkers, learners, and citizens.

Grateful to the educators and students who will be helping bring this learning to life!

Parents and caregivers are invited to our Growing Up Digital – Lunch & Learn Series, a three-part virtual series exploring digital learning, safety, and life-ready skills.

February 25 – Understanding Digital Learning and AI
March 4 – Safety, Well-Being, and Responsible Digital Use
March 11 – Building 21st-Century Skills for Life

Parents received an email with links to register for each session.