9 Dots Teacher Guide

Platform

+ What is PixelBots?

PixelBots is a coding platform designed to teach Kindergarten through sixth grade students foundational skills in coding to set them up for long-term success. To learn more, watch our overview video, available in English and Spanish.

+ How can I sign in to my account on the 9 Dots platform as a teacher?

You can navigate to app.9dots.org and click the pink Sign In button at the top right or center of the page. You can also sign in via Clever or Classlink.

+ How can my students sign in to their accounts on the 9 Dots platform?

Students can sign in to their accounts through Classlink, Clever, or Schoology. Navigate to the Student Sign-in Options page to learn how your students can sign in through these different platforms.

+ How can I track my students’ progress on coding challenges?

You can track student progress through your 9 Dots teacher account. After signing in, use this video to learn how to see how students are doing.

+ I’d like to see what my student is currently working on. How can I do that?

Student work is always available for teachers to see. Use this video to learn more about how to pull up student work.

+ How do I assign a lesson to my students?

Assigning a lesson can be done through the teacher dashboard. Use this video to learn how to assign a lesson.

+ Can my students go back and finish old playlists of coding challenges?

Yes, all previously assigned lessons will still be available to students. Use this video to see what students will see when they go back to an old playlist.

Curriculum

+ Do I need to have a 9 Dots account to access your curriculum?

Yes, only 9 Dots partner schools have access to our coding curriculum. If your school is in Los Angeles and you’re interested in partnering with us, have your administrator contact us.

+ What is your curriculum all about?

9 Dots teaches foundational coding skills to Kindergarten through sixth grade students. This document contains an overview of all of our curriculum modules. You can also view our project modules here.

+ Where can I find lesson plans and slideshows on the 9 Dots platform?

All lesson materials can be found on the 9 Dots platform after signing in. Watch this video to learn where to find them.

+ Where can I learn more about coding concepts as a teacher?

All 9 Dots teachers have access to our online library of Teacher Certification Modules. These can be found by signing in to your account at app.9dots.org. Watch this video to learn where to find these modules.

Implementation

+ Where can I find out more about how my school is rolling out the 9 Dots program?

Go here to find your school’s implementation kit.

+ Which browser should I and my students use for 9 Dots?

We strongly recommend that you and your students use Google Chrome to access 9 Dots whenever possible. You can download the Chrome browser at google.com/chrome. If you or your students cannot use Chrome for whatever reason, please use Safari. If you or your students cannot use either of these browsers, please contact us at [email protected].

+ Can my students access 9 Dots on iPads?

Yes, students can access 9 Dots on iPads as long as they are 4th generation or newer.

+ Does 9 Dots have an app in the app store?

Not at this time.

+ Can students and their parents log into 9 Dots at home?

If students can log into 9 Dots via Clever/ClassLink/Schoology, and they can access Clever/ClassLink/Schoology at home, then yes.

If students are logging into 9 Dots via custom school link, then they can log in at home if they have access to that link (i.e. if it’s been bookmarked in a school portal, or someone has created a TinyURL for them to use).