Computational Thinking - South Lafayette Township School District: ISTE 2017

South Lafayette's approach to introducing computational thinking relied on transforming education through innovation.  They have built on small discoveries to end up with break through ideas.  There program has grown over time as opportunities have arisen which has led to embedding computational into the curriculum alongside extension programs for developing inquiry. MakerSpace Workshop Presentation

K-2
K-2 focus on Engineering and Design, Computer Programming and and Environmental Discovery Garden

Kindergarten:

• Create conductive play-doh and make circuits
• Kodable

Year 1:

• Create a model of the community in cardboard and record information about each place with QR Codes
• Construct a sturdy house the big bad wolf cant blow down
• Perfect the paint recipe
• design a better bubble blower

Year 2:

• Learn about programming with Scratch Jnr and Lego WeDo
• Create Digital Fairy Tales
• All about me projects
• Create a video game using Scratch Jnr
• Incorporate motors and sensors on a design for a working robot
• Floor Circuits using Makey Makey
• Stop Motion animation with book characters (Flat Stanley)
• Green Screen
• Use of QR codes to link to research

Year 3-5

The focus for Year 3-5 is developing fluency in computational thinking. Digital Literacy skills they develop are applied in maker centred ways during STEAM classes.

Year 3:

• Lego WeDo kits with scratch programming - developing Mars Rovers

Year 4:

• Create an Electric Community using Hummingbird Robotics

Year 5:

• Use of Lego, Hummingbird and Makey Makey in a range of projects
• RobotC programming language to deepen understanding of computational thinking
• Designing 3D models using BlocksCad - mathematical concepts of x, y and z space

Year 6-8

Diversification is the focus to enable students to discover their passion and build robust pathways in computer science, engineering and other opportunities in high school.

Year 6:

Continue to develop knowledge in VEX IQ incorporating sensors and motors on robots allowing them to make decisions based on inputs.

Focus on real world challenges that robots can solve

2D design using autocad and the manufacturing process