IRC News

ROBOGALS

On Friday 23 June, engineering students from Monash and the University of Melbourne spent the day at Murrumbeena Primary School. The 'Robogals' team taught engineering and robotics to all girls in grades 4, 5 and 6 as part of our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program. Part of this program aims to promote science and engineering to girls, where trends indicate an overwhelming majority of males are enrolling in these subjects in secondary school and university. 

Throughout the day, students learned about the many different branches of engineering, including civil, structural, software and even chemical engineering. They used LEGO Mindstorm Kids to code and instruct their own robots. 

A big thank you to all students involved and to Monash and the University of Melbourne who spent their time at our school.

TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

Throughout Term 2, students have extended their technology learning and enjoyed all challenges they were presented with. Here is an overview of what has been learned this term.

PREPS

Preps have continued to practise logging in and out of the IRC desktops and iPads independently, and have focused on developing fine motor skills through mouse coordination. Using Beebot robots, they have begun programming directions such as forward, backwards, left and right into robots. Using digital design programs, preps have been able to use our touchscreen Acer Veriton Desktops to draw self-portraits and add effects such as colour and backgrounds.

GRADES 1 & 2

Students have learned how to activate the inbuilt desktop cameras, take ‘selfies’ and apply filters. They have learned annotating skills and have been able to create a digital book accompanied with photographs and labels.

Using iPads, they created their own story using the ‘Collins Big Cat Book’ apps and learned how to record their own voice as narrator. Grade 2 students were also introduced to animation making, by using ‘2Animate’ to create a short animation.

GRADES 3 & 4

The term began with an introduction to coding. Students participated in 'The Hour of Code' and learned how to use block coding, to program their own game. In addition to this, they learned and revised some basic processing skills such as internal and external hyperlinking, how to use the screen grab/snipping tool and insert images into Word and PowerPoint documents. They experimented with pop-art and created digital comic strips with labels and multiple characters. Girls from grade 4 participated in an engineering program run by the University of Melbourne and used ‘Lego Mindstorm’ to program their own robots.

GRADES 5 & 6

Students have spent the entire term immersed in coding. They began block coding and followed this with learning the basics of JavaScript which challenged them at first, but showing perseverance enabled them to program their own game. Students also used Scratch and Kodu 3D game creation to consolidate their understanding of coding.

Girls from grades 5 and 6 participated in an engineering program run by the University of Melbourne and used ‘Lego Mindstorm’ to program their own robots.

Congratulations also to the grade 6 students who have participated in the Murrumbeena Breakfast Show and have broadcasted live on Thursday mornings on 88.3 Southern FM.

Thank you to all students for their hard work throughout Term 2. Have a well-deserved break and I look forward to an exciting Term 3.

Hannah Vesikko - IRC