Bee bot coding 

At Vineyard Lutheran School the term is winding up. We are assessing students and reflecting on what worked in our classrooms, this allows us to fine tune our units and encourages best practise. Assessing the desired outcome of coding – improved problem solving skills, divergent thinking and digital literacy has been a delight. 
I introduced the students to a new/old experience. Current educators may have had some experience with bee-bots, small robots which students program to move straight, left or right. They are very engaging and fun and teach students about directions, special awareness and problem solving.

The same outcome can be achieved using the bee-bot app. The downside to this style of coding is nothing is created, students simply move a bee through a series of mazes, they certainly do utilise problem solving and directional skills, but because nothing is created by the students the app is limited. As an assessment tool, however it is great.

In week 1, despite discussions with students about the importance of ‘having a go’ and problem solving there was still a few students at my elbow exclaiming that the iPad was ‘broken’ ;)8 weeks on and today I was very pleased to discover that the ‘have a go’ attitude of students has improved significantly – definitely as a result of improved problem solving skills and divergent thinking. these skills will be useful in areas of their schooling.