Guide for beginners

Image of robot on a laptop

Cody Button’s Recommended Activities for Newbies

The Commissioner’s robot Cody Buttons likes to help human beings so has prepared this guide setting out recommended activities for beginners to complete the Challenge. Choose any four.

The Story of Cody Buttons

The Commissioner’s robot, Cody Buttons, was given their name by Yasser aged 9 in the ‘Name the Commissioner’s Robot’ competition in October 2018.

Cody Buttons likes their name very much!

The name’s Buttons.
Cody Buttons.

Thanks for my name Yasser!

Coding with Minecraft®

Learn the basics of programming in familiar territory

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Get started with this beginner’s coding with a Minecraft lesson from Code.org’s Hour of Code™.

Watch a 2-minute intro video followed by a step-by-step introduction to coding using a Minecraft character.

Learn about algorithms

Australian Digital Technologies Curriculum approved lesson

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Have a go at introducing algorithms to beginners by simply describing everyday actions like brushing teeth, or making a sandwich with this activity from the Digital Technologies Hub. The only equipment you’ll need will be sticky notes / paper and your digital thinking brain!

Make cute monsters

Australian Digital Technologies Curriculum approved lesson

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Sign in as a teacher to get free access to all the notes and support you need to run Grok Learning tutorials as a classroom activity and no software installation is required. All activities also contain extension suggestions for students who blast through.

FREE MICRO:BIT SIMULATOR

Code a flashing heart with no special equipment

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Don’t have a budget for physical robots or microchips? Microsoft have an entire, online based micro:bit simulator you can use for free. Simply click on the picture of the chip to make it do what it would in real life.

BINARY SECRET CODES

Unplugged lesson requiring no devices

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It sounds complicated but fits in beautifully with Mathematics. It’s just counting in Base 2.

Explore this CS Unplugged activity to find out how numbers can become something else: a necklace made out of beads that secretly spells your name or a code for writing secret messages.

If you have no idea what binary is spend 5 minutes getting up to speed with Math is Fun by Rod Pierce.

Code a dance party

Get creative with music, characters and dance moves

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Use your creativity to code a choreographed dance performance with this Hour of Code™ activity from Code.org.
Take part with digital devices or try the unplugged version (no devices needed) as a class.

Acknowledgement of Country

We respectfully acknowledge and celebrate the Traditional Owners of the lands throughout South Australia and we pay our respects to their Elders – and to past, present and future generations of their children and young people.

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Beginner’s Guide for Schools