Ballasalla School 3/3

1998-2014

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YEAR 5 and 6 had already been re-introduced to ‘programming skills’ thanks to computer sessions run by Mrs Cowin at Ballasalla in the wake of the last computer bus visit before easter.
As a result the boys and girls hit the ground running today, launching straight into creating algorithms and flowcharts using Anthony Bowker’s venerable “FLOWOL’ program which uses on screen ‘mimics’ and a flowchart UI to program real life situations.
As well as tackling the relatively straightforward traffic lights and fairground horse, some students chose to figure out a solution to the far more complex ‘level crossing’ (like the one down the road in Ballasalla village) or the ferris wheel (like the one due to arrive any day on the Douglas Prom for TT week.)
Later in the day the students once again met up with Scratch Cat, where they have complete freedom to figure out how to simply change the stage background, sprites or costumes or what the program is really all about, seeing how the game ‘Pong’ works and see if they can apply this to a game of their own in the near future.
On board the bus today were students from Edge Hill College, Mis Whittle and Miss Rigg who interacted brilliantly with the children (putting the Computer Bus man to shame in fact).
And thanks to them and the staff at Ballasalla, the programming journey the children have started is destined to continue - especially for Year 6 as they progress to Castle Rushen High School in September and meet Mrs Darbyshire and Mr Moss.

Ballasalla School 3/3

08/05/2014

A FOLLOW UP TRIP to Ballasalla school with the whole day spent with year 5/6 looking at programming...

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