Modelling and Simulation Software

Modelling and Simulation Software 

Week 5    ICT - 11/03/14



In ICT this week we looked at Modelling and Simulation software and how it can be used in the classroom. Modelling software is a computer program that builds simulations or other models. It can be used to test a trial situation before committing to the real thing.

Simulation games, or adventure games, can also be used to explore different solutions within a test environment. This can include the virtual reality type scenarios that are becoming more and more available. This type of software is very useful as children can explore and make predictions and begin to identify patterns and relationships. Many people have to use this type of software in their training in order to test out a scenario before entering the real life situation. For instance, astronomers, pilots, engineers, town planners, air traffic controllers and many others. If these people where not able to train with or regularly use these programmes in their day to day jobs then they would have to relay on getting everything correct the first time around.

Purple mash is an online resource that targets primary aged children and is designed to engage the pupil with a range of resources such as educational games and creative projects. The website also accommodates for teachers as it hosts a number of tools that are compatible with the interactive whiteboard  as well as allowing for independent use and group work.     




As you can see there are a range of different games and activities that the children can play under many different sections. Teachers can use Purple Mash to help children improve their mathematics, literacy, phonics, science skills and more by allowing them to play spesfic games. For instance if the class are not yet fluent with their number bonds to 10 or 20 or 100 then their are games that accommodate for this.

Purple Mash is just one of the modelling and simulation sites available but I found it to be one of the most useful. Other sites include:

• My Modelling Toolkit
• Tizzy's Tools

If you should wish to view Purple Mash follow the link below. 

Purple Mash:                        http://www.purplemash.com/#/home  

If you wish to read more on modelling and simulating follow the links below:

http://www.simonhaughton.co.uk/simulation-software/

https://slp.somerset.gov.uk/cypd/elim/somersetict/Site%20Pages/Progressions%20-%20Modelling%20and%20Simulation.aspx




 

Control and Programming

Control and Programming

ICT - 25/02/14


In ICT this week we looked at control and programming using simple electronic toys. These toys are called Bee-bots and they are very useful in the primary class room as they are child friendly, fun to play with and they are easy to program. There are various devises that are similar such as the pixie, the pipin and the Roamer and  these have varying degrees of difficult when it comes to programming them, but Bee-bots are certainly the most child friendly.

It is important for children to understand simple programming as it occurs in everyday life. Some programmable objects that we use/see daily include:

Inside the Home	Outside the Home
Washing Machine Oven Microwave Central Heating TV/Video/Hi-Fi Burglar Alarm Telephone	Traffic Lights Pelican Crossings Barcode Scanners Parts of Car Engines CCTV Cameras Aircraft

By using Bee-bots children can begin to understand that every electronic object has to be programmed in some way. In this instance you press the back, forward, right and left arrows on the Bee-bot in order to direct it in the way you would like it to go. The Bee-bot remembers the sequence and moves in the same way once you press GO. To create a new sequence the child learns that you must first clear the sequence. This must mean that the sequence is some how stored on the devise and this is a clear route to deepen their understanding of electrical equipment and programming. Computers and electrical devices capable of programming have a component inside known as the CPU (central processing unit) this stores all the information that is programmed into it via the buttons on top of the Bee-bot.

We were allowed to use the Bee-bots in class and we decided that it would be fun to create a game for children to play. They could program the Bee-bot to complete a course with obstacles with the objective of completing the course without touching them. So we created a football game in which the children must reach the ball in front of a goal and score without touching any defenders.

We then made a shell for the Bee-bot so it was no longer a bee trying to play football. What better disguise to use then Marouane Chamakh of Crystal Palace (who is unfortunately wearing the wrong number as we had to stick over the 2). Chamakh is a player renowned for taking the ball round many players and scoring spectacular goals; or maybe more realistically, like the Bee-bot, missing the ball, running the wrong way, falling over and making a fool of its/himself. You can decide which the appropriate sentence is.

This is just an example of what the Bee-bot can be used for and the fun that can be had with it. There is a link below to a dancing Bee-bot routine. This may be more complicated but it would be good for children to see if they could program the Bee-bots to do exactly the same thing. There is a second link to a Youtube video that shows how a Bee-bot is used.

Dancing Bee-bots: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lRRn3zplC0

How to use the B-bots: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XxKHHdNEA4

Useful Websites Linked to Bee-bots: http://www.simonhaughton.co.uk/blog_index.html/page/13