Back at work and learning Tynker!

It is our first full week back after our break, and we are moving full steam ahead with our coding projects!  Last week, we learned the basics of using Tynker on our tablets, by working through a video as a class, and exploring the different functions of Tynker with our partners.  
We also had an introductory lesson on coordinate planes, and the (x,y) system.  

A few of the students were puzzled as to why we were learning such a "mathy" thing in Digital Literacy!  I thought this was an excellent question, and it gave us a great opportunity to talk about how many of our classroom subjects are related, and sometimes in the early steps of a project, it is hard to understand what each piece of the puzzle means, or why it is important.  As a class, we will be completing three different computer programs using Tynker.  In Tynker, when you place an actor, or character on the coding screen called the stage, it is placed by the coordinates, or (x,y) values.  It is important to learn about this grid system as our codes become more complicated, so that we can figure out how to make our actors move in specific ways on our stage.  

This week, we will be creating a Dodgeball game in Tynker using our tablets.  We will be practicing Pair Programming, which is a technique where programmers work together at one workstation. One, the driver, writes code while the other, the navigator, reviews each line of code as it is typed in. The two programmers switch roles frequently.  This is great way to learn new programs, and helps new coders catch mistakes, and make corrections quickly.  It is also a great way to learn how to be a great partner.  We will be practicing Pair Programming throughout the rest of the year.