Teaching article
The same commands can finish differently from different starts
Show how identical commands can produce different results from different starts.
Place two tokens on different squares or headings and run an unchanged sequence. The contrast shows why starting position and orientation belong in a complete program task, not merely in the author's memory.
Forward-right-forward depends on the initial heading and square.
Preserve the commands while changing the start
Run the sequence without changing the commands between trials. This isolates the effect of the initial position and orientation.
Set different starts. Run the same sequence. Compare final states.
Commands alone may not specify a whole task. Which starting detail changed the outcome?
Compare two prepared diagrams.
Resources
- Human Robot Commands – Coding Without Screens Printable Game — Check the command conventions before using the sequence or debugging task.
Further reading
- CS Unplugged — Kidbots and algorithm activities
- Australian Curriculum Version 9 — Technologies overview
Read next
- Debugging language should identify the mismatch
- A turn changes heading without moving to another square
- Break a robot delivery task into connected subtasks
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