Why RoamerWorld?

As Juniors develop their programming skills, they quickly realise the limitations of the Roamer. They can't review what they've entered. They can't correct errors or insert commands without starting all over again. Worst of all, they can't print or save their work. In fact, all is not lost! The pupils are learning a fundamentally important lesson about ICT. These are precisely the things that the computer lets us do, with its display, hard drive and printer. RoamerWorld is the software which enables pupils to view, amend, print and store their 'Go Programs'.

Using RoamerWorld

In addition to a copy of the software, you need to purchase a connecting lead. The Valiant site has details. Once you are connected, the process is simple. Click on Roamer and select the menu option Copy Go Program from Roamer.

Remember that RoamerWorld is a simulation of programming the Roamer itself. The keyboard can't be used! Click on the Roamer control panel to enter instructions.

To insert an instruction, select the line ABOVE where you want the new line to appear. After making changes, send the Go Program back to the Roamer.

Year 4 examples

Lucy and her friends constructed their own Lego model, and borrowed one from another group. The motors were connected to Terminals 1 and 2.

In Lucy's program, the motor attached to Terminal 2 is turned on. The Roamer waits five seconds then moves forward. The motor switches off. The Roamer moves back and plays a note. The other model is activated for six seconds, and a note sounds. There's no need to turn the motor off with an instruction, as it will stop when the Go Program finishes.

In Jack's program, the motor connected to Terminal 1 comes on for three seconds. The motor is turned off, and a short note is repeated seven times. Note how, in RoamerWorld, the instructions in the brackets are automatically 'nested':

Roamer Index