Coding in the Classroom

How can you use coding in your classroom?  What is coding? The dictionary definition is the process of assigning a code to something for the purpose of classification or identification.  A definition for students could writing or programming step by step instructions to achieve a goal.  Coding can be introduced and learned as early as kindergarten, with or without computers.  Many schools, about 90% of them, have cut or do not even teach computer science anymore.  The world we live in today revolves around technology and it is important for students to learn about them.  


A good way to introduce coding for younger students is by using Bee-Bots, which are little robots like the picture above for the students to begin coding.  There is a grid that can be used with the Bee-Bot and you can place pictures under it such as the ABCs for kindergarten.  You can place the Bee-Bot on any space you want and either tell your students which space to move it to or have cards that they draw from.  If the students are just beginning to code, then they may only do one step at a time.  For example, if they have to turn the Bee-Bot to the right and then move forward three spaces, they may only code it to perform one step, then key in another and so on.  As the students advance and get use to using the Bee-Bot you can begin to show them that if they know the steps to take then they can code it all at once.  This process will allow the students to begin to think ahead.  Often, I have noticed, that the students process the steps better if you ask them to tell you verbally what the Bee-Bot needs to do before they actually code it.  This shows the students' thinking as they process the information.  You can also ask them questions such as; Is that the fastest way for the Bee-bot to get there? Was there another way you could have coded the Bee-Bot to go? 

This is a picture of the Bee-Bot grid map I talked about above.  You can lift the clear sheet up and place pictures under it.