ICT Week 5- Modelling and Computer Programming

Before this week’s lesson I was fully aware that children around the world played all different kinds of computer games on a regular basis; however I did not realize that now have the power to use modelling and programming to come up with their own games and ideas.

What is modelling?

For children modelling gives them the opportunity to explore ‘what happens if’ situations. There is large variety of modelling software available for children which they will find exciting and fascinating to use.

Some examples of software/online tools that you may want to use in the classroom;

·         My world

·         2simulate

·         2Do-It-Yourself

·         Tizzy’s Tools

·         My Modelling Toolkit- which can provide a useful link to Design Technology.

·         Logo- a free download

·         Scratch- also a free download

·         2simple- available at purplemash.com

 

Using computer modelling tools can be beneficial to children in the following ways;

·         It allows them to develop their own ideas and think for themselves.

·         Encourages them to make links and observe patterns.

·         Gives the opportunity to partake in an investigation e.g. to make predictions.

·         To understand grouping, sequences and cause and effect.

·         To acknowledge the appropriate method to dealing with a problem.

·         To engage in new experiences and dealing with challenges that may occur along the way.

·         To use the process of trial and error.

 

In the lesson we were given the opportunity to explore two of the main software programs My Modelling Toolkit and 2simple which allow children from a very young age to develop modelling skills.  Both programs have various activities were children can explore imaginary and real life situations.

When using My Modelling Toolkit children can build their own alien, dress a baby or design rooms in a house, these activities provide fantastic cross curricular links. For example I made my own alien which you could link to literacy were a child could write their own story about the alien they had designed earlier that day in ICT or in a Mathematics lesson were all the children could sort their aliens into different groups depending on how many heads, arms, legs etc. . My Modelling Toolkit is very accessible and designed in a way that would be very appealing to children from a young age.

 

The other software we looked at was 2simple on purplemash.co.uk similarly to My Modelling Toolkit it has a wide variety of software that could be used a cross the curriculum. I looked at 2count which allows you to make pictograms with a range of different pictures including shape, animals and fruit. This would obviously be beneficial in Mathematics lessons but also if trying to collect data from Geography or History research.

 

The 2simple software has a lot of programs which would be useful for all Primary Key Stages. Many of the programs can be adapted to be effective tools across all ability groups.  As well as My Modelling Toolkit and 2simple there are unlimited modelling resources online. Two others which were discussed in class were Poissonrouge.com and kenttrust.web.org.uk which similarly to the previous two discussed will provide ample opportunity to develop skills across the curriculum.

 

Computer Programming

 

After we had addressed computer modelling we then went onto look at computer programming, you may remember when we discussed computer programmable devices previously (Beebot, Pixie and Pippin). This week we looked at software available which allows children to create and play games they made themselves.

 

2go 2simple

The class firstly identified that we could 2go on the 2simple software to initially introduce children to making games not just using them. Children can choose their own scene and characters dependent on their preferences. On the program Foundation stage and Key Stage 1 can learn that by inputting directions using the keyboard their character will do what they want it to. This is a good way of getting children to learn how to develop basic programming skills.

 

Microsoft Logo

Microsoft Logo is a download which is available freely, you input information such as the direction, how far and what degree angle you want the ‘turtle’ to go into make specific shapes or patterns. The importance of using Microsoft Logo is to teach children about the importance of the steps you are following to create the end product, as it is of more educational benefit to understand and observe how a pattern was made than to just look to the end result. Although the emphasis is on the process of producing the end result some of the designs are incredibly intricate and very pleasant to look at. It is also a good tool to use as it helps develop children’s spacial awareness, shape and degrees knowledge and could be used in both Key Stage 1 and 2 as the process can be both simple and complicated depending on the age range it is addressing.

 

Scratch

Is the final computer programming tool we looked at, it allows children to create interactive stories, games and activities which they have an overall control of. This free download allows children to pick their own Sprites (characters) and get the Sprites to move and make noises that would fit it into their story. The children then can choose a setting to put their character in for example if their Sprite was a fish they could put it in an underwater setting.

 

 

The computer programming software has many links to all areas of the curriculum, from my own experience of using the programs I believe most primary school children would fully engage and enjoy the activities as they would feel they were in control of their learning.