This is a video that I created that shows how a game would be played that helps younger students understand the concepts behind computer programming. My idea behind the game was not to teach the students how to code but instead to teach them some of the ideas behind computer science such as logical thinking and algorithms that would help them as they got older, or once they decided to pursue computer science or if they wanted to learn computer programming.
Final Video
The idea behind the video came from a recent request from a group of teachers who thought it would be a good idea for students to learn more about computer science. The teachers did not have the background to do it themselves but were willing to guide the students through exercises or any means necessary to get them to understand the material. The students are in the elementary school age range and are familiar with using a computer.
The title of the project is learn to code with Sherman D Bunny. I wanted to have a character that was gender friendly and that looked innocent enough to solicit help from the students. Sherman was born from sketches and after looking at different animal characters.
Programming Concept Ideas
The first concept that I wanted the students to learn about was algorithms. One way to show an algorithm is to have the students understand that it's a list of instructions. They look at a picture and they need to give instructions to a classmate on the steps to take to create that picture. The concept can be demonstrated via arrows.
The concept of algorithms can also be demonstrated via text. For the purposes of the computer game I choose to go with arrows as it has a simpler feel to it that would be easier for a younger student to grasp.
