Unplugged Programming Curriculum: Teaching Programming Skills Using Coding Board Games

Overview

For primary school students, visual aids can effectively enhance their learning outcomes. Students can also grasp programming concepts by combining digital knowledge with unplugged board games using cards. The process of computational thinking, observing problems, breaking down challenges, devising solutions, testing, and debugging can all help primary school students absorb programming knowledge and concepts. The themes of the curriculum include information technology literacy, resolution, 3D construction, order and sequence, programming, and artificial intelligence.
The seminar will share the experience of integrating German-style board Games into the primary school curriculum to enhance students' computational thinking skills through unplugged programming. In collaboration with the school, the speaker’s team has developed a comprehensive programme designed to foster students' learning through hands-on, unplugged board game activities. This initiative aims to cultivate computational thinking skills and digital literacy while providing students enjoyable and engaging learning experiences.
The school has integrated the unplugged board games curriculum into both computer science classes and after-school activities for Primary 1 to 6. The primary goal of this initiative is to cultivate students' computational thinking skills, fostering a new generation of digitally creative problem-solvers who are well-prepared for our rapidly evolving technological world.
Participants in this seminar will learn:
• acomplete set of unplugged programming programmes that can be applied to local primary schools (Primary 1 to 6);
• the advantages of using table games to teach computational thinking and develop students' collaboration, problem-solving and creativity skills; and
• the element and importance of ‘hands-on’ in unplugged programming programmes