Coding a Creative Mindset

Funded Nov 16, 2018

First, thank you so much for your generosity in funding this project. My students are used to getting getting things where the majority of the class act as bystanders and not able to interact with any new technology that comes into our class. As you can imagine, this is very boring to the kids and most lose interest after realizing that the time they will have will be very little. This project has meant so much to my students. Once the items arrived, the class was eager to open up the boxes and get going. To see the look on their faces as I explained that they would be able to work in small groups vs a large group was amazing. They wanted to jump right in and get going.

To walk into the class when the materials are out is a wonderland of activity. Each of the 6 ozobots has usually 4 people working with it at one time. Each group stations themselves around the room so they can have enough space to work with each other and use their ozobots without interruption. Each group member likes to create original codes for their ozobots to travel. Changing color, speed, and direction are some of the different codes the kids create. Using the stickers in the beginning was part of the fun but now, they like to use the markers to draw their own codes and look to see if they can identify their partners codes. In addition, the other group members are using Dash and Dot and the code cards to program different codes. Changing colors, having Dash and Dot speak and interact with each other are some of the fun the kids like seeing. We are getting to use the markers now - another piece the kids are excited to use.

The impact of this work is felt across the board but my ENL learners have enjoyed and felt the most impact with the new materials. By using color and basic code blocks to interact with the technology, they have been able to be creative in coding. These students, who have at times struggled in communicating their ideas and thinking in class, have jumped into coding with these materials. They like using the colors in the ozobots. The Dash and Dot cards are easy to figure out are so easy to use with the IPad. They can quickly see how their block codes are followed by Dash and Dot. This has made a tremendous impact on them - as they can be part of the fun without needing so much translation to interact with their classmates and the technology. More importantly, by having the creativity to code what they want, to make their visions and imaginations come to life, they are figuring out what works and doesn't and using problem solving skills to figure things out. Whether it's using Dash and Dot or the ozobots, the students have unleashed their imaginations and enjoy being creative with each other in creating codes.”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Sisto