Taking a robotics course, in general, will teach the following skills:
Creativity: Coding empowers young children to consume digital technology and also be the producers of it
Computational Thinking
Collaboration
Communication
Persistence
Understanding
Logic
Problem Solving
3 Hour – Week 1 Skills
Campers will become very familiar with the Blockly Program. Within that program they will manipulate each tab for a better understanding of, Drive, Look, Light, Sounds, Animations, Control, and Variables. They will learn what each tab can do and push their ability each day.
They will understand what problems are best solved using sequencing. Within that program, they will be sequencing with lights, sounds, and animation blocks and further explore using sequencing to revise code and complete coding challenges in an iterative process.
Campers will also understand the definition of a nested loop. Distinguishing between when a nested loop should be used instead of a simple or regular loop.
They will create a program that uses a nested loop in order to solve a puzzle. In addition, they will use loops to revise code and complete coding challenges.
While campers work through the 3-hour session they will also understand the definition of a conditional statement and create a conditional statement. They will use conditionals within their programs to revise code and complete coding challenges.
Adding to the skills the campers are learning they will also define a function and identify the differences between a function and a loop. They will identify times when a function should be used instead of a loop. Campers will use functions to revise code and complete coding challenges.
The skills mentioned above will all be put together to master the Friday Challenge. Campers will put to the test their understanding of Blockly and all they have learned over the course of the week to complete the challenge presented to them. They will have the opportunity to build upon all of these skills in the Week 2 session that is offered by ESSK.
3 Hour – Week 2 Skills
In week 2, campers will dive deeper into the Blockly Program. Within the Blockly program they will manipulate each tab for a better understanding of, Drive, Look, Light, Sounds, Animations, Control, and Variables. They will learn what each tab can do and push their ability each day. Campers will be able to change parameters within each block and have a deeper understanding of what each command makes Dash do in the simulator.
Campers will be able to create their own algorithms to solve problems they are challenged with during week 2. With their further understanding of Blocky and block coding, the campers will be able to choose which commands are appropriate to use in order to solve a problem. Also, campers will be challenged to solve problems with fewer blocks, meaning they will have to rely on their deeper knowledge to problem solve ways to use repeat blocks, as well as other conditional blocks in order to solve problems in a more streamlined way.
They will understand what problems are best solved using sequencing. Within that program, they will be sequencing with lights, sounds, and animation blocks and further explore using sequencing to revise code and complete coding challenges in an iterative process. Week 2 will provide campers with the opportunity to be more creative in their coding and allow them to express themselves with these different tabs within their code.
Campers will also understand the definition of a nested loop. Distinguishing between when a nested loop should be used instead of a simple or regular loop.
They will create a program that uses a nested loop in order to solve a puzzle. In addition, they will use loops to revise code and complete coding challenges. Campers will be challenged to complete challenges with fewer blocks and their mastering of the loop commands in Blockly will help them simplify their codes and make their algorithms easier to debug.
While campers work through the week 2 session they will also have a deeper understanding of conditional statements and create a conditional statement. They will use conditionals within their programs to revise code and complete coding challenges.
Adding to the skills the campers are learning they will also define a function and identify the differences between a function and a loop. They will identify times when a function should be used instead of a loop. Campers will use functions to revise code and complete coding challenges.
With a deeper understanding of the entire Blockly program, campers will be creating their own algorithms, creatively solving problems, and being able to communicate the process in which they used to create their program. Also, campers will learn how to adapt to failure, as failure is a huge part of the coding process. Campers need to understand that new attempts at their coding need to be tried in order to accomplish success. Positively learning from failures is an important facet of coding and problem-solving. These skills are important for our 21st-century learners to become successful in all future endeavors.
The skills mentioned above will all be put together to master the Friday Challenge. Campers will put to the test their understanding of Blockly and all they have learned over the course of the week to complete the challenge presented to them.
6 Hour – Week 1 Skills
Campers will become very familiar with the Blockly Program. Within that program they will manipulate each tab for a better understanding of, Drive, Look, Light, Sounds, Animations, Control, and Variables. They will learn what each tab can do and push their ability each day. Campers will dive right into changing parameters of the blocks right from day one. Campers will be using the blocks in block coding to solve problems and will also be able to set the parameters in each block in order to customize their algorithms to complete the challenge presented to them.
They will understand what problems are best solved using sequencing. Within that program, they will be sequencing with lights, sounds, and animation blocks and further explore using sequencing to revise code and complete coding challenges in an iterative process.
Campers will also understand the definition of a nested loop. Distinguishing between when a nested loop should be used instead of a simple or regular loop.
They will create a program that uses a nested loop in order to solve a puzzle. In addition, they will use loops to revise code and complete coding challenges. Loops are a great way to streamline algorithms. Campers will understand the importance of a concise algorithm and will value the use of loops to simplify their code and solve the problem with more ease.
While campers work through the 6-hour session they will also understand the definition of a conditional statement and create a conditional statement. They will use conditionals within their programs to revise code and complete coding challenges.
Adding to the skills the campers are learning they will also define a function and identify the differences between a function and a loop. They will identify times when a function should be used instead of a loop. Campers will use functions to revise code and complete coding challenges.
The skills mentioned above will all be put together to master the Friday Challenge. Campers will put to the test their understanding of Blockly and all they have learned over the course of the week to complete the challenge presented to them. They will have the opportunity to build upon all of these skills in the Week 2 session that is offered by ESSK.
6 Hour – Week 2 Skills
The 6 Hour Week 2 session starts to really challenge the camper as a coder and problem solver. After a quick review of what was covered in Week 1, campers dive right into the more advanced blocks that Blockly has to offer. These include conditionals, nested conditionals, nested loops, as well as variables.
The variables tab holds many of the most complicated commands offered in Blockly. The camper will have to use their problem-solving skills just to figure out how to use these blocks. They will have to rely on trial and error and learn from their failures. This is an extremely important concept that coding teaches us from an early stage. Failing is okay in coding. It is actually necessary! Campers will be able to try to use the variable tabs, and problem solve and figure out how these complex blocks make algorithms more exciting and challenging. With the challenges presented to the campers, they will have to master the Variables folder and be confident in their coding and problem-solving skills.
After mastering all that Blockly has to offer, campers will be provided the opportunity to be more creative with their algorithms. Instead of being given specific tasks to complete, campers will be given scenarios in which they can be creative and problem solve all at the same time. Campers will get the full Dash experience in Dash’s Neighborhood.
The skills mentioned above will all be put together to master the Friday Challenge. Campers will put to the test their understanding of Blockly and all they have learned over the course of the week to complete the challenge presented to them.
