From Bee Bot to Scratch Jnr ... the Journey Continues

This week, the students started to explore the App Scratch Jnr, available from the App Store. This App introduces students to the concept of using programming blocks to make a character move, jump, dance and sing. Whilst playing with this App, students learn to persist to solve problems.

According to make learn.org,  Scratch Jnr allows "users to move and connect coding blocks to control the actions of characters (called sprites) within a rectangular window (called a stage). Blocks are organized into different colour-coded categories; for example, one group of blocks control movement, another controls sprite size, and still others control when, and how many times, an event occurs. ScratchJr projects can be shared between iOS devices using AirDrop or between iOS and/or Android devices via email."

 They go on to add, "The most important educational value of any programming environment is that it allows for the student to make their abstract thought processes visible on the screen. Once the thoughts are made concrete, they can be easily manipulated and controlled by the student in a more tangible way. And, because they are displayed visually on a screen, the teacher can also see what and how a student is thinking. Scratch and ScratchJr were designed so that this visualization is very clear; the code blocks appear as coloured boxes that snap together so that programs can be built (rather than using typed in commands, functions and statements).  The blocks are visual and can be moved around and placed with the mouse or finger."

We had lots of fun ... with most students completing their first 'program' by the end of the lesson ... and sharing it with me before heading home at the end of the day.

The girls all got right into programming their sprites.

Next week, we will explore more of the capabilities of this coding App with an increased focus on problem solving the 'glitches' experienced this week ... and the goal to produce a more polished product for sharing.




Want to do more than is possible with Scratch Jnr? Visit the Scratch website to find out more about the original Scratch product. You can download the PC or Mac versions of Scratch (by MIT) from this link.

Oliver left the class with some questions to explore on Google.

Welcome to Coding for Year 9 Numeracy

What is the link between coding and education?

"Coding isn't just for computer whizzes", says Mitch Resnick of MIT Media Lab. "It's for everyone."


Mitch Resnick's 2013 TED Talk, Let's teach kids to code" is a great place to start to develop an understanding of the benefits of teaching students to code.

As Mitch explains, "when you learn to read, you can then read to learn". He goes on to explain further by adding that learning to code involves students in thinking creatively, reasoning systematically and working collaboratively.  
Coding requires students to develop their ability to transfer knowledge and skills learned in subjects and elsewhere, to new situations. The ability to do so is essential to critical thinking and problem solving.


Learning to code provides students the opportunity to learn to think computationally ... a skill Professor Iwona Miliszewska, president of the Council of Deans of ICT at Canberra University, believes helps define educated people. 

So ... why learn to code in Year 9 Numeracy?

This video, from coding.org tells the story of some of those responsible for the developments of technology over the last 30 years, including Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.

The purpose of the Numeracy Class is to up-skill students at risk of failing Maths. We have four lessons per week and use the online Australian program MathsPathway to provide a personalised program for every member of the class. We also work on tasks designed to expose students to numeracy in the workplace, providing them some insight into the way numeracy is used in real life.


So why add coding to this already full program? Our fourth Maths lesson each week occurs in Lesson 6 on Fridays ... the last lesson of the school week. We've tried working on our normal program, but quite frankly we're all tired by last lesson Fridays. Last term we enjoyed lots of maths-focussed quizzes using Kahoot ... which the students really enjoyed.

Our coding adventure began on Friday 21 August 2015, with the Bee Bot App. All students had a fantastic time, with most conquering all levels, some with 3 stars on every level.

Bee Bot is available on the App Store.
The students were engaged for the entire lesson. In fact, when I said it was after 3pm and the lesson was almost over, they were shocked, with one commenting, "That lesson went really fast!" 

I recently attended a Critical Agenda Conference in Sydney, iPads in Education. A colleague and fellow ADE, Greg Alchin, presented a coding workshop and I came away inspired to try coding with my Numeracy students in Lesson 6 on Fridays.

Students persisted when it got hard, and felt elated when they made it through a level programming the bee to find the flower.

They also worked collaboratively, helping each other out when they got stuck.

Much fun was had by all ... and they even got used to me taking photos in the end.

I provided the class a glimpse of where we're heading over the next five weeks or so. Watch this space for more updates of our exploits coding on the iPad in Year 9 Numeracy.