Computer+Programming

Computer Science for Fun is a resource for teachers that offers lesson plans to capture interest and provide basic programming skills and understanding to upper primary school aged children and secondary school children.

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In particular, the Create a Face activity would involve integration across various curriculum areas and facilitate inquiry-based learning. It also includes learning about social and emotional expression which could be beneficial to some students with additional needs.



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The Alice Programming software resource would also be beneficial for children with additional needs in conjunction with the mainstream class from Years 7 to 10 []. There is also the Digital Diva club, [],which aims to improve female student’s perceptions about IT university courses and careers.

Foreman discusses how there has been a significant change in the rates of employment of people with disabilities over the past 10 years. “Now, particularly in metropolitan areas,employment services may include open employment, supported employment,enclaves, work crews, small businesses and cooperatives” (2008). In a study undertaken by Greenan, Mingchang Wu and Black employers were questioned about employing people with disabilities“…they speculated that education systems could provide more specific job skills and counselling services to individuals with disabilities and help them initiate careers from available job positions”(p. 4, 2002).

Many students with learning difficulties are adept to learning about new technologies given their experience with technology aided learning software and hardware. Introducing computer programming from primary school age and certainly within high school could perhaps be an area of interest that should be explored. Scaffolding, peer-teaching/support, and small group work, would be important components. This coupled with learning about effective communication could open up a possible career interest or pathway.

It is worth noting that all students with Asperger Syndrome or ADHD or who have a Visual Impairment or are Deaf **do not** have the same interests, but this is another medium and vocation that can encompass Maths, English, Social and Emotional Learning, cooperative learning and creativity that could be experienced by a diverse classroom.

References:

Foreman,P. (2008). //Inclusion in Action//. SouthMelbourne, Australia: Cengage Learning.

Greenan, J.P., Mingchang Wu, J.P., & Black, E.L. (2002). Perspectives on Employing Individuals with Special Needs. //Journal of Technology Studies//, 28(1), 29-37. Retrieved from EBSCO//host//

Another fun and easy introduction to computer programming for Primary School age students that works well within an inclusive classroom setting utilising small group work is Robotics.

There are a number of Canberra Public Schools implementing Robotics using Lego components to make a robotic car which can then be decorated; they are provided with instructions and the process can be effectively modelled for students with additional needs.

Computers are used to select and program a sequence of movements; spin around, straight, reverse, left and right. The students create the sequence by selecting the appropriate arrow diagrams to represent what they want their robot to do.



Depending on the age of the students; the grade 1 and 2's select a song that they would like played when they display their robots moves at the completion of the project. The grade 3 - 6 students often listen to the song of their choice whilst they are selecting the moves to program their car robot for ultimate synchrony.

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