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Clear instructions

  1. A robot cannot guess

    A robot does just what you say. It cannot guess what you mean. So every step must be clear.

  2. Go over there
    Not clear
    Move 2 squares right
    Clear

    Say which way and how far

    Go over there is not clear. Which way? How far? Move 2 squares right is clear. It says both.

  3. Say how many

    Take some apples is not clear. Some could mean 2 or 10. Take 3 apples tells exactly how many.

  4. Get it
    Get what?
    Turn
    Which way?

    Find what is missing

    Get it is missing something. Get what? Turn is missing something too. Turn which way? Add the missing part.

    1. 1a shape
      not exact
    2. 2a circle
      better
    3. 3a big red circle
      most exact

    More detail is more exact

    Draw a shape is not very exact. Draw a circle is better. Draw a big red circle is the most exact.

  6. move down
    move right
    move right
    move up

    Blocks are exact

    Blocks are clear steps for a robot. Each block says which way. A rock is in the way here. Run it and watch the robot go around.

For parents

Goal: Your child learns that a robot cannot guess, so good instructions say exactly which way, how far, how many and what. Then come three short game labs.

  • When your child gives a step, ask the robot questions: which way? How many? What?
  • Point out vague words like some, there and a bit, and ask for a number or a direction instead.
  • In the robot labs, ask your child to read each block out loud before pressing Run.

Away from the screen: Let your child tell you how to make a snack while you follow every word exactly. If they say put it there, ask where. Laugh together at the silly results and fix the steps.

Coding · Steps in Order
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