PART 1: Introduction to Computer Programming with Touch Develop

One of my Windows in the Classroom stories:
PART 1: Introduction to Computer Programming with Touch Develop
+
+
To kick start an enthusiasm for computer programming my Year 9 Build Your Own App Elective student’s write their first line of
code using Microsoft’s Touch Develop (online/mobile platform) and quickly become confident touch game developers.
Students work through a series of online modules to introduce them to computer programing terms and functions. Using the
web based programing software Microsoft Touch Develop the objective is for students to design a web based game for an
authentic audience – a group of Grade 5 Primary School kids. Whilst we connect via Skype students are also required to think
about the needs of their audience and consider appropriate communication techniques when publishing a blog about their
game for the game testers.
Through the self paced tutorial walk-through’s, student learn about code execution, creating loops and defining and modifying
variables. They learn how to include physics, sprites and touch in their apps and games through easy to follow tutorial and
inbuilt templates.
Their learning is facilitated through a sequences of learning in OneNote where students also build a portfolio of digital
evidence with opportunities for self-reflection and peer/teacher feedback.
PART 2: Assessment Task
1. Set a goal
2. Create a design
Students self-regulate
through a series of 5
phases recording
evidence in their
OneNote Portfolio
3. Build Game
4. Self & Peer Feedback
5. Publish & Share
Learning
through tutorial
videos at
Microsoft.com
Course
Launcher
Developing
new skills on
Touch
Develop.com
Connecting with
our Game
Testers from LPS
using Skype
Recording
evidence of
learning in
OneNote
Student Sample: Fling the Footy
Play the game live:
https://www.touchdevelop.com/lzleb
We even got a retweet from @SkypeClassroom
Based on the 21st Century Curriculum Design Program this Unit of work scores well in areas of Knowledge
Construction, Self-Regulation, ICT for Learning and Skilful Communication.
Dimension/Decision Tree
Collaboration
0 1 2 3 4
As this was an independent tasks students really only collaborated informally by
provided peer feedback

Knowledge Construction
Real-World Problem-Solving
and Innovation
Justification

The learning intentions are for student
Knowledge & skill is scaffolded throughout the assessment task
Whilst student are problem solving as they apply understanding to new content
for a ‘real’ audience there I no ‘real world’ problem a such

Self-Regulation
Throughout the process student set goal, regulate their time, reflect on their
 performance, record changes and give/received feedback for further
improvement
ICT for Learning
The main purpose of this task is to develop ICT skills – learning intentions like to
 ICT AuVELS. Student have an authentic audience and are required to use ethically
source elements (i.e backgrounds, sprites, obstacles)
Skilful Communication

Student create a blog post with an authentic audience in mind and is multi-model
via online post including images, texts and links.