What to do when they’ve had too much Scratch?Neil RickusSenior Lecturer in Computing Education, University of Hertfordshire
@computingchampscomputingchampions.co.uk/serbia2017
Next 30 minutes
• Help alleviate “Death by Scratch”– Focus on concepts– Link in physical computing– Other block based programming
environments– Text based programming
• bit.ly/death_by_scratch – Phil Bagge blog post
Focusing on the concepts
• At KS2 (7-11 years), pupils need to write programs, which including the following concepts:– Sequencing– Selection (if, then, else)– Repetition– Variables– Inputs / outputs
Adding additional hardware
• Picoboard• WeDo 2.0
• Pibrella• Micro:bit
• Makey Makey• SenseHat
Why physical computing?
• Opportunity to develop understanding of programming concepts
• “Light bulb” moment!• Links to other areas of the curriculum
– Science and DT, but many others
• Solve real world problems– Not just “making a game today”– Engaging to girls – casinclude.org.uk
More physical computing
• See my other presentation….
• computingchampions.co.uk/serbia2017
Picoboard / Lego WeDo 2.0
• Picoboard– Cost - £40 board and connectors– More info - www.picocricket.com/picoboard.html
• Lego WeDo 2.0– Cost – £130 core set and software– More info – education.lego.com/wedo2.0
Pibrella / micro:bit
• Pibrella (for use with a Raspberry Pi)– Cost - £10 board (+ £30 for the Raspberry Pi)– More info - pibrella.com
• micro:bit– Cost – £13 board; £16 starter kit– More info – microbit.org
SenseHat
• Sensehat (part of Astro Pi - astro-pi.org)– Cost – £25 board– More info – www.raspberrypi.org/products/sense-
hat/– N.B. Emulator available on Raspberry Pi
• Gyroscope; Accelerometer• Magnetometer• Temperature• Barometric pressure; Humidity
Makey Makey /
• Makey Makey– Cost - £40 board– More info - makeymakey.com
– Example projects - vimeo.com/60307041
Block based programming environments
• Snap• Kodu• Minecraft (part of Kano)• Tickle
– Physical devices, including drones
Reinforcing concepts
• Hour of Code – code.org• Light Bot• Code Combat
• bit.ly/gridofapps2016
Moving to text based programming
• Tickle• Alice• Swift Playgrounds• Logo• Sonic Pi
• Python
Don’t forget the rest of the curriculum
• Select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information
• Computer networks• Search engines• E-safety
Neil RickusSenior Lecturer in Computing Education, University of Hertfordshire
@computingchampscomputingchampions.co.uk/serbia2017
TES EdTech specialdigital.tes.com/EDTECHJAN17/ (pg. 41)
Hello Worldhelloworld.cc (pg. 44)
