[Yr7-10it] coding in 2017

Mon Dec 12 14:52:48 AEDT 2016

Hi,

I’m glad someone raised this language pathway issue.

The problem is … exactly what general-purpose programming language? Unfortunately most programming languages are pretty specific. JavaScript is oft-cited but this is not really a stand-alone language in the way, say, Visual Basic is designed to be. The Khan Academy and code.org<http://code.org> teaching materials are great but they’re really providing a whole environment and therefore purpose for JS - something the language itself was not really designed for.

Alice is designed to be object-oriented, so I’m happy these ideas could be introduced at 7/8. If you were really keen you could use Alice 3 and transition into Java. GameMaker for 7/8 also works for me as you have to build up a conceptual model of “what is a game?”. In the next generation of the 9/10 elective I’m also flirting with the idea of Visual Basic because you can include ideas of Application Architecture (n layers). Microsoft has some pretty good pricing for things like Team Server for Education packages - getting students into Visual Studio IDE with Team Server source control, now that is starting to look like real programming! I know Python has its fans at year 12 …

I take your point about Scratch. I think it’s okay if everyone does it year 1 but would like to have something different perhaps in year 2 at Y6.

https://madmaker.com.au/ came to our school to use Arduino to teach Y9s programming. I see this as okay in year 1 but once you get a few students through you need to start building projects with more stuff. Someone told me about the sensor packs, etc. you can get for Edison boards. I think these projects require a fair bit of investment in equipment. More so that straight-up programming which can be done on existing gear, cheap or free …

Over time I hope these descriptors become more, well, descriptive, in terms of programming ideas rather than using languages as a proxy.

Compliments of the season all!

Cheers, Mel

On 12 Dec 2016, at 1:32 pm, Grieve, Carlin C <grieve.carlin.c at edumail.vic.gov.au<mailto:grieve.carlin.c at edumail.vic.gov.au>> wrote:

Good work Mel,

Overall I think the learning path is the part that is the most important. You need to ensure that student capacity is built on each year, as it helps the students (As well as the staff ☺ ) Looks like you have this under control!
Having different environments (IDE’s) is always a good thing too, so students do not get hooked on the idea “I can only program in scratch”
Ken was right in ensuring it meets the need of the curriculum though.
•        Yr5/6 Band: Develop digital solutions as simple visual programs (VCDTCD033)<http://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Curriculum/ContentDescription/VCDTCD033>
•        Yr7/8 Band: … using a general-purpose programming language (VCDTCD043)<http://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Curriculum/ContentDescription/VCDTCD043>
•        Yr9/10 Band: … using an object-oriented programming language(VCDTCD053)<http://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Curriculum/ContentDescription/VCDTCD053>

I am interested in what you do with Arduino’s at Year 8 though, as my first implementation failed big time (Expectations vs Reality)

Kind Regards,
<image001.png>

Carlin Grieve
Learning Technologies Leading Teacher
Epping Secondary College
T: +61 3 9401 2599
W:www.eppingsc.vic.edu.au<http://www.eppingsc.vic.edu.au/>

From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au<mailto:yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au> [mailto:yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of ken price
Sent: Monday, 12 December 2016 1:13 PM
To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List <yr7-10it at edulists.com.au<mailto:yr7-10it at edulists.com.au>>
Subject: Re: [Yr7-10it] Fwd: coding in 2017

Doesn't year 7-10 require a general purpose programming language? (based on Aust Curric Digital Technologies)

kp

On Mon, Dec 12, 2016 at 1:04 PM, Mel Yuan <melyuan at hotmail.com<mailto:melyuan at hotmail.com>> wrote:
Hi folks,
Didn’t get much response from the Primary folks, per below … what do you guys think?
Considering putting MS Touch Develop in somewhere too … anyone had experience with this? Microsoft have invested in a fair bit of curriculum materials.

We’re doing some Robotics/Systems as well - Y4 Blue Bots, Y6 Makey Makey, Y7 Mindstorm, Y8 Arduino.

Cheers, Mel

Begin forwarded message:

From: Mel Yuan <melyuan at hotmail.com<mailto:melyuan at hotmail.com>>
Subject: coding in 2017
Date: 9 December 2016 7:35:37 am AEDT
To: primaryit at edulists.com.au<mailto:primaryit at edulists.com.au>

Hello all,

I am starting a new role next year in DigiTech 4-10, having taught 8, 11, 12 (SoftDev) this year. The school has a new program, having offered compulsory IT in years 7-8 for some years.

This is my current plan for coding in 2017 with a view to strengthening pathways over time. I’d be interested in your thoughts - do you do the same or different? Have a missed a language that is a must-have?

I’m thinking that code.org<http://code.org/> is the theoretical ‘backbone’ that teaches concepts, and the other language is something they can make stuff with.

Y4 - code.org<http://code.org/> Course 2, Scratch
Y5 - code.org<http://code.org/> Course 2/3, Scratch
Y6 - code.org<http://code.org/> Course 2/3/4, Scratch
Y7 - code.org<http://code.org/> Accelerated Course 2-4, Alice 2
Y8 - code.org<http://code.org/> Accelerated Course 2-4, GameMaker
Y9/10 elective - code.org<http://code.org/> CSP course 3 AppLab, elective language (Scratch, Alice, GameMaker or other for project)

It’s a small school and when the cohort grows, current students can keep progressing through code.org<http://code.org/> while new students start at Course 2 or Accelerated.

Cheers, Mel

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