Beyond ready to code: Part 1
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EmailJump into coding with dry coding games.
How many jobs do you know that do NOT involve computer technology in some way, shape or form? Farming and auto repair are two great examples of careers that only a decade or two ago required little understanding of how computers work but now rely on a very sophisticated baseline knowledge of technology and coding. The work world is shifting, and digital literacy is an essential skill in almost every career sector; every bit as essential as reading, public speaking, written communication, math, leadership, teamwork and problem solving.
Participation in 4-H coding and robotics activities is a great way for youth to discover and develop their own niche in the world of technology. Michigan State University Extension and 4-H have a long history of creating experiences that will help youth develop skill sets to become Beyond Ready, and technology is no exception. If you are a leader or volunteer with no coding experience and think you can’t provide youth in your county with valuable guidance in technology, here is some great news: everyone can code!
To understand what coding all is about, dry coding games can be accomplished with any size group for any age; they require very little advance preparation, and no technology. The object of a dry coding game is to have participants create an algorithm, which is a specific set of instructions, written in order to accomplish a task. Computers run algorithms, but it is invisible to us. By not using a computer to play, a dry coding game means that all the actions with cause and effect are seen.
Dry coding: Feed the Mouse Game
To play this game (an activity designed by HackerGal), start by dividing larger groups up into smaller groups of 4-5 youth. Each group will need a deck of playing cards (any type), a small plastic or stuffed mouse (or any other critter you desire), and small tokens for “food”, such as coins, poker chips or wrapped candies.
To begin, teams work together to create a maze of cards on the floor, with various angles and byways. There should be a clear beginning and end to the maze. After the maze is set up, certain cards get a treat deposited on them.
Next, one person will be the “computer” and is responsible for moving the mouse. A second person is the “programmer,” and tells the computer what to do. Commands are limited to “forward,” “backward,” “right” and “left”, with number of cards. The programmer needs to guide the Computer accurately to make sure the mouse gets through the maze with the most possible treats.
Dry coding: Write It Then Do It Game
To play this game, you will need paper and writing implements (clipboards are a nice addition, but not necessary), as well as small “objects” for each member of your group, such as coins, buttons or toy cars. The objective is to get your group thinking about codes as specific recipes, written in precise order.
To begin, have the group pair up into teams of two. Then, split your teams into two halves, one half will be the set of writers and the other half will be the set of doers. The doers get corralled into a space where they can’t see what the writers are doing. Set a timer for a short period of time, based on your group dynamics and age; five minutes is a good place to start.
Next, each writer receives a piece of paper and a writing implement. They need to find a starting place (that they will show) and an ending place (which in some way allows them to hide their prize token). They are tasked with writing very specific instructions, telling their team member how to get from the starting place to the ending place where they have hidden their prize token. After five minutes, the writers will give their code to the doers, who will then follow the directions to (possibly) find the object.
Discussion points
After playing each game and exchanging places, ask youth:
- Was this harder or easier than you expected?
- What problems did you encounter?
- Which role was more difficult, the computer or the programmer or the writer or the doer?
- How could you make this activity more challenging?
- What happens in a computer or for the doer if the programmer or writer gives instructions in the wrong order?
With these fun activities, you can jump into coding activities with your youth, even if you have no prior coding knowledge and experience. You will learn with and from your group!
Continue your code exploration in Part 2 and Part 3 of this series.
