This afternoon’s NewTechKids workshop brought the concept of programming to a group of 10-12 year olds in the best way possible.
The workshop started with a lively discussion about robots and their different uses before moving on to a design and testing exercise during which the kids wrote programs (with pen and paper) to navigate through an obstacle course. In the process, they learned about technology concepts such as programming, automation, input-output, variables and composition.
Later, they traded in paper and pen for a chance to demonstrate what they learned by programming a Lego Mindstorm EV3 robot. (Santa’s reindeers have disappeared without a trace and a robot has been brought in to make sure that the Christmas gifts are delivered.)
Although it was a brief intro to Mindstorms, the kids had fun creating their own variations of the program with movement, sounds and coloured lights.
If this sounds like fun, be sure to sign up for the NewTechKids ‘Intro to Programming’ Bootcamp in January 2015.