GEMS Program 2nd Meeting

By Sol, Ren, and Nalin

Task: Explore Psuedo Code with the GEMS Afterschool Program

Today was our second meeting with the GEMS organization. Since we focused on 3D modelling last time, the team decided to start teaching the students basic coding skills. Using code.org’s block code programs, we were able to show how pseudo block code can turn into real java.

First, we did a make your own music program where the students were able to pick a famous song and make a remix out of it, or they had the option to create a unique song of their own. As we taught them how to use the program, we were able to teach them about methods. For example, outside of the main block of code, the kids could write separate blocks such as the intro, verse, and chorus. We taught them how writing methods make coding easy and efficient because instead of coding the same thing multiple times, they could just call their “verse” method multiple times.

Next, we used a minecraft program to teach the students about loops such as a while and for loop. Instead of having 5 separate blocks of code saying move forward, we showed the girls how you can walk until you reach a coral or another barrier using a while loop. Along with teaching them loops, we taught them basic if statements to only perform a certain action during a certain time. At the very end, we talked briefly about organizing your code with the use of semicolons and curly brackets because one of the students was curious why the real code had them.

We had an amazing time, and we can not wait to help them make their own 3D printed keychains next time!