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Unpacking The – Coding & Robotics Curriculum

Carina Labuschagne, chief education specialist for digital skills at the Department of Basic Education (DBE) discussed the implementation of the new coding and robotics curriculum on 21 August 2024.

Follow-up comment by Jil Hrdliczka – founder & CEO of Knowledge Network (K-Net)

The Knowledge Network 2024 year-end assessments for Grades R to Grade 9 already include sections of the new curriculum such as: coding, robotics, skills for schoolwork, digital concepts including responsible and ethical behaviour around copyright.

In 2025, schools are implementing Grades R to 3, Grade 4 in 2026, followed by a new Grade each year until Grade 9 in 2031. Decision making elements of this curriculum by schools are year of implementation, required hours, percentage time allocation and resource requirements per year.

Foundation phase teachers could start the coding and robotics unplugged (no device required), forming a wave of new thinking moving into the school in all areas of skills and learning.

Knowledge Network’s affordable KN-6to9 and Coloured Blocks Apps are ideal for home and classroom for typing and general computer skills.

Grade 9 is due for implementation in 2031, giving schools time to acquire the required microcontroller/microprocessor kits, and learning & teaching support materials.

 I think the Department will release sample subject assessments for Grade 9 closer to 2031, allowing teachers to prepare learners to pass this new subject.

The phased implementation allows for timetable adjustment and planning for percentage time allocation.

The development and progression that takes place between the implementation years will make implementation easier for each new year. This allows for curriculum alignment and strengthening to accommodate changes.

Learners can also progress in international competitions from the initial investment in robotics.

Coding and robotics by the different grades has progressed over the years so who knows what will be “new and trending” during the coming years of implementation. Coding by Grade 5 to Grade 7 done years ago can now be done by Grades 2 and 3. These grades are coding fading lights in robotics such as the one on the micro:bit, they are coding their first micro:bit game.

Percentage time allocation

Grades R to 2 is 1 hour per week, Grade 3 is 2 hours per week with a four-term school being 10 weeks per term, 40 weeks per year.

The time allocation for Grades R to 3

  • 15% Pattern Recognition.
  • 50% Algorithms and Coding.
  • 30% Robotics.
  •   5% Digital Concepts.

With 5% Digital Concepts learners still need to learn how to type and use apps such as Paint, PowerPoint and Excel. Without these skills they could find themselves lacking in skills for schoolwork when they get to Grade 4, where teachers expect complete researched projects with accurate illustrations.

Grade 4s to 9 will be 2 hours per week

  • Grades 4 and 5: 50% Coding, 25% Robotics, 25% Digital Concepts.
  • Grades 6 and 7: 50% Coding, 30% Robotics, 20% Digital Concepts.
  • Grades 8 and 9: 45% Coding, 35% Robotics and 20% Digital Concepts.

The Grade 2 learners of 2024 will be those who complete the Grade 9 curriculum in 2031. They start their plugged coding and robotics path in 2026, with the Grade 4 implementation. This leaves planning for the learners who are not part of implementation per year.

We at Knowledge Network started including sections of the new curriculum for all grades after the August DBE presentation. We continued our long projects for coding, robotics, skills for schoolwork and digital skills. Learners in the foundation phase will feed into Grade 4, Grades 4 to 6 into high school, Grades 7 to 9 into CAT and IT, then into varsity and the workplace. They too will have the skills for the digital world.

For robotics, where schools currently do not have devices, robotics coding is covered in the simulator. It is possible that these learners will be the strong MicroPython coders of the future.

With the phased implementation, no learners are excluded.

Important too are learners who have covered much of the coding, robotics, and digital concepts in the new curriculum. They can grow from where they are now.

On a lighter note, it is year-end after all, I must tell you about our balloon dog

Page 34 for Grades 4 to 6 and Page 33 for Grades 7 to 9 of the new coding curriculum include:

  • design a sprite and backdrop to import and use in a block-based application using an app such as Paint or PowerPoint,
  • find a suitable image on the Internet to import and customize as a sprite or a backdrop,
  • import and use in a block-based application, and
  • basic use of applications such as Paint or PowerPoint.

Wow – we had huge fun with this section which applies to Grade 4 to Grade 9 with progression from one year to the next.

Learners in selected grades completed Knowledge Network’s assessment on this section of the new curriculum.

They used PowerPoint to create their balloon dog and costumes for running, an animation video, uploaded their balloon dog sprite and costumes to a block-based coding app and coded their balloon dog to run on a backdrop – with optional screen capture code to video.

Folder and file management skills, knowledge of filename extensions, and purpose are needed for this assessment. Many of the same skills they use in robotics.

Progression to Grade 9 involves finding suitable Internet images to import and customize as a sprite or backdrop. A knowledge of licencing is required. Specific licences allow use only and not customization. There are copyright and restriction rules for online images.

The new curriculum is integrated and interconnected. Now is the time for an integrated learning and mentoring methodology across all learning areas.

We need to learn all aspects of the digital world. The phased implementation enables everyone to grow with the process, manage investments, and succeed.

With permission by founding editor, Janos Bozsik – Originally published in the November 2024 issue of The Mighty Pen EDUCATION magazine: TheMightyPen@vodamail.co.za

 

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