National CAS Conference For Teachers of Computing Primary control of physical systems! A friendly alternative to the dusty corner of the ICT cupboard.

Primary control of physical systems Outline 1Historical perspective 2What are the challenges? 3Introduction to the Crumble controller 4Sample projects 5Questions and close

Historical perspective

Design and write programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts. Use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output; generate appropriate inputs and predicted outputs to test programs. Use logical reasoning to explain how a simple algorithm works and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs.

Historical perspective

Challenges So what are the challenges?

Challenges  Curriculum pressures  Availability of cheap and simple kit  Staff competence

Introduction to Crumble controller

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Introduction to Crumble controller

So what can we do now?  Explore controlling physical devices Exploration and trial and error are start of progression…

Sample projects Sparkles 25 x £30 inc VAT

Sample projects

Fairground rides (video 1, 2, 3)123

Sample projects Programmable house video 4 video 4

Sample projects Computational thinking and progression?  Increased purpose  Challenge  Collaboration  Planning algorithm and electronics  Decomposition  Debugging Exploration and trial and error are start of progression

Sample projects Identify how your code is behaving differently to how it should behave if it was working properly. Don't panic and accept that it is your job to have a go at fixing your own code! Do not ask for help yet. Select each sprite in turn and read through the script blocks out loud and make sure they make sense to you. If this hasn't worked and you still have a bug compare your code to someone else's code that is working. If none of this works try to track your code as it is running by putting in 'think' or 'say' blocks from the looks group so you know where it is at all times. Do try all of the above to fix your own bugs. Fixing your own bugs is one of the big challenges in programming that makes it so satisfying when you get your code working. If none of the above has worked ask one of the code club experts in your class to come and have a look at your code and see if they can debug it with you.

Sample projects Programmable buggy - Lollibot

Sample projects Programmable buggy Video 5, inc VAT 3.60 inc VAT 5.76 inc VAT

Sample projects Olympics

Sample projects He is passionate about the necessity for struggle and failure within computing and the importance for our pupils of embracing these across the curriculum. Video 7

Sample projects

Important websites Redfern electronics 4tronix

Questions and close Thanks for listening World View of our new curriculum