Coding on mobile devices-Week 4

Here is a summary of the Apps I'll be sharing with you during the 3-5 Grade band meeting,  You've all expressed an interest in providing opportunities for your students to learn to code.  Using mobile devices, like your classroom iPads helps students see their own mobile devices as more than just phones and cameras, and tools for texting. When they use these coding apps on the iPad to practice computational thinking and learn computer science practices and concepts including testing and debugging, remixing, loops, sequences, and events your students will begin to realize they power they have to create and use their minds to solve problems, break down large, complex tasks and create and deisign games, screen images, music and more. No worries if the coding terms are unfamiliar.  These concepts are introduced and reinforced through coding activities and tutorials.  Because these apps are available on mobile devices your students can continue their learning outside of class.  Here is a brief overview of two fantastic coding apps.

LIGHTBOT is a puzzle based coding app that teaches important programming concepts like loops, processes and sequences by using the symbols provided to program a robot to light up spaces on different mazes.  At the beginning of each puzzle instructions are given explaining the task to accomplish.

This app is very visual, with background music and brief written instructions.  I used the "Hour of Code" version of Lightbot and found that many students did not read the instructions that popped up as they moved through the activities and this left them to figure out on their own the concept being introduced.  Sometimes this frustrated students, so I encouraged them to take the time to read the pop up messages and look at the top of the screen for the suggested number of steps to use to solve the puzzle.  Lightbot is great for introducing computer science and programming concepts in a fun and engaging way.  The regular version has five levels including processes, loops, conditionals and overloads.  Students will learn to test small chunks of their code, problem solve, and look for patterns. These kinds of skills and this kind of thinking applies across all other content areas so there is value in working through these coding puzzles.

Hopscotch is another coding program that allows students to create something using code. Once you sign up there is an option to create or play. Under the create option there are a number of options to choose from including things to draw, games to create, sounds or visuals or backgrounds you can make.  I chose to try and make a warp speed visual effect (sort of depicts how I am feeling with the demands of work and my class!) What is great about this app is that students are in charge of what they are making.  Video tutorials explain every step.  These videos run in the bottom corner of the iPad so students can actually code right along with the video.

Students again work on problem solving and incremental thinking as the videos breakdown the bigger programming task into the smaller rules or steps.

Hopscotch provides students with a safe place to learn from other coders and so students are coding not just for the sake of coding to share and work with others to problem solve and share their learning with a real audience.  This is called computational participation and it is an important way to help students become connected 21st century learners.  I think you'll find these two apps will engage and challenge students.  Here is a link to the warp speed project I did Warp Speed