Millfield Prep – Computing and ICT: Coding challenges and digital leaders

03 May 2018

Pupils across Millfield Prep have been expanding their computing knowledge with a range of high-tech gadgets and gizmos.

Pupils in Years 3 and 4 have been looking at algorithms and creating simple games using programming software called Scratch. The result was the creation of a healthy eating game, where objects are programmed to move and change direction to collect points by eating healthy food.

Year 4 are studying Desktop Publishing (DTP) and have created a digital poster on the theme of Explorers and Adventurers. This is a fact file of a famous explorer of their choice, including Christopher Columbus, Captain Cook and Neil Armstrong.

In Year 5, the pupils are programming and coding using the Lego EV3 robots. By connecting the robots to iPads via Bluetooth, they have been challenged to get the robots to move forward, backwards and to turn around using the programming software. Next, they will be controlling the robots by the use of sensors.

A number of Year 5 pupils have also been elected as Millfield Prep’s newest Digital Leaders. Amy Bruce, Emilia Butt, Rohan Hayes, Pierre Joubert, Pat Kaewthong, George Monk, Will Morgan-Hughes and Amelie Whatling will now start the Childnet Digital Leaders training programme under the guidance of Head of ICT and Computing, Jonathan Ford. Their first task is to present an assembly to the school as part of ‘Safer Internet Day’ on Tuesday 6 February.

The theme of Safer Internet Day this year is: ‘Create, Connect and Share Respect: A better internet starts with you’.