This year's Hour Of Code event, as sponsored by Code.org, takes place on December 8-14. It's goal is to encourage millions of students across the world to participate in an hour of coding. Why? It has been estimated that in the next decade there will be 1.4 million computer science jobs in the US, with only 400,000 people skilled and qualified to fill them. That's a sizable shortfall.
This year, in England, every child aged 5-16 will be taught coding as part of their curriculum, and similar programs are being rolled out in other European countries. Many teachers wonder how they have time to incorporate coding in the classroom, but the logic and problem solving skills involved in programming align themselves well to Science and Math programs of study, and creative educators are finding other outlets too. Besides, if Anna and Elsa are starting to code, you can too!
This year, in England, every child aged 5-16 will be taught coding as part of their curriculum, and similar programs are being rolled out in other European countries. Many teachers wonder how they have time to incorporate coding in the classroom, but the logic and problem solving skills involved in programming align themselves well to Science and Math programs of study, and creative educators are finding other outlets too. Besides, if Anna and Elsa are starting to code, you can too!
1. The Foos: Code for an Hour FREE
| Aimed at students aged 6-8, The Foos is a great introduction to some basic programming skills. It is also accessible to all learners because of how visual it is. No reading skills are required. The app was created specifically for the hour of code with 24 levels and 3 sandbox areas for students to explore. It is 100% free with no in-app purchases. Click here to download The Foos. |
2. LEGO MINDSTORMS: Fix the Factory
| The Mindstorm robots are often high on children's wishlist come Xmas time, but the cost is prohibitive for many parents. Fix the Factory, on the other hand, is completely free! In this app, you guide your Mindstorm robot around the factory with a series of programmable directions and complete a variety of challenges. Great fun, and a brand kids recognize. Download it here. |
3. Daisy the Dino
| With an easy drag and drop interface, Daisy the Dino is a great introductory app for even the youngest students. Daisy can roll, jump, turn, spin and more at your behest if you use the right commands. It's intuitive, fun and the freeplay mode encourages more creativity once the challenges have been mastered. Download Daisy the Dino here. |
4. Lightbot - One Hour of Coding '14
| Lightbot does a great job of making coding fun, despite tacking more complex coding skills like loops and if-then statements. It comes complete with lesson plans, a rationale for educators, and a teacher answer book! This is another app that was created specifically for the hour of code. If you like it, be sure to check out the other versions of Lightbot. Click here to download. |
5. Hopscotch
| Hopscotch was one of the first coding apps for the iPad, but it is still one of the best. With an interface similar to that of Scratch or Tynker, this award-winning app can be as challenging as you want it to be. Need inspiration? Wesley Fryer wrote a great companion guide for Hopscotch. Be sure to check that out. Hopscotch is only limited by your imagination. Download it here. |
6. Cargo-Bot
| Wouldn't it be awesome if you could code an iPad app on the iPad? Well, you can. The developers who made Cargo-Bot used Codea to create a maddeningly addictive coding app. It is the kind of app that will keep you up all night, but it has its roots firmly embedded in the logic and problem solving strategies programmers use daily. Download Cargo-Bot for free today! |
7. Kodable
| It starts off easy, but it soon gets harder. It's a description that you could easily level at any of these apps, but Kodable is a great gateway app into a bigger world of coding. A free teacher account gives you education features and 25 student profiles. You get 45 levels for free before in-app purchases unlock more. Or, buy Kodable Class for the full experience. Download Kodable here. |
Will you be participating in the #HourOfCode this year? What projects do you have in the pipeline for your class? If you are still making plans, the apps above are a great place to start, but be sure to check out Code.org for ideas too and watch their latest video below for some extra motivation! :)
~ Jonathan Wylie, Technology Consultant
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