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Introduction to Coding

Getting ready for the Digital Technology Curriculum

Jordan Priestley

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What is the new curriculum all about?

Aims and Goals:

  • All learners to be digitally capable
  • Able to use and create digital technologies to solve problems, take advantage of opportunities
  • Not just all about the term ‘coding’

Digital Technologies Curriculum

@Jordan_priestle

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The Curriculum

The new technology areas added for the new curriculum

@Jordan_priestle

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What do these fancy new learning areas mean??

Computational Thinking for Digital Technologies

Designing and Developing Digital Outcomes

Computational thinking enables a student to express problems, and formulate solutions in a way that means a computer (an information processing agent) can be used to solve them.

Students develop computational and algorithmic thinking skills, and an understanding of the computer science principles that underlie all digital technologies. They become aware of what is, and is not, possible with computing, so they are able to make judgements and informed decisions as citizens of the digital

world. Students learn core programming concepts and how to

take advantage of the capabilities of computers, so that they can become creators of digital technologies, not just users. They will develop an understanding of how computer data is stored, how all the information within a computer system is presented using digits, and the impact that different data representations have on the nature and use of this information.

Students understand that digital applications and systems

are created for humans by humans. They develop increasingly sophisticated understandings and skills related to designing and producing quality, fit-for-purpose, digital outcomes.

They develop their understanding of the digital Information technologies that people need in order to locate, analyse, evaluate, and present digital information efficiently, effectively, and ethically. They become more expert in manipulating and combining data, using information management tools to create an outcome. They become aware of the unique intellectual property issues that arise in digital systems, particularly approaches to copyright and patents.

Ummm what do all the fancy words mean???

@Jordan_priestle

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Let’s look at just one today…

Computational Thinking for Digital Technologies

@Jordan_priestle

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We are working here!!

What does that mean??

Progress Outcome 1:

In authentic contexts and taking account of end-users, students use their decomposition skills to break down simple non-computerised tasks into precise, unambiguous, step-by-step instructions (algorithmic thinking). They give these instructions, identify any errors in them as they are followed, and correct them (simple debugging).

I’m still confused??

@Jordan_priestle

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Progress Outcome 1:

In authentic contexts and taking account of end-users, students use their decomposition skills to break down simple non-computerised tasks into precise, unambiguous, step-by-step instructions (algorithmic thinking). They give these instructions, identify any errors in them as they are followed, and correct them (simple debugging).

Key words:

Authentic contexts = things that are relatable and relevant for your kids

Non-computerised tasks = not using digital devices

Step by step instructions = fancy way of saying an ALGORITHM or algorithmic thinking!! (WOW fancy)

Identify any errors = simple debugging! (Another fancy word)

@Jordan_priestle

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Lets see this in an example

Using the key words, get the honey bee to its hive, collecting pollen from the flowers as you go:

Left

Right

Up

Down

Write your instructions down.

Give it to a buddy to check!

If there are any ‘bugs’, debug your instructions and try again!

@Jordan_priestle

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So easy!

Not too hard! Hopefully….

Link an example into any learning area

Maths, science, inquiry!

All about simple steps of instruction = fancy word is algorithm

Debugging if there is a problem = fixing what went wrong in your instructions

This is very simplified coding! Yay!

@Jordan_priestle

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Things to help you

Digital Technologies Curriculum

Digital Technologies Explained with exemplars

Very simple LTP for Coding (basics to get you started)

Computational Thinking for Digital Technologies Examples (NZC)

Students don’t need to ‘code’ on devices yet unless they have the terminology and concepts down packed!

@Jordan_priestle