Franklin Regional
FR AN KL I N RE GI ON AL N E WS
Bee-Bots Buzz at
Newlonsburg Elementary
Newlonsburg Elementary Kindergarten students are exploring Bee-Bots,
a robot designed for use by young children. Through activities with the
robot, students learn sequencing, estimation, problem solving, and the basic
elements of computer coding. Students use directional keys to enter up to
40 commands to send Bee-Bot forward, back, left, and right, primarily on a
grid.
Before working with the robot, students learned about coding using
a grid of spots on the floor of the gymnasium. The students solved how
to move a student from one colored spot to another using the directions
forward, back, left, and right. Using cards to show the directions, students
practiced creating algorithms (a set of directions) to successfully direct
a classmate on the grid. After familiarizing themselves with the concepts, students
worked in large groups to program the Bee-Bot robot on a gridded mat. After practice,
students worked in smaller groups to program it.
The Bee Bot is part of a pilot program called “First Steps in Coding” hosted by
ASSET STEM Education, a national education improvement nonprofit. Franklin
Regional was accepted to participate in the program this year at no cost. Kindergarten
teacher Ms. Christie Armao and Technology teacher Ms. Tammy Gianvito attended
professional development to learn about coding activities for children and the Bee Bot.
Kindergarten teacher Ms. Chelsea Legge helped to implement the project as well.
Coding activities teach children to express themselves creatively as well as reinforce
computational skills such as algorithms, logical reasoning, decomposition, abstraction,
patterns and generalizations, and evaluation. Students are encouraged through “trial
and improvement” instead of “trial and error” to teach perseverance. Ms. Tina Gillen,
principal, shared, “Using the Bee-Bot really made students think and solve problems.
They love the robot and are very excited to work with him!”
1: Ms. Armao’s class programs
Bee-Bot
2: Max Jaszcar and Roman Pardini
check their programming
3: Cruz Rechter, Matthew Kukura,
Lila Padazanin, Madelyn Miller,
Sravya Garimella, Jennavcia
Gilliam-Tranchine practice their
directions
4: Madelyn Miller and Jocelyn Brown
decide their next commands
5: Eddie Bost follows commands
while Ms. Gianvito and Ms. Legge
hold up directions
Murrysville | Summer 2016 | icmags.com 51