Kano

Kano

http://us.kano.me/

Year level: 4

Subject: Technology

Strand: Digital Technology

Description

Kano is a fantastic computer and coding kit for children ages 6 and upwards. Students actually get to make a computer, learn what’s inside, play with the code and hopefully spark a lifelong passion for computing and the arts! Kano is a Raspberry π based project, which also utilises Sonic Pi for the music coding component.

Below is a video introducing Kano…

As can be seen by the video, Kano has been constructed to engage students immediately, showing them how a computer is designed and engineered on a basic level. As stated by Luke, it’s like putting Lego together. Students once into the coding phase can then learn to code and create games, hack into well known platforms like Minecraft and make music.

Here is another great video showing Luke using Kano.

There are great resource packages designed and built for educator and schools, which can be aligned with the school curriculum and provide great levels of support and training for the teachers. There is also the ability for the students to share their work or projects through portals and also check out what other students have created!

Digital Technologies

Link to  SCSA (School Curriculum and Standards Authority)

Looking at the year 4 syllabus Kano could be introduced to explore digital systems in terms of their components and the other peripheral devices. Students learn how to manipulate and interpret data which allow students to develop the data to represent and communicate ideas. This helps to develop computational thinking.

Some Year 4 Content descriptors that would be covered by using Kano:

Knowledge & Understanding

  • Digital systems and peripheral devices are used for different purposes and can store and transmit different types of data (ACTDIK007)

Digital Implementation

  • Use simple visual programming environments that include a sequence of steps (algorithm) involving decisions made by the user (branching) (ACTDIP011)
  • Work with others to create and communicate ideas and information safely, using agreed protocols (netiquette) (ACTDIP013)

You can also easily see how using the Kano package can link in with the general capabilities:

  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • ICT
  • Creative thinking

Tynker

 

 

https://www.tynker.com/

Subject: Technologies

Strand: Digital Technology

Year level: 1-6

 

Description:

Tynker is a creative computing platform where students are able to learn how to program and build Apps, games and more. It is self paced and is easily incorporated into the Western Australian school curriculum (School Curriculum and Standards Authority, Government of Western Australia) in the subject of Technologies particularly the strand of Digital Technologies.

Students are encouraged and engaged to create games and animated projects using visual coding and provides them with the knowledge foundations in programming and computational thinking which will then help their progress into mainstream object orientated programming. It has powerful kid friendly tools and guided, independent instruction for your students.

The resources and instruction that are available to teachers are also fantastic. It has ready to use, grade specific lesson plans and links to STEM project templates for Math, Science, ICT and English to name a few.

Tynker can be used across different PC platforms (Windows or Mac) and mobile devices running IOS or Android.

Links:

Below are a link to Tynker’s website which will allow a free initial sign up for schools to look at coding across Year levels 1 to 8. This will introduce your class to visual programming. In this course, students get introduced to basic programming as they create interactive stories, design animations, and make mini-games in Tynker’s game-like interface. Each lesson is designed for a class period of 45-60 minutes.

https://www.tynker.com/

https://www.tynker.com/school/courses/show?id=0-programming-100

https://www.tynker.com/play?p=518173ef75209f6e64000198

This is a great video explaining why everyone loves Tynker!

 Sub-strands and Content Descriptors:

Tynker’s courses cover sub-strands and many different Content Descriptors in each year group such as;

Year 1

Strand: Knowledge and Understanding

Representation of Data:

  • Data can have patterns and can be represented as pictures, symbols and diagrams (ACTDK002)

 

Strand: Process and Production Skills

Collecting, Analysing and Representing Data

Present data of any kind using a variety of digital tools (ACTDIP003)

Biscuit making

Hello Everyone

Stuck for ideas on how to run a lesson for your Design and Technology curriculum?

Here is one we enjoyed on my Year 5 practicum class!

Making biscuits-2d2j4z4

The class completed the written part of this activity by completing every part of this booklet.

Given this was an activity involving food production covering ACTDEP026 on safe procedures was vital and an important part of our lessons and discussions.   ACTDEK021 about food production and ACTDEJ022 on food safety and hygiene were all covered in our series of lessons. There are some wonderful videos on youtube that cover food safety and hygiene methods very clearly and in an engaging manner.

Initially we got students used to reviewing biscuit types, making decisions and completing tables and using appropriate vocabulary by bringing in a variety of branded biscuits for them to sample and review. These activities fulfilled a number of cross curricular areas in literacy and numeracy and general capabilities like creative and critical thinking.

Then we moved to making their own.

Students got the opportunity to review different biscuit types, starting with a basic recipe as outline in the attached booklet and then adding a variety of their own additions and reviewing and choosing their favourites. Students bought in spices, choc chips, food colouring, mini M&M’s, icing and other fun additions.

Since we only had the oven in the staff room to utilise the biscuit baking, the cooking day took a lot of planning and the assistance of an Education Assistance with myself and my Mentor teacher carefully guiding and monitoring proceedings.

If you have the time and the energy to run this lesson in your own classroom, combined with some assistance, you should try it. My students were still talking about what fun they had weeks later!