Different Styles for Beetleblocks - WICO Summer 2019 5.1

At each week of the WICO summer camp devoted to playful programming, we start out on the first day with an exploration of beetleblocks, a scratch-like web based interface where campers can design geometric shapes and convert them to stickers, 2D print-out or temporary tattoos.

This is a great ways to get campers introduced to the idea of block based programming and the logic of how the interface works. Additionally we like it because it quickly creates a connection between the physical and the digital world.

On another level though the program can introduce the idea of code as something that can be tinkered with where there are many solutions to the same problem. Last week we had a great example of that idea when one of the campers wanted to make a Star of David design. This is actually a little bit complicated and requires some tweaking of the program. He also got Sandee from Brandeis School who was a guest facilitators for the day interested in the challenge.

On tuesday we worked out one program that produced the design. In the meantime Sandee had also been working on the design and sent me her version of the code. It was really cool to see how they both approached the problem differently and created individual versions of the design.

The camper ended up cutting out a giant vinyl sticker for his school from the design. It was super awesome to see the potential for wide walls in this activity when tinkerers come up with personally meaningful projects.