Outcomes in Blockly - Part One (Ages 5-8)

Hello everyone! Today we are going to practice changing the outcome of a code in Blockly. By the end of the activity, you’ll be able to understand what an outcome is, and how to change it!

 

Before we begin:

  1. Make sure that you have your KINI robot, and that it is connected to the internet.KINI App Game Tab

  2. Open the app, and go to the Blockly tab by clicking the Blockly button in the bottom right corner. We will be using the two Repeat blocks to create our code.Kini App Blockly Tab

  3. Make sure you know how to use Blockly. If you don’t, watch the “Introduction to Blockly” activity before this one.

 

What is an outcome?

  • In general, an outcome is the way something turns out

    • The outcome of your soccer game could be that you won

  • In coding, an outcome is the result of a code. 

    • In our case, the outcome is where KINI is after moving. 

Outcomes That Don’t Depend on the Order of Blocks

  • An example of outcomes that don’t depend on the order of blocks, is a sequence with just move forward and backward blocks

  • Below, you can see the result of using a move forward for 5 cm block and a move backwards for 10 cm in both orders

Move backwards 10 cm block and move forwards 10 cm block.
      
Move forwards 5 cm block and move backwards 10 cm block.

  • The outcome of this code is that KINI will end up 5 cm behind where it started, as 10 cm backwards minus 5 cm forwards is 5 cm backwards

Drawing of Kini moving backwards 10 cm then forwards 5 cm.

Drawing of Kini moving forwards 5 cm then backwards 10 cm.

  • If you don’t understand, you can draw this example to see that the outcome is 5cm backwards

 

Outcomes That Depend on the Order of Blocks:

  • An example of where the order matters, is if you add a rotate block to the sequence

  • Below, you can see the results depending on where a Rotate Left block is placed in the sequence from the previous example

    • If the rotate block is at the start of the sequence, KINI would end up to the right of where it started

Blockly code of rotate block, then forwards 5 cm block, then backwards 10 cm block.

Drawing of Kini rotating left, then moving forwards for 5 cm, then moving backwards for 10 cm.

  • If the rotate block is at the end of the sequence, KINI would end up behind where it startedBlockly code of forwards 5 cm block, then backwards 10 cm block, then rotate block.

Drawing of Kini moving forwards for 5 cm, then moving backwards for 10 cm, then rotating left.

  • As you can see, the order of the blocks impacts KINI’s final position

  • Using this code, you can also find out how KINI’s ending position will change if you change the order of the same three blocks

Congratulations everyone! You just learnt what an outcome is, and how to change it by changing the order of blocks. Since the outcome of a code can change by rearranging the same blocks, it is a good idea to draw KINI’s movements. That way, you can understand how the order impacts the outcome. You can try out this same code, and even try changing it’s outcome by rearranging the blocks. 

 

Now that you’ve learnt about outcomes, each time you code KINI, first think of the outcome, then use blocks to make that outcome happen. Good luck, and have fun coding!