7 APPS TO HELP TEACH YOUR KIDS CODING By Tory Reiss

WHY CODING?

! Coding is everywhere and in everything ! Kids are learning to code at younger and younger

ages !  Elementary school students are beginning to code

! A whole host of new apps are being created to help children learn how to code

GAMESTAR MECHANIC

! Platform: Web ! Cost: $2 per student ! Teaches kids from 7-14 to create their own video

games ! Self-pacing quests are used to teach how to build

game levels !  Focuses on critical thinking and problem solving

! Embedded with Edmodo for easy logins for students

SCRATCH

! Platform: Web ! Cost: Free ! Designed by MIT students and staff specifically

for 8-16 year olds to program ! Students use bricks made of visual programming

language to animate sprite with sound, loops, and more

!  Includes teaching guides, communities, and other resources

TYNKER

! Platform: Web ! Cost: Free (premium option available) ! Similar interface to Scratch but focuses on

teaching programming ! Features lesson plans, classroom management

tools, self-pacing lessons, and an online showcase of student creations

MOVE THE TURTLE

! Platform: iOS (iPad and iPod) ! Cost: $2.99 ! A game that teaches programming procedures ! Each new level increases difficulty and teaches a

new command !  Includes a free-play “compose” mode that allows

freedom of movement

HOPSCOTCH

! Platform: iPad ! Cost: Free ! Similar to Scratch and Tynker

!  Uses similar controls and block-dragging format !  Controls and characters are less extensive

! Perfect for students with no prior coding experience or interest who want to learn the basics

DAISY THE DINOSAUR

! Platform: iPad ! Cost: Free ! From the makers of Hopscotch

!  Aimed at the youngest coders

! Similar interface to Hopscotch but much simpler !  Only a dinosaur to move and basic functions

! Great for introducing the young to programming

CARGO-BOT

! Platform: iPad ! Cost: Free ! Players must program a crane to move colored

crates on each level ! Game was programmed on an iPad using a

touch-based coding app ! Great intro for text-based coding using Lua

MORE CODING THINGS

! Coding helps foster problem-solving and critical/logical thinking

! Code.org is a pro-coding education nonprofit !  Features quotes from famous and important people

promoting the importance of coding in children’s education

! Thanks to http://www.edutopia.org/blog/7-apps-teaching-children-coding-anna-adam?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=blog-coding-apps-list-repost3 for inspiring this PowerPoint

MARIA KLAWE, COMPUTER PROGRAMMER AND INVENTOR

!  “Coding is today's language of creativity. All our children deserve a chance to become creators instead of consumers of computer science”