At Sun-El Co., Ltd.,Programming class for children who touch programming for the first time, "sunel kids lab” is operated.
For classroom detailsanother articleSince I introduced it in, this time I will talk about the teaching materials handled by Kids Lab.
At Sunel Kids Lab,IchigoJam (strawberry jam)I am learning programming using a mini-computer.
Programming in IchigoJam is often used in other programming classrooms,"Visual language" such as ScratchIt's a different style of programming.
In this article,Difference between IchigoJam and Scratchor,The reason why Sanel Kids Lab thinks IchigoJam's programming is goodI would like to share with you some concrete examples.
What is IchigoJam?
IchigoJam (strawberry jam)is a children's computer dedicated to programming.
called a single board computerA small computer with one bare boardAnd the size is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
In a single computer, no initial setup is required,Just plug in your keyboard and monitor and start upThen you can start programming.
IchigoJam also has input/output ports.
that's why"Control electronic parts such as LEDs and servo motors from IchigoJam"You can easily try learning combined with electronic work.
It is also an opportunity to develop the ability to solve problems while thinking for yourself by connecting familiar things and programs.
Here is an example of learning combined with electronic work
Sanel Kids Lab also held a special class combining IchigoJam and electronic crafts.
ContentsSolder buttons and LEDs to make electronic parts and control them with IchigoJamThat's what it means.
For example, the image below lights up the LED randomly and presses the button at the position where it shines.LED whack-a-mole"is.
another,Traffic light LEDand ... andOriginal LED made from resinYou can use the IchigoJam program to light up various LEDs.
The image below shows the state of the traffic light LED.
Programming IchigoJam
Broadly divided into programming languagesvisual languageand,text languageThere are
A visual language such as ScratchNow, program by operating blocks and flowcharts with a mouse or touchpad.
Visual languages are characterized by their ability to be programmed without detailed knowledge of programming language grammar.
In Scratch"When you press the left and right direction keys, the character moves"If you program like this, it will look like the image below.
on the other hand,Text languages handled by IchigoJamis programming by typing "letters, symbols and numbers" on the keyboard.
at Ichigo Jam"When you press the left and right direction keys, the character moves"Let's also look at the image when it is programmed like this.
Even if you program the same movement, you can see that the content is greatly different between the visual language and the text language.
Move your character
The Scratch program isThe character moves as the words written on the blockThe following is a list of the most common problems with the
So, if you understand that "the X coordinate indicates the horizontal position", you can imagine how the program works.
On the other hand, when you see IchigoJam for the first time, you may have the impression that "it doesn't make much sense...".
In order to write the program in the image above from scratch, not only the meaning of each command (instruction) and the rules for writing,
- Understanding how characters appear to move
- Understand how key input is received
- Necessary commands for the mechanism you want to realize
…and so on.
Unlike a visual language where you can make use of the words you use as they are,It is necessary to make it according to the rules on the IchigoJam sideabout it.
Why Choose IchigoJam Programming Over Visual Languages
As I said earlier, in order to program with IchigoJam,Make it according to the rules on the IchigoJam sideis needed.
but i am hereImportant points in learning programmingI believe there is
For example, when playing a game, what would you do if you wanted to move your character?
Perhaps you think, "Usually, if you press the direction key, the character will move."
However, when I tried to make my own game using IchigoJam, the fact that I needed to create a system for what I wanted to do according to IchigoJam's rules
- In the first place, what does it mean that the character can move?
- How do you know what key you pressed?
and so on,Decompose or abstract what you want to achieve, and reassemble it into a form that the other party (computer) can understand., you will need a high level of thinking.
Programming learning at IchigoJam acquires such thinking skills from an early stage.
You can develop problem-solving skills by continuing to think
Problem-solving is the ability to see things from different perspectives and try different methods.
Thinking of abstracting and decomposing “obvious” things and reassembling them so that they work according to different rulesshould lead to strengthening of problem-solving skills, not limited to programming.
When trying to realize what I want to make with IchigoJam, in order to match the rules of the computer,Thinking about things in an approach you never thought of beforeIt will be.
This experience is the heart of programming learning, and I think it is the real pleasure of IchigoJam.
I interpret visual languages as having less density to gain this experience, in return for making it easier to enter the world of programming.
By the way, after explaining so far, you may think that learning IchigoJam is difficult for children.
However, when children are actually exposed to programming, even adults are often surprised by its adaptability.
IchigoJam programming, how to learn at Kids Lab?
I have conducted IchigoJam programming experience for elementary school students many times, including activities at Kids Lab.
From that experience,IchigoJam's programming, which is difficult for adults to approach and has a sober impression, seems to have nothing to do with children.The following is a list of the most common problems with the
I will explain along with the classes that are actually being carried out at Sanel Kids Lab.
0. Touching the keyboard for the first time ~ programming experience ~
As long as you know the alphabet, typing on the keyboard is also a game for children to find the alphabet.
In the programming experience conducted at Kids Lab,Create a short program by typing commands (instructions) of about 3 to 4 characters one by oneStart from where.
Once you are familiar with the commands, theEnter and play a game program using commandsThe following is a list of the most common problems with the
When the children get excited saying 'I made a game!', I ask them to enter a game program with a longer amount of text.
At this time, not only playing games,Have the game modified to your original versionThe following is a list of the most common problems with the
It teaches you how to modify, so children can look at the program and"What if I rewrite this?"and rewrite the program.
By this time, some children are playing with IchigoJam using the keyboard and changing the program on their own without hesitation in entering symbols.
And some of them even touched the keyboard for the first time that day.
1.Beginner course
Before you can create the program that moves the character introduced earlier, you need to go through several steps.
In the beginner's course, while learning the IchigoJam commands little by little,Learn the basic elements of programmingThe following is a list of the most common problems with the
Specifically, a simple program using a certain command,
point
- Copy from text to IchigoJam and write
- Execute
- See the results and make your own changes
While repeating the work ofLearn how to use the command and how it works, will be the flow.
2. Step course
After learning the basics in the beginner's course, we will deepen our learning of programming in the step course.
In addition to self-sufficient learning by solving problem printouts at your own pace, you can practice what you have learned through creating works.provide an opportunity to
and"You can create complex programs by yourself"In order to reach that level, we are proceeding with learning with an approach that matches the student.
Try and choose a style that you can continue to be interested in
How was it?
I have introduced the programming of IchigoJam while comparing it with the visual languages that are often used in other cram schools.
Some of the students I have met so far include:
And so on, there were various children.
There is no such thing as which is better or worse, so after tryingI want you to choose the style that the child can continue and is addicted toI think.
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