Currently in class, Haley and I have been working on a drag and drop project. For this project we have a picture of a cell and all the names to the side of the screen. The person playing the game has to drag the correct name to the corresponding part. At first we struggled with this task and we tried to use colors instead of words. We were missing the "forever" tab which was why we having so much trouble making our game work. I think we were over complicating what we actually had to do. After a few classes of playing around with the tools and discussing with Mrs. Murakami, we realized a simpler way to do it. The point of this project is to make a set of instructions for the children in Barbados to learn how to replicate the project Haley and I made. Therefore, we didn't want to make it too complicated and I think we have come up with a good way to proceed.
Through OLPC, I have learned so much about Scratch and coding. I have never believed myself to be good at computers or programming, but through this class I have learned how truly simple it really is. I have had so much fun learning new things that are truly beneficial for future jobs, etc. I love teaching others new things because it is such an enjoyable process. When teaching the 4th grade students at school, I loved watching how excited they got when they learned a new skill or completed a code and watched their script being put into action. Although I am not going to Barbados, I am so happy that my classmates will be able to teach those kids skills that could truly impact their lives. I love OLPC and am so glad that I get to learn these important computer skills!
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One Laptop Per Child has taught me so much more about Scratch and the other different ways it can be used, alternative to coding. While I knew Scratch helped kids to work with and understand code, I now see that it can be used in a way to teach students in other areas of schooling as well. During class this week we worked on projects in groups where we are expanding on the idea of using Scratch for new purposes. My partner is Addie and together we are making a project where you are able to touch different parts of a flower and learn about each part. We document each step we take through this project and put it all on a word document which the kids and teachers in Barbados can use to create their own projects similar to it. By making these projects, we are giving them an idea of what they could do and allowing them to expand upon it and figure out different ways to incorporate other subjects with Scratch.
I never thought of myself as a big coder or very tech savvy, but through Scratch I've learned so much more about coding. It has greatly helped build my confidence with computers and understanding code and when I am able to complete a project I feel very accomplished. My favorite part about Scratch so far is how you have free range over everything and don't have to follow instructions to make the code. Scratch allows a large amount of creativity which can be shown by the end products of our projects. One Laptop per Child has taught me a lot in such a short period of time. So far, we have spent out classes not only discussing our upcoming trip, but also coming up with more ways to help people who aren't as fortunate as I am by teaching them the basics and beyond of Scratch. As a class, we have been creating new games and quizzes in different subjects, like math and history. My group has been working on a game to teach about different types of dinosaurs, and then creating an easy to follow booklet to teach others how to do the same.
I have also learned an incredible amount about helping others which is much easier than I initially thought. By continuing our booklets and other in-class work, we can teach more children the basics of scratch and make computers and computer software available to more people. I really appreciate the opportunity to help people in whatever way possible. This week in One Laptop per Child we cleaned off old laptops from graduated CSG students and downloaded new software onto. These computers will be for the children in the YWCA program downtown. We also have been working on our pamphlets to give to teachers in every place we go to teach. Whether it be the YWCA or the kids we will visit in Barbados, these will promote the learning of coding and allow knowledge to be passed from us to them easier.
This week I learned how far our help reaches. The kids in the YWCA and in Barbados will have this valuable knowledge and will be able to use the skills from this experience. I feel like we’re really making a significant impact on these people’s lives using these helpful pamphlets. The infamous saying, “Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, but teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime,” encapsulates what we’re doing perfectly. |
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April 2018
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