CSEd Week 2024 & Hour of Code Recap

To take part in CSEd Week and Hour of Code, our staff got together for some hands-on fun with robotics and coding! Teams faced off in the UGOT Challenge, where they put their problem-solving and coding skills to the test.

Our teams were made up of members from all levels of experience—some with prior knowledge who work directly with the robots and others who had never utilized block-based programming before. While some teams may have had a slight edge, our goal as organizers was to ensure coding felt accessible for everyone. After all, isn’t that what this week is all about?

The UGOT Challenge

Teams had to create a block code program to navigate their UGOT robots through a custom course. Let’s review the rules:

• Use uCode4 to program the robots to move through the course.
• Each team got two chances to run the course while being timed.
• If a robot veered off course, 5 seconds were added to the clock.
• If a robot ran into an object, 10 seconds were added to the clock.
• No touching the robot during the run.
• The team with the fastest, most efficient code wins!

Key Takeaways

While the key takeaway was that coding can be fun, the following points were also reinforced…

Collaboration Enhances Learning: Through trial, error, communication, and practice, teamwork was essential for overcoming any challenge that came up. Idea sharing enables teammates to learn from one another and work together to ‘crack the code.’ This collaborative learning process isn’t just a feature of the activity— it’s a fundamental aspect of coding itself.

Block Coding is a Great Entry Point for all Skill Levels: Block coding simplifies programming concepts, making it highly accessible for beginners while remaining scalable enough to challenge experts. During our Hour of Code activity, this versatility was on full display as teams came up with creative solutions to ‘beat’ the course. Some programmed their robots to use color recognition, enabling them to follow the bright orange path on the map, while others opted for something more manual, using code to transform their computers into remote controls.

Hands-on Activities Make Coding Tangible and Engaging: The challenge transformed abstract coding concepts into a tangible, real-world experience. While many team members stepped outside their comfort zones, the experience was universally enjoyable, proving that interactive projects not only engage learners but also make coding an exciting and rewarding endeavor.

Problem-Solving Skills Are at the Core of Coding: It’s no secret that troubleshooting is inevitable in the world of STEM! When their programs didn’t go as planned, teams had to create workarounds (adjusting speeds, changing directions etc.) and refine their code to avoid running off course or hitting obstacles. The second run provided a valuable opportunity for teams to learn from their mistakes, make improvements, and achieve better results.

In the end…

Our Hour of Code activity not only celebrated creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork but also showcased how coding can be both accessible and fun for everyone. As we reflect on this experience, we’re reminded of the broader goal of initiatives like CSEd Week: empowering individuals to embrace technology, tackle challenges, and unlock their potential in a tech-driven world.

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