Role of Play: Pico Crickets

Me and my fellow group members were allowed to play with PicoCrickets in class, which is a new software out for kids that allow them to create through play. Chen, Kristi and I created a ballerina that moves when we touch a sensor after programing it on the computer, and a yellow light flashes on. We found it was hard to get all of the components to work at the same time, and some trials one thing would work and other times they would not. Overall it was a good experience to get involved with what they kids are working on.

At Aldo I noticed that the classroom style was a lot less informal in the way that the kids were able to address the teacher by their first name, and use markers to write in their daily journals. Yet it was good to observe how on task the students were and how they knew what where their journals were supposed to go after they had checked it over with Melissa. Also I was able to compare my sophomore block school ( Howe) to Aldo and It was weird to me to see kids so free to go to recess with out waiting for the other students or teacher to walk them down. I think this is a great way to show children responsibility.