Here is my slide deck and info on the second unit that I used Switch blocks with the students as part of their coding.
There are links within the slide deck to videos, knowledge base articles, and assessment materials.
Unit 5: Exploring the Distance Sensor with Virtual Robots
Overview
Unit 5 is designed to immerse students in the world of virtual robotics, focusing primarily on the functionalities and applications of the Distance Sensor. This unit serves as a comprehensive instructional package, where students not only learn theoretically but also apply these concepts practically through various challenges.
Key Features
- Real-World Connections: Each lesson kicks off with a video that links the subject matter to real-world applications. This is an excellent way to captivate student interest right from the start.
- Structured Learning Path: The unit is systematically segmented to guide students through the basics of the Distance Sensor, all the way to integrating complex conditional statements via Switch Blocks.
- Hands-On Challenges: Students get to put theory into practice by navigating a series of scaled-down challenges and a troubleshooting exercise before embarking on the main project, “The Wall Maze.”
- Remix and Revisit: As a fun twist, students will revisit a previous favorite project, Castle Crasher, but will modify the code to incorporate their newfound understanding of the Distance Sensor.
Thoughts
This unit is not just about learning how a Distance Sensor works; it’s about applying this knowledge in solving real-world inspired challenges. This approach ensures that students not only understand the ‘what’ but also the ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind the use of Distance Sensors in virtual robots.
