Course Description:
Embark on coding adventures with the mTiny robot. This course introduces young learners to the fundamentals of coding through story-based missions and interactive screenless play.
Optional Take Home Element: mTiny Robot Discovery Kit complete with Smart Coding Pen, Map Tiles, Coloring Expansion and Accessories.
What You Will Learn
- Unplugged Programming: The core concepts of Sequencing, Debugging, and Control Flow (loops/repeats) without the need for a screen, tablet, or external code editor.
- Computational Communication: Using Input and Action Cards to provide clear, sequential instructions to a robot, focusing on the precision of algorithms.
- Social-Emotional Modeling: Connecting code to human behavior by modeling how mTiny (Panda) changes its facial expressions and movements in response to real-world social scenarios (e.g., losing ice cream, building a sandcastle).
State Standards Alignment
This course aligns with foundational skills across Computer Science, Engineering Design, and Social/Emotional Learning, specifically covering the following standards:
- CSTA 1A-AP-08: Model the way programs store and manipulate data (using repeat/loop cards);
- CSTA 1A-AP-10: Develop programs with sequences and simple loops;
- ISTE 5.a: Formulate problem definitions (solving mazes);
- ISTE 6.b: Practice responsible digital citizenship (implied through classroom and emotional expectations);
- NGSS K-ETS1-1: Ask questions, make observations, and gather information (troubleshooting why the robot didn’t reach the bamboo).