Elementary Instructional Technology
Winter Update
What's Happening in Instructional Technology?
Elementary Instructional Technology students are well into their coding unit. They seem to be thoroughly enjoying using Scratch and Scratch Jr. to bring their stories, games and animations to life.
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Grades K-2
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Students are learning to animate their stories by creating and editing sprites, choosing and customizing backgrounds as well as assembling block code in Scratch Jr. They are exploring a variety of code blocks including movement blocks, looping (repeat) blocks, messaging. They are also using digital editing tools to customize sprites and backgrounds.
Students were introduced to the idea of a repeat loop using an uplugged activity and quickly brought that understanding to Scratch Jr. where they created animations to move sprites using a repeat loop blocks. They were also introduced to the debugging process to find errors in their algorithm and how to incorporate events. In the remainder of the unit, they will learn about messaging and triggering blocks to control their animation. They will create a culminating project in Scratch Jr. demonstrating these knowledge and skills.
Programming and Development [K-2.CT.d]
1. Define a computer program as a set of commands created by people to do something.
2. Explain that computers only follow the program’s instructions.
3. Individually or collaboratively, create a simple program using visual instructions or tools that do not require a textual programming language (e.g., “unplugged” programming activities, a blockbased programming language).
Algorithms [K-2.CT.b]
1. Define an algorithm as a sequence of defined steps.
2. Create a simple algorithm, individually and collaboratively, without using computers to complete a task (e.g., making a sandwich, getting ready for school, checking a book out of the library).
3. Enact an algorithm using tangible materials (e.g., manipulatives, your body) or present the algorithm in a visual medium (e.g., storyboard).
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Grades 3- 5
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Coding with Scratch
Students are learning to create games, animations and stories by creating and editing sprites, choosing and customizing backgrounds as well as assembling block code in Scratch Jr. They are exploring a variety of code blocks including movement blocks, looping (repeat) blocks, messaging blocks and and looks blocks. They are also using digital editing tools to customize sprites and backgrounds in order to create life like motion for sprites.
They were also introduced to the debugging process to find errors in their algorithm and strategies for managing frustration. In the remainder of the unit, they will learn about messaging and events to control their animation, changing backgrounds, showing and hiding sprites and interction features. The unit will end with a culminating project demonstrating their knowledge and skills.
Click the green flag to play
3-5 DLCS Standards Focus Areas
Algorithms [3-5.CT.b]
1. Define an algorithm as a sequence of instructions that can be processed by a computer.
2. Recognize that different solutions exist for the same problem (or sub-problem).
3. Use logical reasoning to predict outcomes of an algorithm.
4. Individually and collaboratively create an algorithm to solve a problem (e.g., move a character/robot/person through a maze).
5. Detect and correct logical errors in various algorithms (e.g., written, mapped, live action, or digital).
Programming and Development [3-5.CT.d]
1. Individually and collaboratively create, test, and modify a program in a graphical environment (e.g., block-based visual programming language).
2. Use arithmetic operators, conditionals, and repetition in programs.
3. Use interactive debugging to detect and correct simple program errors.
4. Recognize that programs need known starting values (e.g., set initial score to zero in a game). Modeling and Simulation [3-5.CT.e]
2. Identify the concepts, features, and behaviors illustrated by a simulation (e.g., object motion, weather, ecosystem, predator/prey) and those that were not included.