Fox 9 News: Bloomington, Minn. First Grade Students Getting Early Jump on Coding and Robotics
Fox 9 News went out to see the elementary team at Indian Mounds Elementary School in Bloomington, MN, where they shared how their students are learning the fundamentals of computer science as early as the first grade. They are taking steps to give their kids an early introduction to computers and robotics with KIBO.
“The best part about KIBO is that it’s hands-on, so the 6-year-olds are literally taking the blocks, putting them together, and seeing the results of what they’ve coded firsthand,” said computer science teacher Whitney Determan.
Through problem-solving, teamwork and perseverance, these young students are building programs that allow KIBO to move and even speak.
“Just to see their programming and coding come to life is really unbelievable for them,” explained Determan.
“I like it when it shakes because it’s like jiggling,” said first-grader Khalid Abdi.
For many of the students, each lesson brings new opportunities.
“We keep finding out things to do with it and we made him have a hat, and a circle around the hat and it has a telescope and a recorder thing,” said Khalid.
“This is the future and that’s why it’s so important that we’re starting it in Bloomington right now,” said Determan. “So we’re hoping that we’re going to open up so many possibilities for their future, if this is the route that they want to go.”
See the video and full article.
