Algorithms are part of our everyday life. From writing lists to following a recipe we are exposed to algorithms constantly. My 12 year old daughter is an avid list writer. I will find lists all around the house about things like what to pack in her ballet bag for class, to what she wants for lunch. Another daughter (7) creates sequencing charts with what she has to do in the morning before school. These are just two ways Algorithms are evident in my own home. They were explained in a video on moodle with direct links to how each grade can incorporate them into the classroom. I found this video very insightful.
We were given a challenge to create two tasks using Algorithms. This comes from the curriculum links in Digital Technologies for F-2-
The elaboration is -
With this curriculum as a guide my first activity; which was to give a set of instructions to a visually impaired student to move from the door to my desk, I created the following directions.
- Forward 3 steps
- right 2 steps
- forward 4 steps
- left 2 steps
- forward 5 steps
After writing this algorithm and testing it out I realised that the steps were MY steps and not a childs steps which would obviously be a lot smaller. To counteract this I could measure the normal step of the student I was designing this algorithm for and draw a template so that I could use it to measure out the steps needed to get to my desk. This template could then be used so that the class could write a set of instructions for the visually impaired student to get to other places in the school, like the toilet or the library.
The next activity I was asked to come up with an algorithm for was making vegemite toast. This is something I do EVERYDAY but actually thinking about the steps and writing them down to create an algorithm is something I have NEVER done!
- Take bread out of package
- Get toaster out of cupboard and plug in
- Place bread in toaster and pop down
- Get butter out of fridge
- Get vegemite out of cupboard
- Get knife out of drawer
- Get plate out of cupboard
- Take bread out of toaster, it has now become toast
- Place toast on plate
- Pick up knife and put butter on it
- Spread butter onto hot toast
- Spread vegemite onto hot toast
- Watch as it melts into yummy vegemite goodness
- Pick up toast
- Place in your mouth and enjoy!
This type of algorithm could be used in a F-2 classroom for many different activities. For foundation you could use pictures to show the steps but as they get to year 2 and are reading fluently, words could be used to create these algorithms.
Here is an algorithm used to create a 'Mr Potato Head' that could be used in a Foundation classroom.
(source)
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