Introduction to Block Based Programming With Scratch

See the attached resource materials for my Pro-D presentation on February 24, 2017 with Elaan Bauder.

Presentation description:

Rick Botero teaches at Eagle Ridge Elementary and is part of the District Educational Technology Advisory Committee. Elaan Bauder teaches at Kwayhquitlum Middle and is part of the SD43 Technology Support Team. Elaan and Rick are executives for SD43’s CUE43 Technology LSA.
Come to this session to learn how easy it can be to introduce your students to programming! We will show you the kinds of activities we have done with Scratch at the elementary and middle level. It’s engaging, and students love it! Scratch is a block based programming language. It is designed to be accessible for children and enjoyable for anyone. The user programs the behaviors of objects on a stage, using rules that are based on conditions and actions. Sponsored by CUE43 and District Technology Support Teachers.

PDF:
today’s presentation slides
scratch-fish-chomp-stepbystep-gr4-5
scratch-fish-chomp-extensions-gr4-5
fish-chomp-checklist

Word:
scratch-fish-chomp-stepbystep-gr4-5
scratch-fish-chomp-extensions-gr4-5
fish-chomp-checklist

Scratch Online:
Fish Chomp By MrBotero

Spheros in Grade One at Eagle Ridge

A guest post by my colleague Erin Vakenti:

Yesterday my class wrapped up our unit on coding using Sphero Sprks.  I began using Spheros with my Grade One class in January.  On our first day we jumped in with both feet – we spent the entire day experimenting with coding for the very first time.  To say the kids were engaged would be a huge understatement; they were so excited they didn’t even notice when we missed our P.E. block.

That first day we focused on the basics of how to begin a program and how to make the Sphero move.  We opted for a simple goal of rolling away and rolling back.  We experimented with roll times and speeds to come to a consensus of what values would work best in our environment.

Each week we revisited the Spheros for a least one full afternoon.  Over several weeks, we collaborated to learn how to create shapes with the Spheros and how to maneuver through mazes the kids created.  We also aimed to enhance our rolls with spins, changes in colour and sound displays.

I think it’s fair to say, that my class considers their opportunity to work with the Spheros a highlight for the year.  After the introductory session, the kids asked me every day when it would be our turn again to use the Spheros.  Every single student was excited and engaged with each new Sphero experience.

Parents were also impressed with our Sphero experimentation.  They had the opportunity to see their child’s coding skills in action through videos sent home via the Fresh Grade parent communication app.  Some parents were so taken with the Spheros that they even purchased one for their own child to use at home.

As a teacher of young children, I was very impressed with Sphero’s user-friendly coding system.  The drag and drop system involves very little reading making it accessible to all the students in my class.  I was also impressed with the very rich dialogue between the students that developed as they worked in pairs and small groups to write their programs.  This showcased our class’ work on the Core Competences of Communication, Critical Thinking and Social Responsibility.

I hope that we are given the opportunity to work with Spheros again in the near future.   It was a pleasure to join their kids in their explorations.

Erin Vakenti
Grade One Teacher
Eagle Ridge Elementary School

Spheros K-5 at Eagle Ridge

On November 2, 2016 our school received a Sphero+iPad Mini 12 pack from CUEBC, our British Columbia technology using educators specialist association. With great excitement I unpacked the new equipment and began to imagine how I could use it to engage our K-5 students in computational thinking activities, in fun, engaging and challenging ways. A few logistics to sort out, but I was eager to get started.

Context

• 16 divisions from Kindergarten to grade 5, some single-grade classes and others blended classes
• A digital literacy specialist (myself) teaching most classes once a week in a computer lab, typically 40 to 50 minute periods, half-week assignment. I teach in a grade 3 class share the other half of the week. I have a BSc Computer Science degree plus 11 years in the IT industry before my teaching career – coding and computational thinking are within my comfort zone 🙂
• Most classes had previous years’ exposure to The Hour Of Code and various other computational thinking activities, both with the digital literacy specialist and classroom teachers
• Grade 4 and 5 students have for a few years completed a coding unit in the spring, alternating between Scratch and Kodu as the tool
• A wide range of expertise and comfort level among staff, regarding computational thinking activities (including coding)

Set Up

One of my main goals was to maximize the amount of time during the week the spheros were in use by students. I took the following set up steps before releasing the spheros to classes / teachers. It took me about a week to get it ready:

• Decided on a fixed sphero charging location vs mobile cart. Chose a lockable cupboard, did a test for a few hours with a thermometer, to make sure the cupboard wouldn’t get too hot.
• Decided on a fixed iPad charging location, for security reasons. Chose a well ventilated closet with power source already in place. Used some trays I had from previous iPad packaging, to be able to stand up all the iPads while charging.
• Labeled the iPads 1-12, so students could easily find the iPad where they may have a saved program.
• Separated the iPad storage location into two trays, for “Set A (1-6)” and “Set B (7-12).” My idea was that teachers may want to book and use only 6 at a time.
• Purchased and made available two smaller iPad transport bins, and stored them near the iPads, for teachers to transport to classes. I felt that the CUEBC bin was too big and heavy to lug around.
• Purchased two smaller sphero transport trays, to get them from the charge cradles to the classroom or lesson location. I spent some time creating padding and separators for these clear sphero trays. The trays were stored near the charge cradles, ready for teachers to grab.
• In our online “Technology Booking” screen, I created an option to book Sphero Set A, Sphero Set B, or Sphero Sets A+B. I reserved the spheros for myself for all my digital literacy teaching time (half the week). I created a Sign Out/Sign In form (paper), for teachers to sign as they removed and replaced the spheros at the chargers.
• Invited all teachers / administrator to attend a “sphero introduction,” to be delivered by grade 4/5 students two weeks later. Time to get busy getting these student helpers ready!