As part of our Man and Machine topic this term, we have begun exploring computer concepts: starting with the all important algorithm.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT AN ALGORITHM IS?

Well the year sixes set about finding out what they are. Firstly considering what they thought it was and finding out that it was not exactly the same as coding. Instructions was the name of the game and they were also fascinated to find out that algorithms were first created in the 9th century: a long time before computers.

We clarified our understanding of the concept – watching the video below and making some whiteboard notes, before writing our own algorithms, to achieve a set task: moving from one place to another. First we explored this in class (negotiating the tables and chairs) and then the pupils competed in groups to avoid obstacles on a course in the playground – blindfolded (using their teammates algorithm to succeed). The pupils learnt that sometimes they needed a back-up instruction (or ‘IF’ instruction), or a variation in the steps to allow for differences in the environments where it was used, ensuring that an ‘error’ did not occur.

Finally, we discussed how algorithms were all around us in technology that they use and that there were many careers that they could explore using these skills.