learning how to code

LEARNING HOW TO CODEPresented by Mr. Jorge Pineda

3 TYPES OF PEOPLE

1) People who know how to code

2) People who want to code

3) People who are missing out on opportunities because they don’t know coding or don’t understand how it works.

CODING 101

What is coding?

• It makes it possible to create computer software, apps, and websites.

The simple answer to explain coding….

• It tells the computer what to do.

MORE THAN A TREND

• It helps you understand technology by shaping the world.

• It is strange that we use the Internet, mobile phones, computers….And yet we don’t fully understand how they work!

• The most important benefit of coding is• Not helping you get a high paying job (although it does)• Challenge your mind to solve problems.

VOCABULARY

• Algorithm - • A series of instructions on how to accomplish a task

• Coding - • Transforming actions into a symbolic language

• Debugging - • Finding and fixing issues in code

• Function - • A piece of code that can be called over and over

• Parameters - • Extra bits of information that you can pass into a function to customize i

CLASS ACTIVITY - OVERVIEW

Using a predefined “Robot Vocabulary” your students will figure out how to guide one another to accomplish specific tasks without discussing them first. This segment teaches students the connection between symbols and actions, as well as the valuable skill of debugging

CLASS ACTIVITY - OBJECTIVES

Students will

• Learn to convert real-world activities into instructions

• Gain practice coding instructions with symbols

• Gain understanding of the need for precision in coding

• Gain practice debugging malfunctioning code

• Understand the usefulness of functions and parameters

CLASS ACTIVITY - INTRODUCTION

Can a robot do any of the following:• Hear?• Speak?• “Understand” what you say?

A robot can never perform this actions the same way a person does.

Robots operate off of “instructions”, specific sets of things that they have been preprogrammed to do. In order to accomplish a task, a robot needs to have a series of instructions (sometimes called an algorithm) that it can run. Today, we are going to learn what it takes to make that happen.

CLASS ACTIVITY – SYMBOL KEYS

Pick Up Cup

Put Down Cup

Move ½ Cup Width Forward

Move ½ Cup Width Backward

Move Cup Right 90

Move Cup Left 90

CLASS ACTIVITY - STEPS

• 3 people per group: 2 programmers, 1 Robot

• Mr. Pineda will provide you an image that you are to stack.

• Each member will create algorithm for how the robot to build the stack.

• Coder will translate their program to arrows (symbol keys)

• Once coding is done, robot will read the symbols and translate them to movement.

• Group should watch for incorrect movement, work to debug before asking robot to re-run it.

CLASS ACTIVITY - RULES

• Coders should translate all moves using only the six arrows.

• Cups should remain with the robot, not provider to programmers during coding.

• Once robots are back with their groups, there should be no talking out loud.

CLASS ACTIVITY - BEGINCode Stack

Tip

CLASS ACTIVITY – ANSWER KEY