Bots, coding, games design and the new UK primary school National Curriculum for Computing

Stacey Pogoda Computer Games Design & DevelopmentSchool of Arts and Digital Industries

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Ten Y1 & Y2 Children

Problem solving and critical thinking Visualising and programming directional

sequences Cycle of planning, doing, testing

Functions/procedures Conditional statements Repeat loops

Spatial awareness & embodied learning

Problem based learning Constructivist approach Empowerment & control Immediate feedback

BOT CLUB

Ten Y1 children

COMPUTING CLUB

Eight Y2 & Y3 children

Movement & positioning Variables Conditional statements Events Collision detection Animation Input /output Sound Logical operators

Outreach to schools & consultation Extension to wider classroom? Teaching materials? Training? Publications

Games design to introduce computing

Teaching formal systems logic in primary

Constructivist approaches

Impact on cognitive development

And then a miracle happens…