CODING AND ROBOTICS SHORT COURSE 3: SENIOR PHASE
Guiding Grades 7-9 Teacher Through Advanced Coding and Robotics
This course equips educators with the necessary skills to guide students through advanced coding and robotics concepts. As learners progress through the Senior Phase, they will delve into more complex block-based programming using Scratch and MakeCode. Key coding concepts covered include:
- Variables: Learners will explore how to use and manipulate variables to store and track data.
- Nested Loops and Conditional Structures: Students will work with double loops and nested conditional statements to handle more advanced tasks.
- Lists: Introduction to lists, including adding, modifying, and accessing elements, as well as using lists to manage data.
- Mathematical Operations: Students will apply mathematical operations within code, including calculations and string outputs.
- Functions and Procedures: Learners will create reusable blocks of code to solve complex problems more efficiently.
- Events and Broadcasting: Students will build interactive programs using events like mouse location tracking, sprite broadcasting, and changing costumes or backdrops based on specific conditions.
By focusing on problem-solving, computational thinking, and automation, learners will tackle real-world challenges, developing practical coding skills.
Through the integration of robotics, learners will engage in more advanced projects, incorporating key concepts and components such as:
- Sensors: Working with gesture recognition, noise level sensing, touch sensing, compass sensing, accelerometers, and temperature sensors.
- Actuators and Outputs: Control and program components like servos, DC motors, a DC water pump, and buzzers. Learners will also explore lighting technologies such as RGB LEDs and NeoPixel strips to create dynamic lighting effects.
- Data and Visualization: Learners will use robotics tools to plot graphs, collect data using sensors, and manage multiple variables. Random numbers and mathematical operators will be used for decision-making in robotic systems.
- Advanced Input/Output: Robotics projects will include two-position switches, ultrasonic sensors, moisture sensors, and PIR (motion) sensors to detect environmental changes.
- Communication: Utilize radio communication for connecting multiple devices, enabling learners to build projects with more complex interactions.
- Media and Feedback: Projects will include playing melodies and using LEDs to provide visual feedback.
These hands-on activities will allow learners to design, build, and program robotic systems that interact with their environment. The curriculum emphasizes digital citizenship and the ethical use of technology, ensuring learners are well-prepared for a technology-driven future. Educators will also introduce emerging topics like data analysis and artificial intelligence through block-based programming.
This course includes:
- Comprehensive lesson plans and activities tailored for Grades 7-9
- Step-by-step guidance on teaching coding
- Training with robotics
- Resources for building and programming robots, aligned with the CAPS curriculum
- Tools for assessing and evaluating students’ progress in coding and robotics
- SACE Accredited Certificate of Completion
Time investment to complete course: 30 hours
Accreditation:
SACE accredited: Service Provider Number: PR 00000980
SACE Points: 15 SACE Accredited Professional Development Points
What you’ll learn
This course will leave you with a comprehensive understanding of:
- Programming concepts like variables, nested loops, conditional structures, lists, and mathematical operations through block-based coding using Scratch and MakeCode.
- Robotic systems: Gain hands-on experience with sensors, actuators, and other input/output components to build and program interactive robotic systems.
- Computational thinking and how to apply automation techniques to solve real-world problems through coding and robotics projects.
- Emerging technologies: Explore introductory concepts in artificial intelligence, data analysis, and radio communication, integrating them into classroom lessons.
- Digital citizenship and responsible technology use, preparing students for the ethical challenges of a digital world.