This week kids started working on a program from Microsoft called Kodu.
Kodu is a new visual programming language made specifically for creating games. It is designed to be accessible for children and enjoyable for anyone. The visual nature of the language allows for rapid design iteration using only an Xbox game controller for input (mouse/keyboard input is also supported). Students will be creating their very own virtual game world in the coming weeks using Kodu. 6th grade students have also been learning Scratch this year, which is a free educational programming language that was the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Coding is an essential part of learning about technology because everything we interact with is made with code, therefore if students can start to learn and understand it, they will have a better understanding of how technology works. Students in grades 3-6 have been piloting the new Common Core aligned state testing. Students have been taking tests on Math, Language Arts, and on a Performance Task where they take a test after being taught a lesson by their teachers. Testing will continue through May 30th. This years testing is essentially a practice to work out all the kinks and technical issues so that when real testing starts next year the process with be streamlined and smooth.
By: Brooke Murinaka
The kindergartners at Woodbury love using computers! They have the opportunity to go on the computers multiple times a week. We attend computer lab with Ms. Murphy and use the computers in our hallway pods. We use technology to enhance our curriculum and support our language arts, math, and typing standards. Students love to play games such as Ticket To Read, Jiji Math, First in Math, and Learn To Type. Students also play on fun websites such as PBS Kids, Peep and the Big Wide World, and Fun Brain to practice their keyboarding and computer mouse coordination. The computer time at Woodbury allows for students to better their skills in academics and computer basics. |
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