Designed for pre-readers, ‘Marty Unplugged’ offers a screen- and text-free introduction to computational thinking. Learners are challenged to sequence courses for Marty using color commands and, as there are no text blockers, is suitable for learners who are challenged by literacy or are very young (4+). Unplugged provides a range of opportunities for learners to practice developing sequences and reinforces directional language: forward, back, left, right, stop.
An opportunity for early-readers to expand their understanding of sequences and add precision to the number of actions they want Marty to complete. Learners are challenged to create sequences with symbolic commands, visualise Marty’s path and plan the steps before running commands with our ‘sequencer’.
A step-in to block-based programming with text-free symbols and a horizontal layout, suitable for emerging readers. This environment is based on ScratchJr so should be very familiar to pupils who have used this program. In this environment, learners will see their code come to life both through their physical Marty and via an in-app sprite. Learners can even personalise the sprite and the virtual backgrounds.
Suitable for confident readers, MartyBlocks is an extension to MartyBlocks Jr and introduces more functionality through a vertical layout. This environment is based on Scratch and allows for progression beyond elementary school with more advanced work. As code is organized vertically, learners can develop longer blocks of sequences (more similar to how code is written in text).
Designed for pre-readers, ‘Marty Unplugged’ offers a screen- and text-free introduction to computational thinking. Learners are challenged to sequence courses for Marty using color commands and, as there are no text blockers, is suitable for learners who are challenged by literacy or are very young (4+). Unplugged provides a range of opportunities for learners to practice developing sequences and reinforces directional language: forward, back, left, right, stop.
An opportunity for early-readers to expand their understanding of sequences and add precision to the number of actions they want Marty to complete. Learners are challenged to create sequences with symbolic commands, visualise Marty’s path and plan the steps before running commands with our ‘sequencer’.
A step-in to block-based programming with text-free symbols and a horizontal layout, suitable for emerging readers. This environment is based on ScratchJr so should be very familiar to pupils who have used this program. In this environment, learners will see their code come to life both through their physical Marty and via an in-app sprite. Learners can even personalise the sprite and the virtual backgrounds.
Suitable for confident readers, MartyBlocks is an extension to MartyBlocks Jr and introduces more functionality through a vertical layout. This environment is based on Scratch and allows for progression beyond elementary school with more advanced work. As code is organized vertically, learners can develop longer blocks of sequences (more similar to how code is written in text).
What’s more, Marty is also compatible with both Raspberry Pi and Micro-bit and we have a number of lessons dedicated to teaching concepts of autonomy, parameters, arguments, procedures, conditionals, events, functions, hardware / software and parallel programming.
That is dependent on students’ prior knowledge. Students with no prior knowledge should start with color cards and the ‘Unplugged’, or screen-free, mode. Students with an awareness of computational thinking, but are new readers, should start with the remote controller. Students with experience writing instructions should start with MartyBlocks Jr. And students with experience with Scratch should start with MartyBlocks.
We also offer a Python curriculum to learners in middle or secondary school, or experienced coders.
We provide a complementary lessons library with over 100 lessons. Each lesson has the lesson plan itself, a workbook for learners, a Power Point presentation to support delivery in the classroom and a teacher’s guide. Additionally, all lessons are aligned to several regional and national standards, and some lessons have additional support material to enhance the learning.
The goal is to make all the steps in the journey accessible and encouraging. Concepts that are introduced in one environment are revisited in later environments; additionally, concepts that have been explored in an environment are extended to a more challenging use-case, in the same environment.
The progression above is just a suggestion. The learning needs to be collaborative, using a trial-and-error approach. Videos are included within all the lesson plans to give context and encourage engagement.
It is crucial that educators don’t think they are learning a new subject when a new environment is introduced, so the transition lessons will make this a smooth process.
That is dependent on students’ prior knowledge. Students with no prior knowledge should start with color cards and the ‘Unplugged’, or screen-free, mode. Students with an awareness of computational thinking, but are new readers, should start with the remote controller. Students with experience writing instructions should start with MartyBlocks Jr. And students with experience with Scratch should start with MartyBlocks.
We also offer a Python curriculum to learners in middle or secondary school, or experienced coders.
We provide a complementary lessons library with over 100 lessons. Each lesson has the lesson plan itself, a workbook for learners, a Power Point presentation to support delivery in the classroom and a teacher’s guide. Additionally, all lessons are aligned to several regional and national standards, and some lessons have additional support material to enhance the learning.
The goal is to make all the steps in the journey accessible and encouraging. Concepts that are introduced in one environment are revisited in later environments; additionally, concepts that have been explored in an environment are extended to a more challenging use-case, in the same environment.
The progression above is just a suggestion. The learning needs to be collaborative, using a trial-and-error approach. Videos are included within all the lesson plans to give context and encourage engagement.
It is crucial that educators don’t think they are learning a new subject when a new environment is introduced, so the transition lessons will make this a smooth process.
Are you looking for new STEM resources for your classroom? Robotical is loaning Marty the Robot to schools for no-obligation, two-week trials.
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