ISUEO presents coding workshop in New Albin ...

Ask any second grader from New Albin Elementary School what algorithm means and they become a coding expert following a recent program held in New Albin. Algorithm, bug, debugging and program are the basic vocabulary to begin coding. Youth learned what an algorithm is by planting seeds. First, they had to come up with a set of rules or instructions, and then follow those instructions to correctly plant the seed. To further explain the concept, one partner wrote an algorithm using arrows for the directions. The second partner became the robot and stacked cups according to the algorithm (pictured above). Bugs could be found in this process and students worked hard to debug (fix) it. Students received hands-on learning when coding on code.org and investigating the many robots supplied by Keystone Area Education Agency. Code-a-pillar, Lumi, Cublets, MiP, Coji and the bee-bots (pictured below) were just a few robots made available. This variety gave students a chance to expand their knowledge of what coding is and begin to understand that the possibilities are endless. For more information about 4-H and upcoming activities contact Becky Rea at the Allamakee County Extension and Outreach Office at 563-568-6345 or http://www.extension.iastate.edu/allamakee/. Submitted photos.