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Reflections from DFI - Day 8

Today's focus was on a computational thinking and coding. I had some time to explore programs like Flappy Coding, Scratch Jr, Lightbot. Lightbot was very similar to Beebots we had at school, and I remember we did a PD session talking about using directional language and computational thinking. 

While coding games like Flappy Codings were the most fun when I tried, it wasn't something my students were able to use, because they need to be able to read the coding words, and get them used to the language beforehand. I tried downloading Scratch Jr as well, but I found this one very confusing.

I wanted to have a go a bit more but I ran out of time. If I want to use this in class I need to know how to do all the stuff there, so I decided to make the Lightbot activities students can do.

I tied this in with letters and building words as well as coding, which I thought was really cool. If they get it and getting used to the challenge, I could add more conditions in like, "Pass at least one treasure chest while building this word."

I also added some arrows on the left, so with my students, they can communicate their coding with arrows instead of written words. Maybe they can even draw their own sequence and make them into cards, see what letter they land on, and others have to guess what letter it will land on without using the bots to solve it.

I thought this was also quite a good way for DMIC, getting students to find different ways to get to a point. 


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  1. Vicki @ ManaiakalaniSeptember 16, 2020 at 4:05 PM

    Kia ora Gabrielle,

    How did your students find your task? I'd love to hear how it went. It looks like a great way to introduce some of the ideas of computational thinking. Have you done some of the unplugged activities? I think they would be great to do with junior students.
    Vicki

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