Computing – introducing the children to physical computing
This year, a new, physical computing strand has been introduced into the national curriculum. Children in KS1 are learning to control our new Sphero robots. Spheros are small, special robots about the same size as a golf ball. The have a gyroscope, can change colour and drive around at different speeds, making them an exciting prospect.
As Spheros were brand new to them, Year 2 rapidly went through the Year 1 syllabus so they could learn how to control the robots skillfully. After connecting the Spheros to an I-pad, the children were taught to use the screen to move the robot around using a touch screen, virtual joystick. After they became more comfortable with learning to operate the Spheros, the children completed a number of mini timed challenges - such as seeing how many times they can drive between two cones in one-minute, attempting to weave in and out of a set of cones, knocking over specific coloured skittles (whilst missing other colours) and the like.
Later in the year, the children will race the Spheros, and control them with other input techniques (replacing the virtual joystick with tilt control. flicks, catapult pulls and even screaming). The children will also have the opportunity to learn that the Spheros actually become the controller and used to play games on the I-pad instead. By manipulating the Spheros in different ways, the children will play rotating shape, car racing and spaceships flying past meteor games on the I-pads.
Finally, the children will learn to control the Spheros by writing their own progammes. They will use the Sphero App to block code a series of instructions for the robot to follow; this allows the Spheros to complete task, such as to solve simple mazes. Each time the code is extended, the robot must be returned to the start point to check that the new piece of code does what was intended (or to amend it where required). These skills are closely linked to other block coding units in Purple Mash where the children control computer programmes, and it will also support their ability to block code Microbits (mini LED computers) when they reach KS2.
Physical computing opportunities help enrich the computing curriculum, by teaching the children more about the connection between coding computers and some real-world applications, in a very engaging way.
Watch the videos below to see how the children got on.
