Computer programming and Games Based Learning

PART 1- Modelling

KS1- Modelling 

• Pupils should be taught to try things out.
• Explore what happens in real and imaginary situations for example games, also by using different kinds of games, images and simulations to trail activities. This can include different colour's on an image, using an adventure game or simulation. 
• It a chance to explore  No right or wrong answer, children are able to go along the route they want and gives them the freedom and the independence, they enjoy.
• There are many modelling programs available in this day an age.
• Children get a chance to engage, trail/error, a risk element, motivation, explore and 'what if....' questions.

- My Modelling Toolkit, Tizzy's Tools, My world, 2Simulate and 2D0-It-Yourself.

My Modelling Toolkit: The activities include: design a bedroom; explore a scene; road safety; dress baby; find teddy; create a scene; make a creature; design a cake. The activities can be used to illustrate how I.C.T can be applied across the curriculum and are linked to the Literacy and Numeracy Strategies.

Tizzy's First Tools: is a fully integrated set of seven I.C.T tools all for 4 - 7 year old's. The hugely popular character Tizzy, the magic clown, guides and supports children as they express, develop and present their ideas

2Simulate: http://www.2simple.com/2simulate/

2Do-It-Yourslef: Creates your own interactive Flash resources, activities, games, puzzles, quizzes. With this software teachers and primary school children can create cross-curricular, personalised resources.

Modelling also is key during programming as it is a way to show and identity progression, allows trail and error to occur. for example 'Logo.' Logo shows you show you have learnt, to build on procedures, so to give a command and then repeating it.
This program helps children develop on their skills and knowledge:

1. Angles
2. Direction
3. Shapes
4. Spacial awareness
5. Programming
6. Independence

Lastly in this session we exploded the programming program called Scratch.

Check out What scratch lets you do...!!

Unfortunately I did do my own scratch animation, with an alien and funny fish image.....  the two were underwater. My command allowed the two images to make a 300 degree turn and at the same time a sound would play. However for some reason my work did not save. (YES YES I am certain you are thinking, ooooh the DOG ate my Homework story, aaay.' I know it's been said before but its true!! Anyway the session was great fun and being able to explore and create different programs was highly enjoyable. I mean I am 25 I found it fun and funnily enough learnt a thing or two with the commands. What to do and what NOT to do, so what a brilliant opportunity and lesson for children. 

PART 2: Speaking and listening  and digital imaging 

I.C.T allows greater opportunities for:

• Pair work- talking, such as asking and answering questions.
• Extends interaction between children through the use of webcams, digital video, etc. 
• This allows chance for feedback and reflection on the processes involved in talking, both in groups and individually.
• Explanation from children.
• Transportation- MP3, MP4 are good devices for listening.

Devices children could use in schools:

Through I.C.T devices children have so many different ways of speaking and listening to communicate with one another. This session gave me so various new and advanced digit devices that I now I will be using, when I qualify as a teacher.  :)

These devices include; Talking photo albums, Talk tins, Talking cards, Podcast, digital cameras and webcams. 

Talking cards and Talking photo albums are brilliant devices which can be used in class to help EAL (English as an additional Language) and SEN children. There also very useful for children during phonics, the way each phoneme  should be pronounced. Very beneficial for stories and presentations, lastly a super idea to have them when u go on trips and then display them on display boards from interaction. 

 

  Talking photo albums                                                        

Talking tins advantages:

• Easy
• Can be used for Phonics
• Sending messages
• Can be used fro activities on tables and group work in the classroom.
• Talk and display
• Treasure hunts

Talking tins record and playback messages, music or sounds effects. Spoken words can be captured quickly and reviewed through listening, rather then reading. There inclusive and a good educational resource allowing voice message, to be recorded in any language. Talking tins are easily altered to sort all levels of abilities.  

Talking Tins

Podcast

• Podcast's were first designed by Apple in late 2004. The idea was to have a type of digital radio that could be downloaded onto iPods and other MP3 players that were made of audio other than music files.
• Basically, a podcast is a digital media file that is downloaded directly from a streaming Internet source. 
• They are distributed on the Internet using syndication feeds, or free use websites, and are hosted or authored by a podcaster. The media files are downloaded onto a computer, whether it is a home PC or a Mac, and then can be directly downloaded onto a digital media device like an iPod or other MP3 player. 
• Many people simplify the podcast definition simply by calling it an online, prerecorded radio program over the Internet.

Podcast <--- The first time the children at this school make their own 'Podcast.'

Digital Cam- My attempt on using the Digi cam in class!! :) Not bad I thought... Check it out!!

We started of with making the play dough figures and then moved onto using the Digi cam and snapping as we moved the objects, this created a moving scene. 

This was a FUN and very insightful lesson for me, not only did i learn how children can use I.C.T devices to help them whether this be, SEN, EAL or Gifted and talented children. ALL children can benefit from the devices in one way or another. I also had great fun making the scene myself with others..... A Thumbs up from me..... :)

PART 1:Digital and computer control 

To know how a child learns become one!! Testing out the equipment! 

Computer control: Is to program the computer to do a job or to produce a device for example sensor's, light or movement detection. 

Inside the home                                                                 Outside the home
- light switch                                                                          - Traffic lights
- Microwave                                                                          - Car locking system
- Sky plus                                                                               - Electric gates
- Sleep mode                                                                          - CCTV camera's
- Central heating                                                                   - Barcodes
-Alarm clock
- Washing machine

Why do we use the computer to control things? hummmm..... well
Firstly like us humans they do not get tired 'zzzzzzzz.' they don't need coffee to keep there concentration. Mistakes computers 'do NOT make' UNLESS humans program the device wrong. Best advantages computers are repetitive they can complete something EXACTLY the same over and over and over again...... Lastly they are cheap. ( Problem: yes!! although they may be useful our job levels decrease as computers have taken over.) 


To make things work there must be a procedure. A procedure is a sequence of instructions or commands that a CPU (central processing unit) stores.
It is important that the procedure is written correctly so that things happen in the correct order. 


Program's that we can use in schools: 

ROAMER, PIXIES AND PIPS : The Roamer, Pixie, Beebot and Pippin are examples of a programmable robot. Children use these in the classrooms on many occasions (get to experience REAL scientific equipment ) They are good for demonstration many skills that children can develop on.

Skills:

• Shapes
• Angles
• Turns
• Communication (language)
• Co-ordinates
• Sequencing
• Prepositions (next to, between, on the left/right etc)
• Direction
• Spacial awareness

However misconceptions do arise and therefore need to be cleared up for example, the robot's are all program differently so the Bee bot a turn would not be a turn and then mover. Some children get this system confusing unless modeled to first. 

To extend the child: Give a route to the child, complex shapes.......

Beebot in action (Treasure map)                                  Beebot...travelling to form a square

Computer Monitoring 

Computer monitoring involves the use of sensors for two main purposes: 

1. As a scientific measuring tool to record information about environmental changes over a period of time. The resulting information can be examined in a table or as a graph. This is usually known as data logging. 
2. To provide feedback for a control system.

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Children can use the data loggers for many lessons (C.C) Data logger

• Investigations on temperature changes
• What temperature does a plant grow best in? 
• At what time is the traffic on Hendon high road the loudest?
• Are out ear muffs (made in D&T) effective?
• which material is a good insulator?

• Good use for Cross curriculum lessons (Literacy, geography, science... )
• Imagination
• Chance to plan an investigation
• Record results

Digital Microscope 

Before lesson : SHATTERED  

After lesson: As HAPPY as a kid in a candy shop