Summer SAVY 2018: Session 4, Day 1 – Intro to Coding and Robotics (Rising 1st)
Dear SAVY Parents,
What an exciting start on our first day of Coding and Robotics. The students were fearless, persistent, and undaunted in rising to the many challenges of the morning, and we are just getting start on a tremendous week! Today we introduced some basic skills in computer programming. What is an algorithm? How can we work to make sure the steps to complete a task (algorithm) are correct? What if my algorithm doesn’t work to help the Angry Bird get to the pig? Tomorrow, we will build on this important foundation with an “unplugged” lesson to discover sequencing, and we’ll learn processes for efficient code debugging with online puzzles. We only just got acquainted with our Sphero Robots, however it was enough for students to understand the need for collaboration and problem solving ahead.
All of our work, with both computers and robots, will center around the understanding of concept of systems. Systems have boundaries, elements, inputs, outputs, and observable interactions. What are the similarities of computer systems to other systems we can observe? Using computers, robots, literature, and some current events, we will consider our essential question all week: What tasks should humans delegate to machines and what tasks should only and uniquely be accomplished by humans? How can we determine the difference? Specifically, what are the qualities of computers and what are they best designed to do? Should all cars become automated? Should robots be used for very dangerous tasks such as search and rescue? How could technology have been used for rescuing the young soccer team trapped in the cave in Taiwan? What parts of rescue assignments must be handled by thinking humans?
It’s going to be a tremendous week of problem solving, FAILs (first attempts in learning), and joyous celebrations of learning! You’ll hear more tomorrow from Maya Hardrick, our class teaching assistant, on all our progress. Thank you for making your child a part of our SAVY program week!
Mrs. Byrd
Some of Today’s Highlights
