Miroslava Minić, Osnovna šola Dobje, Dobje
I will present you TouchDevelop, Microsoft learning interactive tool that helped me to co-create diverse opportunities for learning programming with the support of ICT. With the students we choose different courses for the teaching of applications. Students then solved step by step tutorials and build games and applications. The advantage taht helped us is that TouchDevelop Web App works in most modern browsers and TouchDevelop Windows Phone application provides access to most smart phones. I found out that in addition to creating fun and useful applications, I use TouchDevelop to create my own interactive exercises or learning materials. Students were more inspired to study. TouchDevelop is an interactive development environment and a visual programming language being developed at Microsoft Research for learning programing. If you have a mobile device such as for instance smart phone or tablets, you can write scripts only by tapping on the screen. You do not need a separate PC or keyboard. TouchDevelop can be used in the classroom to teach programming concepts and also for classes on Mobile Computing, as it cuts the time required to write apps. TouchDevelop is an ideal tool for teaching computer science, because it meets the following objectives: • Designed for learning programming. • The TouchDevelop Web App runs in most modern browsers and you only need an internet connection and users account • The TouchDevelop Windows Phone app gives access to most sensors and data providers available on modern smartphones • Create applications on your phone, tablet or laptop computer • Its products can be displayed on the internet and you can share them with others very quickly • Students can use it to make their computer games, animation or interactive stories • On the web are accessible material, where teachers and students can self-directed learning Workflow: I will present you how it looks learning environment TouchDevelop, showing a basic window to create the code. The participants (students) are applying in the learning environment, preparing and updatening the personal informations, taking a walk through the proposals; presenting the basic window for creating code .. The participants (students) solve some examples of tasks (create game or make a collage or solve some tasks of turtle graphics, add image or text, run the tutorial, etc.). At the conclusion they present their work to their neighbor or group. TuchDevelop is useful and popular with students because: • TouchDevelop is a novel programming environment that runs on iPad, iPhone, Android, PC, Mac, Windows Phone, Linux. • Students instead of writing complex software code, move and stack colorful graphic blocks. • There are no problems with the syntax. The possible drawback is the language environment, which is largely adapted and only works in English. Nevertheless, teaching the students I have had only positive experiences, which I will also be presented.
