Coding. The very word can strike fear in the heart of a classroom teacher: Isn't coding that funny-looking machine language I see right beside the sharing link of any YouTube video when I click "embed"? Well, yes, it is. So, on top of everything else I have to do, now I am supposed to teach computer coding?
First off, let's back up and take a deep breath. Coding presents a wonderful opportunity to engage students. And no, we are not talking about HTML coding. We are talking about the world of block coding. Block coding gives students an opportunity to grasp coding concepts well before they go into the formal world of Fortran, C++, or HTML coding. It is really a simple and elegant process that allows even the youngest elementary student a chance to learn the concepts of coding.
In block coding, the heavy-duty machine language is converted into blocks that are simple to organize and attach to one another in order to create programs.
But writing code, even block code, needs a purpose—one that a student can relate to.
Enter Dash, a robot.
For around $150, any classroom teacher can purchase Dash the robot from Wonder Workshop. Dash is a fully programmable and quite adorable robot that responds to block coding. Meet Dash!
To program Dash, all you need is the free app named Blockly. Blockly allows you to control Dash with block coding. Look at the picture below. Each of the color blocks represents a command. For example, the green blocks tell Dash to move forward a certain amount of centimeters. The blue blocks tell Dash to look around.
When students assemble the blocks in a logical order, it looks like this:
And it will make Dash do this:
Here is what it can look like in a first-grade math classroom:
Block coding can be used in any classroom. All it takes is some imagination. In a language arts classroom, students might program Dash to complete a task, and then they might write an expository paragraph explaining what they did. In social studies, students might research the role of robots in economics and then demonstrate with Dash how a robot is used in a retail environment.
In the initial stages of use, the Design Quality of Novelty and Variety is going to drive engagement with this tool. However, over time, the novelty will wear off. When that happens, don't be surprised if Authenticity, Clear and Compelling Product Standards, or Organization of Knowledge take over!
Block coding is approachable by any age group. The example above is from a first-grade classroom. And this sixty-three-year-old writer is still coding with his Dash! Take a chance and dive into block coding. You won't regret it!
The Engagement People