ICT & Computing in Education

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Binary kittens

Terry Freedman

Could a kitten be used as a teaching aid in the Computing classroom?

Kittens, by Terry Freedman

Somewhat late in the day (because I don’t teach Computing to kids any more), I’ve discovered that kittens can provide examples of a few key concepts.

Having acquired two kittens (sisters) recently, I am able to tell you with some authority that:

  • Kittens are either switched on or switched off. Feed them, and then they go whizzing around all over the place. We occasionally often hear the sounds of our happy home being destroyed: books being knocked over, wallpaper being shredded (we think we've managed to stop that now). Then they suddenly stop, keel over, and fall asleep. It's quite astonishing to behold.
  • They are a real-life demonstration of an IF-THEN statement. If there's a gap or a hole, such as a cupboard door open, walk in. If something is moving, attack it.
  • And let's not forget the DO-UNTIL procedure: attack moving object until another moving object or a gap comes into view.

I’m not quite sure how I might use this in the classroom (I don’t think bringing kittens in would be feasible somehow), but I like the idea of doing something. Videos perhaps?