Is coding only for geeks, gamers or geniuses?
Is coding only for people who like maths, logic, and analytical thinking? For geeks, gamers or geniuses? Or is coding a means to create for the arts, human-centred design, empathy, storytelling, human connection, building imaginary worlds, characters and adventures, social impact and creative expression.
Learn to code: Part 3 & Let’s start from Scratch
In case you missed it… On Thursday 11 May, we ran our third and final session in a three-part series of web conferences: Let’s start from Scratch and learn to code. Part 3: Let’s build a computer game and make learning about Cartesian coordinates fun. Learn about algorithms, sequencing, branching and looping.
How to make real impact on digital literacy
Teaching digital literacy is a contrast to the traditional academic education model and results in education that leads to empowerment and lifelong learning. We can develop children who are curious, engaged and creative and grow to become change makers, innovators and creators by focusing on creating lifelong learners, outcomes first then tools and technology creation not technology consumption.
Transforming my son’s screen time one coding class at a time!
Managing my son’s screen time and online gaming has (so far) been my biggest everyday parenting challenge. I’ve set time limits. I’ve ensured he does other activities before screen is allowed. And I’ve ‘Mum-splained’ many times that the TV and iPad do not count as a ‘screen break’ from his computer. He also does a number of sports. I have every strategy going, and yet screen time still feels like an ongoing negotiation, requiring energy I don’t have. He is nearly ten and he is exceptionally persistent when it comes to computers.
Variables and how to use them in Scratch
Variables are so important becuasse they allow us to hold a bit of information in a ‘container’ so that it an be editted and used multiple times in our code. Come check out how to use them in Scratch and find out more about the ins and outs of variables!
What is the best programming language to get a job?
Coding classes for children are so much fun. They build computer games, animated stories and digital artwork. After a hard day at school, they come to us and we let our imaginations run wild and be creative. In the process, they learn timeless skills such as computational thinking, problem solving, logic, design and creativity.
But these questions makes me wonder, do children’s piano classes, swimming classes or speech and drama classes get asked the same questions?
It’s 2024. Start a coding club for kids.
You can start a coding club at your school today. Here are some of my ideas for getting started.
Bring Your Scratch Skills to the Next Level
There are so many exciting games you can make as advanced Scratch Coders. With breadth and depth in computer programming skills, the sky’s the limit with game design. Here are some of our favourite games for advanced level coders.
Children meet and learn about robots
Students, parents and teachers from Bulimba State School visited the ARC Centre of Excellence for Robotic Vision (The Centre) at QUT, Gardens Point Campus. The Centre is the world’s first centre that focuses on creating robots that can see.
Knight Collects the Coins in the Castle
Scratch is a versatile, online program that can be used to teach several important skills as well as maintaining a level of fun and engagement through the use of game and animation creation. Today, we’ll focus on a game called Knight collects the coins in the castle, which you can find here. This game is fun to make and play and uses concepts like x and y coordinates, sensing, decision making and variables. These are important skills, both for computer programing and for the development of problem solving skills.