mikeyd101 Posted June 3, 2014 Posted June 3, 2014 (edited) There are some intro tutorials to run through on scratch, and the ability to "look inside" any project that is submitted in the community is great, something that I tell my kids is the way you learn how to program is by reading and understanding other peoples code. There is also another resource for scratch for educators (something I only found recently) ScratchEd I haven't had much time to go through it but looks like it could be a great resource to find some lessons that will fit whatever your trying to achieve. I also started with code.org because that has structured lesson advancement (15-20 hours) and introduces them to the fundamentals. loops, variables and functions. which you need before you can then build on that. I am also lucky that I come from a software development background (20+ years) so understand what they need to learn very well, something that is hard if you don't understand computational thinking and are trying to learn it at the same time as students. Edited June 3, 2014 by mikeyd101
TheGoodGuy Posted June 9, 2014 Posted June 9, 2014 Scratch can make some really awesome things. I am just starting to get into it more. I am looking into how to make 3d models in scratch. Like this one: 3D Isometric Steve on Scratch Amazingly awesome in such a limited program.
Griff Posted June 9, 2014 Posted June 9, 2014 Scratch Kodu GameMaker CodeAcademy InkScape Pivot Stick Figure Animator Scratch Google Sketchup Sort of software/sites you see being used in our ICT clubs
Joanne Posted June 9, 2014 Author Posted June 9, 2014 Double scratch. I want to start with something easy... maybe espresso coding... I kind of need to ease myself into it because I haven't got a clue how to interact with children effectively. It's going to take all of my will power to not swear!!
witch Posted June 9, 2014 Posted June 9, 2014 @Joanne What about looking at some of the scratch starter projects? There are lots on line Scratch - Starter Projects 1
SYNACK Posted June 9, 2014 Posted June 9, 2014 (edited) Double scratch. I want to start with something easy... maybe espresso coding... I kind of need to ease myself into it because I haven't got a clue how to interact with children effectively. It's going to take all of my will power to not swear!! You'll be fine, children are way easier to deal with than teachers, generally politer and more willing to listen and learn. If you can deal with teachers you'll be fine with the kids. Edited June 9, 2014 by SYNACK
Joanne Posted June 10, 2014 Author Posted June 10, 2014 Got Lego WeDo through today and had a play this afternoon... it's AWESOME. Totally going to do a group build tomorrow and smaller groups next week.
RTi Posted June 11, 2014 Posted June 11, 2014 Got Lego WeDo through today and had a play this afternoon... it's AWESOME. Totally going to do a group build tomorrow and smaller groups next week. Hi, Which WeDo Kit did you buy? Not sure to go for the Construction or Starter Set..
Joanne Posted June 11, 2014 Author Posted June 11, 2014 It's the construction set. It was a bit of a nightmare only having 1 kit and 5 kids... I don't want to do that again. I hate kids!!!! Touching my ears and my hair... ARGH!
Joanne Posted June 11, 2014 Author Posted June 11, 2014 I made this out of the construction set yesterday...
RTi Posted June 11, 2014 Posted June 11, 2014 Thats cool! .. The starter set incldes the software.. but if your using scratch.. then its not needed. Haha about the kids.. don't forget never to tie boys wet shoelaces
Oaktech Posted June 11, 2014 Posted June 11, 2014 Thats cool! .. The starter set incldes the software.. but if your using scratch.. then its not needed. Haha about the kids.. don't forget never to tie boys wet shoelaces Yeah... every time I have to go to the primary school I'm reminded why I like being based at a secondary... I'm seriously unkeen on the 3' space invaders.
Joanne Posted June 11, 2014 Author Posted June 11, 2014 urgh... they all had a fascination with my earrings. They were arguing about who was doing what, Miss She pushed me! ARGH! Definitely making sure that I have another member of staff with me next time.
vickit Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 My school have been running a lunchtime drop in session with a new product called The FUZE. Unlike scratch , it teaches them how to actually code, sounds crazy but they use a really easy language and the kids love it . It comes with a raspberry pi. They also use it with a robot arm. The kids have been teaching themselves using the project cards and helping each other with it - really straightforward to use and have started to learn about electronics too with it. 1
Joanne Posted July 2, 2014 Author Posted July 2, 2014 I've had a pi on order for the last month or so. I have a robot arm I have my club this afternoon. Gonna be doing scratch for now though... might move onto other things like pi after summer.
vickit Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 I have seen a demo with the robot arm , it was great , it works directly with the Fuze and Pi, and the kids were writing their own commands to make the robot arm work. Might be worth you trying out a demo of it to save you waiting for your Pi
RTi Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 Is there any info available on using it with the Robot Arm? example commands etc.. I have seen a demo with the robot arm , it was great , it works directly with the Fuze and Pi, and the kids were writing their own commands to make the robot arm work. Might be worth you trying out a demo of it to save you waiting for your Pi
vickit Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 I know the school were using something had come with the product, they were following instructions , you may find them if you google fuze/raspberry pi/robot arm. The pupils (year 5) were able to make the robot arm work from direct commands.
Joanne Posted July 2, 2014 Author Posted July 2, 2014 I have the software that I can e-mail to you for the robot arm if you like? Only good if you have the arm though :-P
RTi Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 Thanks..but I was looking for some code examples of the arm being controlled by the Pi. It's a shame you cant use Scratch to control it.
Alis_Klar Posted November 1, 2014 Posted November 1, 2014 My school have been running a lunchtime drop in session with a new product called The FUZE. Unlike scratch , it teaches them how to actually code, sounds crazy but they use a really easy language and the kids love it . It comes with a raspberry pi. They also use it with a robot arm. The kids have been teaching themselves using the project cards and helping each other with it - really straightforward to use and have started to learn about electronics too with it. @RTi this page has videosshowing the commands live and what the robot arm does in response. @vickit The Robot arm that comes in the FUZE kit is the same as the Maplin one which retails at £35 (just for robot arm) reviews on Maplin say that there is no stop sensors so you can easily go beyond the movement limits and grind the plastic gears. Does the FUZE kit solve this issue by abstracting the motor timings into steps? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtDVHDllf-k Fuze kits look awesome! The case for the Rasp Pi make's it look like a BBC Micro. FUZE basic is designed to be a simple to learn as BBC BASIC. 1
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