Open Coding Week 5

I've really enjoyed this open coding week for a chance to catch my breath, finish up CS First and go back to the Makey Makey and gain more comfort and confidence using it.






Here is the last CS First game I created.  I really enjoyed this one and used the Makey Makey to play.



I had a connected coding experience when I pulled out the Makey Makey to show a fourth grade boy I mentor after school on Fridays. He is a student who is completely enthralled with video games.

It has been a balance finding out how much of our mentor time to devote to video games because when this student is on a game it is hard to hold a conversation or interact.  But, I honestly feel watching and learning from him as he play games and teaches me,  that we are connecting.

When I brought out the Makey Makey board he immediately wanted to understand it.  We talked about how it worked and what the playdough was for and he got right to work setting up the controls and making music.  Then he wanted to find versions of games he knew and liked.  We found we both liked the Mario, and Pacman games and so together we explored and learned. What connected us in that moment was what Kafai and Burke refer to as a common interest and a shared tool.  Other adults stopped by and he was able to show them what we were doing and how to use the board. We were exploring and playing and learning together.  I asked if he wanted to try and create our own game using the Makey Makey and he wasn't quite sure if he wanted to do that or just keep playing.We'll see what next week brings!

I spent all day Saturday and Sunday with the Makey Makey.  Visiting some of the learning communities via Twitter, Google + and the Makey Makey Forum.  I was impressed and overwhelmed with all the projects shared on these sites. I feel so new at all of this that I am not sure where to begin in terms of getting creative. I feel like my brain is focused on learning and understanding leaving less energy for my creative thinking about all of this.  I know that will come as I visit online communities and forums and continue to experiment myself and most importantly with students.

I am still working on making a new game using scratch and the Makey Makey.  I feel like I am still missing something, as I don't feel clear on how to script for a rolling backdrop.  I tried tackling this with gusto, breaking down my steps, testing often and regularly, going back to watch videos or look at code in other simlar games to try and correct mis-codes.  I still didn't get the result I was trying for but I definitely learned and became more comfortable with many of the scripts in Scratch through this process. As I worked on this,  I related so much to the quote in our reading that children's motivation to program and persist at troubleshoot increases when they work in pairs.  I was really missing that ability to share my thinking with a partner. I definitely learn best by working with others to share ideas, problem solve and question.  That will be something I will be sure to incorporate when designing coding opportunities for students.

Coding on mobile devices-Week 4

Here is a summary of the Apps I'll be sharing with you during the 3-5 Grade band meeting,  You've all expressed an interest in providing opportunities for your students to learn to code.  Using mobile devices, like your classroom iPads helps students see their own mobile devices as more than just phones and cameras, and tools for texting. When they use these coding apps on the iPad to practice computational thinking and learn computer science practices and concepts including testing and debugging, remixing, loops, sequences, and events your students will begin to realize they power they have to create and use their minds to solve problems, break down large, complex tasks and create and deisign games, screen images, music and more. No worries if the coding terms are unfamiliar.  These concepts are introduced and reinforced through coding activities and tutorials.  Because these apps are available on mobile devices your students can continue their learning outside of class.  Here is a brief overview of two fantastic coding apps.

LIGHTBOT is a puzzle based coding app that teaches important programming concepts like loops, processes and sequences by using the symbols provided to program a robot to light up spaces on different mazes.  At the beginning of each puzzle instructions are given explaining the task to accomplish.

This app is very visual, with background music and brief written instructions.  I used the "Hour of Code" version of Lightbot and found that many students did not read the instructions that popped up as they moved through the activities and this left them to figure out on their own the concept being introduced.  Sometimes this frustrated students, so I encouraged them to take the time to read the pop up messages and look at the top of the screen for the suggested number of steps to use to solve the puzzle.  Lightbot is great for introducing computer science and programming concepts in a fun and engaging way.  The regular version has five levels including processes, loops, conditionals and overloads.  Students will learn to test small chunks of their code, problem solve, and look for patterns. These kinds of skills and this kind of thinking applies across all other content areas so there is value in working through these coding puzzles.

Hopscotch is another coding program that allows students to create something using code. Once you sign up there is an option to create or play. Under the create option there are a number of options to choose from including things to draw, games to create, sounds or visuals or backgrounds you can make.  I chose to try and make a warp speed visual effect (sort of depicts how I am feeling with the demands of work and my class!) What is great about this app is that students are in charge of what they are making.  Video tutorials explain every step.  These videos run in the bottom corner of the iPad so students can actually code right along with the video.

Students again work on problem solving and incremental thinking as the videos breakdown the bigger programming task into the smaller rules or steps.

Hopscotch provides students with a safe place to learn from other coders and so students are coding not just for the sake of coding to share and work with others to problem solve and share their learning with a real audience.  This is called computational participation and it is an important way to help students become connected 21st century learners.  I think you'll find these two apps will engage and challenge students.  Here is a link to the warp speed project I did Warp Speed