Lindsay Head & Elizabeth Mattick: Progress in Play: Bridging Computer Science and Engineering

How do we transform middle school coding from an isolated screen exercise into a tangible, physical invention? In this episode of GaETC: The Podcast, host Dr. Lee Green sits down with Lindsay Head, Instructional Technology Coach for Paulding County School District, and Elizabeth Mattick, Computer Science Teacher at Herschel Jones Middle School.

Lindsay and Elizabeth break down their cross-classroom collaboration that brought together student-designed Bloxels video games and hands-on Makey Makey engineering builds. They explain how treating peers as authentic "clients" transformed a routine school assignment into an entrepreneurial venture featuring investor days, play-testing, and real-world problem-solving. From navigating conductors and insulators to designing headbands, wristbands, and cardboard controllers, they illustrate how purposeful play unlocks deeper understanding of science and computational logic.

They also share practical strategies for making large-scale collaborations manageable in just three targeted face-to-face sessions, how to flip the script on traditional silent computer labs, and how athletic coaching mindsets help both students and teachers overcome tech frustration one achievable step at a time. Plus, they dive into our game, "How Well Does Gemini Know You?", and Lindsay recaps her favorite eats fresh off a flight from Hawaii.

Catch Lindsay Head and Elizabeth Mattick live at GaETC 2026 on Thursday at 12:15 PM for their session, "Progress in Play: Bridging Computer Science and Engineering."Lindsay will also present an afternoon session on Thursday at 4:15 PM. Connect with Lindsay via email at lhead@paulding.k12.ga.us.