Lesson 2 Introduction to PictoBlox (Year 7 2024-2025) PDF

Coding & Robotics with N.D ELroi Welcome, Students !  Lesson 2 Introduction to PictoBlox Learning Outcomes 1.Definition of Block-based programming 2.Examples of block-based softwares 3.What is PictoBlox and why it is chosen over other alternatives 4.How to install Pictoblox 5.F...

Coding & Robotics with N.D ELroi Welcome, Students !  Lesson 2 Introduction to PictoBlox Learning Outcomes 1.Definition of Block-based programming 2.Examples of block-based softwares 3.What is PictoBlox and why it is chosen over other alternatives 4.How to install Pictoblox 5.Features of Pictoblox and their uses, etc  Materials Needed for Class Projector Functional Laptop Internet Attention Quietness Pictoblox  Concepts & Definitions Block-based coding is a form of programming language where the developer issues instructions by dragging and dropping blocks. This helps to prevent syntax errors and developers do not have to memorize syntax to write code.  Examples of Block-Based Softwares 1. Scratch 2. Code.org 3. Pictoblox 4. Thunkable 5. Blockly 6. VEXcode VR  What is Pictoblox PictoBlox is a graphical programming software based on Scratch blocks and is the ideal companion for setting the first step into the world of programming.  Why it is chosen among other options Its user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop functionality eliminate the need to memorize syntax and rules that make traditional programming languages difficult. It helps budding programmers learn how to write a program in a fun, educational, and easy way using blocks. How to Install Pictoblox Software 1.To install the Pictoblox software, click on this link: 2.Then choose your device type, and the app will automatically start downloading 3.Once the download is complete, click on the file to install it. 4.Holla! 😂 You have the Pictoblox app PictoBlox Interface The Stage The stage is a background or a backdrop for your Scratch projects (the programs you’ll create). It is a white background in the top right corner; you will see a bear standing there. His name is Tobi and he is what is called a sprite (we’ll see in a moment what it is). The stage  The Sprite A Sprite is an object or a character that performs different actions in the projects. It understands and obeys the instructions that you’ll give them in your projects. It can move and can be moved to any place on the stage (you can try by clicking on them and moving them around).  Stage Palette The stage palette has different tools using which you can change the stage: You can choose an image from the backdrop library. You can paint a new stage, you can import an image. You can click a picture using your computer’s or laptop’s camera.  Blocks Block is like jigsaw puzzle pieces that fit into each other. They are predefined commands used to create programs by simply dragging and dropping them below one another in the scripting area.  Block Palette The block palette is under the Code tab. It consists of different palettes such as Motion, Sound, and Control. Each palette has different blocks that perform functions specified by the palette name.  Script A script is a program or a code in PictoBlox/Scratch lingo. It is a set of ‘blocks’ that are arranged below one another in a specific order to perform a task or a series of tasks. The scripting area is where you will create your scripts.  Activity: Make Tobi Walk In this activity, we will write a short script to make Tobi walk with different speed Step 1: Open PictoBlox and create a new file Step 2: Select the coding environment as Block Coding. Step 3: Open the Events palette and drag and drop the ‘when flag clicked‘ block into the scripting area. The when the flag- clicked block is a special type of block called hat block. It is used to start a script. Step 4: From the control pallete, drag and drop the ‘forever block‘ below the when flag clicked block. This block is used when you want a set of blocks to keep running until the script is stopped manually. Step 5: Open the Motion palette and drag and drop the move () steps inside the forever block. Step 6: Run the script by clicking the green flag. What did you observe? If your Tobi went out of the frame, you observed properly. Is that a problem? Maybe not for others but for us, it is! Let’s fix this so that the Tobi doesn’t wander off again. Step 7: Open the Motion palette and drag and drop the ‘if on edge, bounce‘ block inside the forever block. This block detects whether the sprite has touched the edge of the stage or not and changes the direction if it has. Your code should look like this. Step 8: Go to the Motion palette and drag and drop the ‘set rotation style ()‘ below the when flag clicked block and select left-right from the drop-down. This stops Tobi from turning upside-down when it bounces on edge. Your code should look like this. Step 9: Open the Control palette and drag and drop the wait () seconds block below the move () steps to block and change the delay value to 0.1 seconds. The wait block is used to pause/delay the script execution by the specified time. Your entire code should look similar to this.  Step 10: Save your program. Homework Repeat steps 1-10 for two different sprites