Summer SAVY Session 2, Day 3 – Intro to Coding and Robotics (Wheelock)
Day 3: Today we hit the ground running! We were introduced to new vocabulary and new blocks to use while coding. We can now identify repeating patterns with multiple steps and apply loops within our programs. But we didn’t stop there! These programmers shortened the algorithm for their “robotic” friends using loops. A loop is the action of doing something over and over again, so we came to the conclusion that using these blocks makes giving instructions easier.
While learning more about coding, we leveled up with a lesson on angles within shapes. The programmers had to learn different degrees in which a character would turn. They had the hard task of using their character to draw specific shapes while identifying an angle’s degree and the number of pixels they have to travel on each side of the shape. These new skills were transferred to our code.org platform where the programmers worked through online puzzles to “debug” and add loops to finished code.
Continuing our investigation of AI and robots completing human tasks, we were introduced to a new robot, Google’s AI Quickdraw. The robot uses data collected from over 15 million people all over the world to try and guess the picture you are drawing. It was so much fun to play Pictionary with artificial intelligence!
The day concluded with the groups continuing to build their Lego Boost robots. The programmers will build the belt and the arms on the robot before they program it to move.
Tonight ask your programmers:
- Why do you need to know angle measurements to code characters to turn?
- What is a loop and how does it help you while programming?
- What sensors do you think were included in the ice cream robot?
Lauren Wheelock