11 apps for coding: From beginners to masters By Meris Stansbury, Associate Editor @eSN_Meris Read more by Meris Stansbury January 17th, 2014 Coding, the hottest skill coming down the education pipeline, is also a mobile app star As students begin to not only use technology, but create it’s functionality, a recent explosion in coding resources have hit the web, providing coding apps ranging from introductions for beginners and middle-schoolers to more technical resources aimed at the tech-savvy. From learning the basics of coding by making a dinosaur dance to more intermediate coding that requires working knowledge of HTML, and from a multiplayer robot combat game to app design, these programming apps provide an array of options for students, teachers and parents to become acquainted with one of the hottest subjects making the education rounds. And be sure to check out the last page for our bonus: 4 web-based coding resources and games. This is just a sampling of available coding apps. 1. (Next page: Apps 2-8)
Making Maths Meaningful with Scratch We know that students learn best when content is meaningful and has a direct connection and application to their lives. However, while some maths concepts, such as telling the time or using money, can have immediate relevance, others seem to have very little application to children’s daily lives. How often will 11 year old children really need to measure the size of angles, or work with cartesian graphs? I’ve found that teaching children to code may be part of the answer. This year, I’ve been teaching students in Years 2-6 to create simple arcade games using Scratch. 1. It is almost impossible to do anything in Scratch without using X and Y coordinates. Cartesian coordinates are required in this simple script to command an object to move to a specific location: Here’s another simple script, this time using cartesian coordinates and the arrow key to move an object down: 2. The concept of negative numbers is one that my students often have trouble relating to. 3. 4. Getting Started
10 places where anyone can learn to code Teens, tweens and kids are often referred to as “digital natives.” Having grown up with the Internet, smartphones and tablets, they’re often extraordinarily adept at interacting with digital technology. But Mitch Resnick, who spoke at TEDxBeaconStreet, is skeptical of this descriptor. Sure, young people can text and chat and play games, he says, “but that doesn’t really make you fluent.” Mitch Resnick: Let's teach kids to code Fluency, Resnick proposes in this TED Talk, comes not through interacting with new technologies, but through creating them. The former is like reading, while the latter is like writing. The point isn’t to create a generation of programmers, Resnick argues. In his talk, Resnick describes Scratch, the programming software that he and a research group at MIT Media Lab developed to allow people to easily create and share their own interactive games and animations. While we’re at it: bonus!
Hour of Code: five steps to learn how to code Next week sees the Hour of Code concept arrive in British schools. Imported from across the Atlantic, the Hour of Code aims to show children “how fun coding is in just one hour”, so that Britain has a future generation capable of programming more than the timer on a microwave oven. Whilst the ukcode.org website claims that more than a million students in the UK have already tried the Hour of Code, some (perhaps, most) schools will inevitably be unprepared, so here’s how parents, teachers or indeed anyone can get started in programming. 1. First, drop this ridiculous notion that you can learn to code in an hour, or even a day. Writing code is tough, and it’s an insult to legions of programming professionals to suggest otherwise. 2. If a child’s – or even an adult’s – first exposure to programming is sitting down to write lines of code, it will be a miracle if they even last the hour. 3. A halfway house between gaming and full-blown coding is Scratch. 4. 5.
GoOn3ChV8t Previously I have detailed 8 Reasons Why Kids Should Learn Code. If those reasons inspired you to start a Coding Club at your school this short guide will help turn that inspiration into action. Details are discussed following the list. 7 Steps to Start a Coding Club 1. Talk to the tech savvy students and find out if any students are already learning programming. 2. Run a few lunchtime introductory sessions, in which you: 3. Choose the learning environment that suits your school and students. 4. Give time for exploration and creativity. 5. Share resources that will help students create with the program. 6. Set some challenges to solve with the program. 7. Have students share what they are creating and run sessions in which they teach others. Options and Resources On Computers: Scratch would be the ideal starting point on computers. For students who are above 10 years old or have more experience I would suggest introducing them to MIT App Inventor, Codecademy and Khan Academy. On iPads:
Front Page Get Started Follow these simple directions to build your first app! Tutorials Step-by-step guides show you how to create even more apps. Teach Find out about curriculum and resources for teachers. Forums Join community forums to get answers to your questions. ntrol, programming, gaming - Ipads in primary Early skills Some apps to encourage early computing skills. Toca monsters Toca robot lab There is a wide range of Toca apps that support children to learn basic control skills. Build and play 3D Croco studio has created this lovely little app where you get to build and test out 15 different toys. Kodable A simple app that gets choildren to practise basic logical thinking. Thanks to Louise Stone for drawing my attention to it. Build a car Build a car is a great little app for early control. 69p Create a car is another super little app which the children love. 69p Learn the basics of programming with Daisy the Dinosaur. Our favourite classroom friend comes to the ipad with the Beebot app. Fabulous and free too! Free There is a new Beebot app out as well where you have to navigate around pyramids. A.L.E.X. another great app shared by @skinnyboyevans. Extend your skills These apps require a lot of logical thinking and are great creative fun. Machinarium Tiny bang story Creatorverse Hakitzu
5 Tools to Introduce Programming to Kids Digital Tools Arduino It’s hard to argue with the importance of teaching students how to use computers — how to turn on, log on, search the Web, and use applications. These skills are absolutely necessary for students’ academic success as well as for their future job prospects. Being able to use the Internet and operate computers is one thing, but it may be just as valuable to teach students how to code. Giving students an introduction to programming helps peel back the layers of what happens inside computers and how computers communicate with one another online. Many students don’t have access to computer science courses until college, and that’s a missed opportunity to introduce younger students to programming. Developed by the MIT Media Lab, Scratch is a visual programming language for children age 6 and up. Alice is a free and open source 3D programming environment designed to teach students object-oriented and event-driven programming. s also enables robotics-building. Related
Code & Conquer Most Important: Have Fun. And earn some badges. See how your strategy works out in different scenarios, challenge other players, receive points, earn badges and climb your way to the top of the leaderboard. Boost your coding skills. Do it playing. This game provides the perfect setting to introduce the key concepts employers ask you to know. 50 QR code resources for the classroom As mobile learning and technology is more readily integrated within classroom settings, QR codes can be used as an interesting method to capture a student's attention and make lesson material more interactive. Quick response codes, also known as 'QR' codes, are simple, scannable images that are a form of barcode. By scanning a QR code image through a mobile device, information can be accessed including text, links, bookmarks and email addresses. In the classroom, QR codes can be used in a variety of ways -- from conducting treasure hunts to creating modern CVs. Below is a number of articles, tutorials and lesson plans designed to help educators. Articles and tips 1.) 2.) 40 interesting ways to use QR codes in the classroom. 3.) 5 uses of QR codes in the classroom. 4.) 5.) 6.) 7.) 46 interesting ways to use QR Codes in the classroom. 8.) 75 Teched Out ways to say good job. 9.) 10.) Resources, software and lesson help 11.) 12.) 13.) 14.) 15.) 16.) 17.) 18.) 19.) 20.) 21.) 22.) 23.) 24.) 25.)
K-8 Intro to Computer Science K-8 Intro to Computer Science is a free course that aims to demystify computer science and show K-8 students that it’s fun, collaborative, and creative. The course is designed to motivate students and educators to continue learning computer science to improve real world relationships, connections, and life. Educators will foster an environment of communal learning that emphasizes risk-taking. This course will teach students about computer science, computational thinking, and programming. The content of this course is appropriate for kindergartners through 8th graders and beyond, but teachers must adjust the lessons and their pacing appropriately to the needs of their students. This course was developed in accordance with our educational philosophy. How to get started Here’s how to get started: Register as a teacher on learn.code.org. Info sessions for Educators We want computer science to be accessible for both students and teachers. Session 1 What is Computer Science (CS)? Questions?
Ten Ways to Use QR Codes in the Classroom with Online Tutorials I am so excited to be writing my second blog post of the year on this wonderful blog. During my last post, you may remember that I offered to be your "virtual coach". I had several people who were interested in learning more about how to use QR codes in daily routines as well as how to create these cute little things. I decided to provide you with 10 ways to use QR codes in the classroom as well as step by step tutorials to help you get started. #1 - One of my favorite ways to use QR codes is to assist students in linking to websites for research purposes. #2 - Another way I have used QR codes in the classroom is by using them for app smashing. #3 - Have you ever thought about using QR codes for behavior management? #4 - In 21st century classrooms, it is important that we start thinking of ways to save students' online work. These are ways that I have used QR codes but I asked teachers on my Facebook pages how they use QR codes in the classroom and here are some of their responses: