Programming and robotics
Computational thinking, robotics and programming beyond IT lessons — from Year 1.
Just as important as mastering a foreign language or responding flexibly and logically is the ability to research and test different approaches, formulate ideas carefully, select the most suitable solutions and work with digital technologies. Recognising this, we have introduced more in-depth teaching for children in the areas of computational thinking, robotics and programming, going beyond the scope of IT lessons.
We began the transition to ‘new IT’ by introducing extra-curricular activities in the form of robotics and programming clubs, as well as a revised IT curriculum starting from Year 3. We also offer a programme for developing IT thinking and programming skills (incorporating elements of Hejný’s maths method for nursery schools) to pre-schoolers at our partner nursery school — we are thus planning a systematic educational programme spanning six years.
- 5Dash robots
- 3Dot robots
- 6Blue Bots
- 16Ozobots
- 16Sphero mini
- 16tablets in the English classroom
- 30netbooks
- 1Průša 3D printer
Computers, tablets and the mobile IT classroom
In 2021, we carried out a complete overhaul and renewal of the school’s IT equipment. All desktop computers are touchscreen models and are located in the home classrooms and the English classroom for Years 1–3. Pupils in Years 3–5 have access to a mobile laptop classroom, which enables them to work on school laptops on a 1:1 basis during IT lessons.
DIY, Arduino and 3D printing
The oldest pupils get to tinker with electronics: we build and programme some of our own robots — microcomputers, shields, servo motors and sensors. We also use a Průša i3 3D printer, on which the children print models they have designed in TinkerCAD.
Some topics from the field of IT
- Algorithmic and computational thinking
- Programming and Robotics
- Computer and online security
- Video, recording and editing
- Sound and sound editing (editing, effects, school radio)
- Scratch (Scratch JR, Scratch, mBlock)
- Block-based programming (Dash and Dot, Blue Bot, Sphero)
- Turtle graphics (LOGO, Shapetracer)
- Presentations, word processing
- Animation
- Development and programming of simple games
IT lessons and clubs
Children can take part in a number of different clubs and activities focusing on programming and robotics, as well as global programming challenges (The Hour of Code, Wonder League Robotics Competition).
- Computer Science and Robotics — Year 2
- The Basics of Computational Thinking — Year 1
- GATE 12 and GATE 345 — a programme of activities for gifted children in Years 1 to 5
Computer Science Week and The Hour of Code
Millions of pupils around the world took part in the international ‘Hour of Code’ challenge during the week of 7–13 December 2020. Every class at the school took part in the event: the younger children programmed a beaver and taught it to build a dam, whilst the older pupils split into groups of Minecraft players and Disco Party dancers; the more advanced programmers used Scratch or Pascal. The Year 5 pupils programmed their own mini-games and shared them with their classmates via Google Classroom. The whole school also had a go at virtual reality.