Year 1/2 are treasure hunters!

Our Year 1/2 children have been having a wonderful time being treasure hunters in computing.

Their challenge has been to program the beebots and probots to navigate the giant treasure map and get to the 'x'. They had to avoid obstacles like the lake, the swamp and the forest. There was oodles of language and critical thinking skills on display as they worked together to figure out the exact instructions to give their programmable toy. You can see the looks of concentration as they navigated the robots around the map and, of course, the look of success and celebration when they made it! 

Growing up in an ICT-rich environment means that children need to have opportunities to experience and develop skills in its use that will help them make the most of adult life. Contrary to what we often think, ICT isn't simply about computers but includes anything that requires the input of instructions to produce specific outcomes. That's your answering machine, mobile phone, DVD player, washing machine, traffic lights and even speed cameras.

Computing capability is an essential skill for life and enables learners to participate more readily in a rapidly changing world. Using the internet and email, for example, gives them rapid access to ideas and experiences from a wide range of people, communities and cultures. 

Learning about control systems and robots increases children's awareness of many of the operating systems we use to manage our everyday lives. You could say that it develops essential life skills they will need in adult life, such as operating a washing machine and other devices.