Introducing Code.org 
This year we introduced a specialist Digital Technologies component to our STEMS program, with an extra lesson for every class every fortnight. The school also invested in a variety of different robots, programming and engineering equipment.
In the junior area, our work in class has including basic ‘Unplugged’ programming like giving verbal directions to a human robot, writing simple codes with arrows, drawing paths for line tracking Ozobots, programing Beebots with simple directional instructions and programming Dash and Dot robots with an app on the iPads.
Every student in the school has also accessed a free online coding website – Code.org.
Each student has their own log in on our school account. Grades 3, 4, 5 & 6 students log in with their Google account. For Foundation and Grades 1 & 2 students, they have a unique class section code or URL, and a picture code.
Code.org has a number of different courses for students of different ages and I have selected an appropriate course for each level. Students are able to progress through the set course at their own pace. There are video lessons and sequential tasks to teach students different aspects of coding.
https://code.org/
During this unique time, I am very aware of the enormous stress families may be experiencing on many different levels. Accessing Code.org from home is an optional task if you feel it is appropriate for your family, however it can provide some fun, independent learning time and help develop their coding skills.
If your family chooses to access Code.org during this time, I am available to offer support as needed. For Gardes 3, 4, 5 & 6 students, sending a private message on the Assignment page of Google Classroom is the easiest way. If your child is in Grade 1/2, your code should be in the front cover of their work book, but if you need your code please email me your child’s full name and class. If your child is finding their current course too difficult, just let me know and I can also allocate a different course. I will endeavour to get back to you as soon as I can during school hours Tuesday to Thursday, as I am managing remote learning students from across the whole school, as well as my own children’s remote learning tasks.
I look forward to seeing you all back in the classroom and giving our students many opportunities to use our new resources at school.
