Playing programming with kids using BB-8 robot
summary
Recommend starting around 7–8 years when imagination and basic logic are ready, and expect real independent work by about 10; use a BB-8 robot to link code to physical effects so kids see instant results. Run story-driven lessons (pirate, Harry Potter) with concrete tasks: move/turn, light color changes, sensor-triggered sounds, and a simple color picker implemented as a variable with if/equals logic. Use block environments similar to Scratch or JavaScript blocks, let teams iterate, and expect messy refactors but high engagement and surprising correctness on synchronous vs asynchronous choices.
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chapters (12)
- 0:00Introduction and motivation
- 1:51When to start teaching programming
- 7:19Programming with physical robots
- 14:59Live demo with BB-8 robot
- 30:58Adding interactivity to the demo
- 37:09Other robot applications for kids
- 40:54Teaching older kids with Scratch
- 43:12Real-world project for teenagers
- 47:29Engaging teenage programmers
- 51:08Building trust with kids
- 53:16Making lessons memorable
- 55:06Answering the leash riddle
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