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)