EdScratch programming language for children in grades 1-3 provides an accessible block programming environment. This provides children with an introduction to computer science and robotics.
Various lessons and activities are available, including following a line, moving with music, or bouncing borders. Furthermore, open robotics challenges and programming challenges are available.
It’s free
EdScratch is an EdFlux programming language designed for Edison robots that allows students to create programs to control them and utilize their sensors. Based on the Scratch coding language, its intuitive environment makes EdScratch ideal for students as young as ten. Students can program their Edison robots to drive forward, light their LEDs up, play sounds or light them up, and respond to events such as hearing claps, pressing buttons, following lines, or encountering obstacles with its sensors.
EdScratch app features an extensive library of teacher lessons and student activities designed to develop all essential STEAM skills – from computational thinking and debugging to planning. Lesson plans are flexible enough for use within any coding instruction curriculum – making implementing robotics courses in classrooms effortless.
These lessons help teachers introduce the Edison and EdScratch app to students, familiarizing them with its programming language. The introductory classes benefit younger learners as they are designed for independent use. Activities feature structured and open-ended questions to enable students to demonstrate their knowledge.
EdScratch lessons include helpful hints for using the Edison robot and sensor modules effectively. Each activity comes complete with step-by-step instructions, lists of needed supplies, and an explanation of the technology involved.
The Edscratch app comes equipped with an accommodating “bug box,” which automatically searches for errors in student code. Yellow messages indicate errors that can be ignored, while red messages require students to address them before uploading them onto an Edison robot. This gives students valuable debugging experience and equips them with more advanced text-based programming languages like EdPy.
It’s easy to use
EdScratch programming environment is flexible and powerful, enabling students to develop computational thinking and computer science skills hands-on. Its intuitive layout and simple block code make learning accessible for all ages, even without prior coding experience; in addition, EdScratch provides various educational resources to enhance teaching and learning.
EdScratch programming environment differs significantly from EdBlocks by being both icon- and textual code-based. This allows students to see what code they are entering easily and its output from their robot, making progress assessments much simpler. Furthermore, code blocks in EdScratch feature written words indicating their functions; an especially helpful feature for younger students.
EdScratch can produce various outputs, such as lights and sounds, compatible with the Edison robot. Students can use dark blue drive blocks to program Edison to move forwards and backward and turn left and right, while cyan LED partnerships allow control over its LED lights; magenta sound blocks enable students to make it play simple beeps or musical notes.
Edison and EdScratch platforms boast one of the greatest features: communication through infrared messaging. This enables Edison to send a message over infrared to another Edison, who then reacts by performing instructions. Students can create their customized notifications or utilize those provided by the program.
Edison robots include an expansive selection of teacher materials. The Lesson Plans Set comprises student activity sets and a Teacher’s Guide with 98 exercises organized into six units for independent use by students aged 10-11 in Year 5. Each activity provides clear instructions and colorful illustrations, explicitly designed to be taught independently by pupils enrolled in Year 5. Furthermore, an answer key includes recommendations on assessing student work; finally, there’s a comprehensive Warning Message Guide with information about all warning messages displayed by bug boxes and what each means.
It’s flexible
The Edison Robot is an educational robot capable of being programmed using three distinct programming methods: second-level hybrid coding language and block-based coding language. Each programming environment offers its level of complexity that serves as an excellent starting point for computer science instruction and a way for teachers to teach advanced concepts.
EdScratch, a block-based programming environment, allows students to quickly create programs for Edison by dragging and dropping blocks onto grids to form ordered programs for him to follow. Each block represents what should happen next – when and how it should happen for Edison! To create their program for him, students should start with the yellow “start” block at the top of their screen before linking all remaining ones together using connective logic.
EdScratch also includes lesson plans designed to allow teachers to incorporate the Edison robot into their lessons, providing ideal lessons for students aged ten and above and featuring worksheets and activities tailored specifically for this robot. Six units cover topics like following a line, moving with music, and bouncing on borders.
EdScratch recently unveiled a new version with numerous useful features to improve the programming experience and user-friendliness, such as adding comment blocks. These pink blocks will not be ignored when running programs and may help students remember little details as they build them.
App enhancements also include a “bug box,” which displays warning messages when programs contain errors and helps users identify and correct these problems quickly and efficiently. Students can view which block caused the error and receive guidance on how best to fix it – using this feature can build student confidence while becoming more proficient with the Edison robot and its programming software.
It’s powerful
EdScratch is an easy and powerful programming language designed for teaching computer science and robotics, featuring features that allow students to create programs with great flexibility and functionality. Available online and accessible through any browser or mobile device, EdScratch will enable students to program Edison robots by connecting the EdComm cable between the robot and computer and clicking “Program Edison.”
As a predecessor, EdScratch features a vertical block-based visual programming language inspired by Scratch. Students have access to several categories of blocks that they can use when programming different programs; these include Drive, Outputs, Wait Until, and Control, which students can connect to complex programs.
Its intuitive layout and simple drag-and-drop interface make it suitable for students ten years or older, and educators can use its lessons and activities to teach computational thinking skills while students create their purposeful programs – this provides a fantastic introduction to computer science and robotics!
EdScratch 2.0 now comes equipped with traditional block categories and several additional ones. For instance, operator blocks can be used as value inputs (ovals) or boolean inputs (diamonds), while comment blocks allow students to write notes that will be ignored when running the program – helping students remember any vital details!
Bug boxes provide another helpful feature to detect errors in programs automatically and display them with an explanation for any identified ones. This feature helps students avoid getting confused and stops them from quitting early.
EdBlocks, EdScratch, and EdPy are excellent educational programming languages designed to help students explore computer science principles. Each has its advantages and disadvantages; ultimately, the best choice depends on your student’s level of experience with coding.
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