Using Dash Robots to teach coding

Student teachers on our undergraduate primary courses that lead to qualified teacher status (QTS) were introduced to coding using Dash Robots.

The year 1 module, Exploring Learning and Teaching in Mathematics and Computing, helps to develop student teachers’ confidence and introduces the core concepts and key processes of computer science such as programmable technology.

Over the 12 weeks of the module the student teachers explore a range of coding-related activities and theory to help build their confidence for their time on placement and when they graduate.

Children have been controlling simple robots in schools since the 1980s but they have evolved in terms of programming language and their ability to interact with the surrounding environment, collect data, and communicate with other devices.

The Dash Robot provides a hands-on way to support students to learn code. The robot can sense its environment and is controlled via an iPad app that is designed to get progressively more complex. It is a child and adult friendly programming tool which makes it easy to do activities that may have otherwise seemed impossible.

Pippa Totraku said: ”Dash is great fun to explore and helps children develop their computational and logical thinking by seeing code come to life. The concepts and skills learnt and developed while controlling Dash can be applied to similar devices that the student teachers may find in schools.

“One of the challenges we set students is to programme Dash to respond to their voice. Try to picture a group of 30 students calling their robots from across the room!”

Next up for the student teachers in the computing module is filming a stop frame animation.

Dash Robots are just one of the many fantastic resources student teachers at Brighton use to support their development and learning.

Find out how you can become a teacher with the University of Brighton.