TPS Instructional Technology Site

Topeka Public Schools has several schools who participate in the Lego FirstInspires Robotics Competition.

Click the image to the right to visit the page.

Why Coding and Robotics?

The Topeka Public Schools has a coding and robotics initiative for grades PK-12. Coding and robotics will be integrated into the science and mathematics content areas. Learning coding is important for students as experimentation builds mastery in sequencing skills counting, problem solving, logical thinking, cause and effect, and critical thinking. Coding and robotics work together as the robot requires code to accomplish tasks. Programming is a complex skill to learn, but when we use physical robots children immediately see what goes wrong with their code as the robots run exactly what was programmed. There are two parts to learning code - syntax and function. Our district emphasizes function for elementary and most middle school students as it teaches the concepts of programming without being frustrated by the syntax. Syntax is line coding, and a misplaced comma, semicolon, or the incorrect case of letter can cause programs with the code. We introduce syntax in 8th grade and continue it through high school. Each section is more detailed in the information below.

"I think everyone in this country should learn to program a computer. Everyone should learn a computer language because it teaches you how to think. I think of computer science as a liberal art.” --Steve Jobs

According to EdWeb, ninety percent of parents want their child to study computer science. It is estimated that by 2021 there will be 1.4 million jobs in computer science and coding, and only 4 million students ready to go into that field.

First Lego Robotics

Seven elementary schools (Jardine, McCarter, McEachron, Meadows, Quincy, Randolph, and Williams) participate in the First Lego League. FLL at the elementary level (1st through 4th grade) consists of FLL Explore, which focuses on scientific topics. Students learn all about the topic and then create a Lego model that has moveable parts and create a poster board and presentation about what they learned. The other component at the upper elementary level (grades four through five) is the First Lego League Challenge, which consists of the Robot Game, the Innovation Project, and the Core Values component. In the Robot Game students user engineering skills, collaboration and problem solving skills to build a thematic model of a city or community and a programmable interactive robot that can complete specific tasks assigned to the community. Teams earn points for tasks successfully completed during a limited time period. The Innovation Project is where the team identifies a real-world problem in the community based on the seasonal theme and then researches a solution to solve the problem. Students must create poster boards and displays and then collaborate to create a presentation based on what they are learned and how they plan to solve the problem. The Core Values component is a citizenship piece emphasizing Discover, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork and Fun.

Three middle schools (Jardine, Landon, and Robinson) also complete in the First Lego League (FLL) Challenge. We host two competitions, one in December and one in May for all grade levels to compete in.

Preschool and Kindergarten

Coding is merely learning a language in order to speak to a device such as a computer or robot. It helps younger children learn sequentially and allows them the ability to understand how to "tinker" to gain knowledge. Coding starts with preschoolers with offline activities such as following directions and planning sequences. Instead of using words (since they are non-readers) we use arrows, counting, and directional vocabulary. Simply laying out grids on a tile floor to figure out how to move from one tile to another is a form of coding. If a classroom doesn't have tile floors, blue painters tape is easy and inexpensive. Other offline games are listed below:

The district has also purchased BeeBots and Osmo Coding Kits for all preschool and kindergarten classrooms. Beebots are little bumblebee-type devices that come six to a set and have a USB charging base. Students work collaboratively to program the device to move on a mat from one space to another to accomplish a task. It is easy to incorporate all content areas into this activity.

First and Second Grade

These grade levels will also use Osmo Coding Awbie and begin to incorporate some web-based coding activities. It is important to note that coding and robotics will not be taught as a separate subject area, but will be integrated into the math and science content areas. It is also designed as a workstation activity and not a whole group lesson. Students should work in pairs to facilitate collaboration and problem solving. The web-based activity for coding comes from Google's Made With Code project. While the projects can be used by both girls and boys, Google created this website to encourage young girls to become interested in coding, as there is a huge divide between gender when it comes to coding. The video below on the left is a tutorial on how to use the site and the video on the right is one from Google's CEO.

Second grade classrooms can checkout the Dot robots from the Instructional Technology office. Dot is a robot like Dash, but is much simpler to learn. There are also Dash robots in each school that they can begin to use in a simplified form. Primary classrooms planning to use the Wonderbots should use the Blockly Jr. app on the iPad. Check your self-service app to download it if you don't see it on the iPad. Blockly Jr is easier than Blockly and doesn't require as much language skill.

STEM schools also use the VEX123 coding and engineering kits.

Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grades

Dash robots (from Wonderbot) are incredible little blue devices that are programmed using the Blockly app. There are other apps that work with the robots, but we don't push them out as they are more game-like and the purpose of using the robots is to learn coding. There are also quite a few accessories that also are available for Dash. The district did not provide these to school, but they are free to purchase those from school funds if they wish. Coding and robotics is integrated into the science and mathematics content areas. Coding and robotics should be initially taught as a whole group activity, at least until students are comfortable with the concept, and then it can be added as a workstation activity as a way to apply science and math skills. Coding and robotics are a technology tool to be used when it works into the regular curriculum.

Below is a link to the Dash HyperDoc that provides a step-by-step introduction to using Dash in your classroom. Please start with sharing the rules for using Dash with your students as we want to keep them functioning and in good repair as long as possible. We start students working with the puzzles to get them acquainted with the functions of Blockly coding. It is NOT necessary for students to complete all puzzles as some are not appropriate for all grades. A scaffolded list will be provided for each grade level before deployment. There will also be some sample lesson plans available on this site for teachers to use if they wish. The lesson plans are not mandatory, just offered to give teachers an idea of what is possible.

Dash HyperDoc

There are also other coding opportunities for intermediate grade levels. They include:

Code.org
- free
- can create classes so students have assigned work
- while there are classes, nothing keeps students in a class and not playing with the Flappy Bird game
Google CS First - this is a partnership with MIT and uses Scratch. The benefit of using Google is the login process. Google creates a generic login for students that does not use their personnel information and is COPPA and FERPA compliant. Students use the same login for the MIT site to save work. Teachers also have the ability to see student work.
- free web-based program
- designed for students in grades 4-8 (I use the one-hour activities with third grade)
- Teachers sign in with Google and create classes and assign content
- two types of activities - one-hour and eight-hour
- activities are divided by easier, moderate, and challenging, intermediate students should only use the easy levels
Vex Go

Grade Six through Ten

At these grade levels, robotics moves to the Cue Wonderbot. They come in Onyx and Granite colors and are much more sophisticated than the Dash robots. They have the capability of being programmed in either Blockly or in JavaScript. Sixth and seventh grade students should continue using Blockly and eighth graders should segue into the JavaScript language. Coding and robotics can be taught in middle school computer science classes and regular content areas. We have a few sketch kits for Cue that facilitate drawing shapes and lines that are applicable for math and even art class.

Cue HyperDoc
Sample Lesson Plan for Sixth Grade

There are also other coding opportunities for students:

Google CS First - this is a partnership with Google and MIT. Click here to visit the CS First page.
Swift - Swift is a compiled programming language created by Apple and Linus. Swift is used to create games and apps. It is line coding and not a Blockly type of code. It is based on Objective-C, but is extremely fast. It starts out pretty simple, but gets incredibly complex.
- free
- for best results, use an iPad or Mac
- comes with complete teacher guide (found in iBooks)
JavaScript - this is a full programming language where both function and syntax are very important. This should only be introduced when students have a good understanding of function. You basically teach it in three longer lessons:
- Variables and Functions
- Control Flow and Arrays
- Objects
Google Apps Script - this language is based on JavaScript
- free
- works within the GSuite environment
- needs a working knowledge of JavaScript
- allows students to create add-ons and more for Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms
Lego EV3 Robotics
- checkout from Instructional Technology Office
- limited to one class as students must assemble the robots and then program them (assembly time is longer)
- lots of pieces to loose
- runs on RobotC language
Sphero
- checkout class kits of 12 from Instructional Technology office
- program using Blockly
- to create distance, you must use time and speed combination rather than a measurable length
- run on ground or in water
Python
- used once students have mastered Javascript and basic code
- installable from Python.com
- Codesters has a great tutorial (some free, some paid)

Grades Eleven - Twelve

Students interested in coding and robotics as juniors and seniors should enroll in the available classes at Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Careers (TCALC). They offer robotics with VEX robots. The robotics program is taught through the Engineering pathway under the direction of Mr. Donald Koon.

The program participates in the Vex competitions and even hosts their own tournaments. The next one is Saturday, February 18, 2023.

VEX Robots

lots of competition opportunities
also uses Vex Coding Studio with multiple languages
- ModKit Blocks
- ModKit Text
- VEX C++
- C++ Pro
- Available for download on Windows and Mac
- Partnered with PTLW

For information on the PK-10 coding and robotics program, please contact Gail Ramirez. For the program at TCALC, please contact Evelyn Eubanks.

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