Last Saturday was a day of celebration for the launch of new coding and robotics classes in Regina, led by the very talented Amanda McCann, who is also the creator of our Robotics for Kids course. Parents and students alike were invigorated by the energy of the launch, which was held in the beautiful laboratory space provided by the Saskatchewan Science Centre.
Our younger students, age 7 to 10, were learning to code through a course written by Max Wainewright, using the popular block coding language called Scratch. Through Scratch, students are able to develop their logical and analytical skills, as well as build projects that express their ideas. Scratch is a great platform for kids to learn coding, as it is visually appealing, highly accessible, and provides great hardware extensions. It also serves as an introduction to programming, and helps kids become fluent with technologies, boost their urge to implement ideas, and develop skills in project management.
The robotics class students, age 10 and up, are using the graphical language, EdScratch, to program the Edison robots with increasingly complex elements. This helps promote the Maker Movement, which encourages students to become involved in robotics activities. Learning robotics, students gain an appreciation for education, and how technology can be used to make it more inclusive and of higher interest and quality.
The coding and robotics classes mark an important milestone in Regina’s educational journey, introducing students to cutting-edge technology that will be essential for the future. The classes are an exciting opportunity for students to learn and grow, allowing them to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
