With an increasing focus on programming and coding finding the way onto the curriculum in many different countries across the globe, developers are creating materials which can help educators skill themselves, and also to support pupils in this area.
Coding and programming allows for individuals to show their creative side, but also embodies key, logical skills which need to be understood and mastered to create a successful programme. With technology advances racing ahead within societies, the need for programmers is going to be a key concept which individuals need to understand to be able to relate the apps, programmes and any further developments. The skills are not difficult to learn, but the issue in education is likely to be the confidence, understanding and skills of the teachers who will suddenly find coding or programming within their remit.
There are plenty of web/PC applications which can support coding skill development, with one of the most popular being CodeAcademy, where individuals can learn to code interactively for free. But with more and more schools using tablets, iPad developers are starting to create some really good apps to support the skill developments required to become proficient programmers. Below, we feature some of the latest and most notable apps which are ideal for educational settings:
AndroidScript (Android) Free
Tynker (iPad) Free with in-app Purchases to Advance.
Kodu (Windows) Free
TouchDevelop (Windows) Free
- A.L.E.X. (Free with in-app purchase available for more features) iPad
- Light-Bot (£1.99) iPad / iPhone / iPod Touch / Android
Light-Bot App
Light-bot is a programming puzzle game: a puzzle game that uses game mechanics that are firmly rooted in programming concepts. Free versions of the app are available (click here and here to view in the App Store), with limited progression permitted, but the full app lets players gain a practical understanding of basic control-flow concepts like procedures, loops, and conditionals, just by guiding a robot with commands to light up tiles and solve levels. The app contains 40 levels and 20 challenge stars to complete as you progress through. For users of Android devices, the app is also available at the Google Play store, for the same £1.99 price – Click here to view in the Play Store. This app is great for learning about the fundamentals of coding, with the interface encouraging the user to gain a practical understanding of basic control-flow concepts like procedures, loops, and conditionals, just by guiding a robot with commands to light up tiles and solve levels. Click here to view the app in the Apple App Store.
- Codeacademy – Free iPhone/iPod Touch & iPad
The training coding web application now has ventured into an Apple App, with this iPhone app which helps users to learn how to build amazing things online by programming – all for free. The app requires iOS 7.0 or later, and is optimised for iPhone 5. The app gets you started by introducing you to the basic concepts behind the apps on your phone and the websites you visit. It helps you learn to understand the basic structure of code when you see it. This app is a great support, and extension, to the web-based site mentioned earlier. This is certainly an app to keep an eye on, and we hope that they design one specifically for tablets. The app is free on the Apple App Store – Click here to view. Updated 22 January 2014 – Now available on iPad; Make a webpage from the app with your own photo, bio and more. Start learning HTML on the go.
The popular Bee-Bot, which can be found in many schools across the country, has a couple of iPad apps which can be used to support the basics of coding. The free Bee-Bot app makes use of Bee-Bot’s keypad functionality and enables children to improve their skills in directional language and programming through sequences of forwards, backwards, left and right 90 degree turns. This version of the app supports young learners, whereas the Pyramid version is designed for pupils aged 7+, allowing you to control the Bee-Bot through a series of 12 levels of an ancient Egyptian pyramid, unlocking doors, collecting treasure and out-smarting Mummies as you go. The Pyramid version of the app also supports mathematical strands of geometry: position; direction; and motion.
Cargo-Bot (Free) iPad
Cargo-Bot is a puzzle game where you teach a robot how to move crates. This app is for the more advanced programmer, encouraging a logical mindset. That said, the learning curve is surprisingly steep, but the difficult level should not put you off. This app was the first game programmed entirely on iPad using Codea™ (see below), so you can see the potential of programming on a tablet. Educationally, this app is aimed at pupils with more advanced skills, but the challenges within encourage logical thinking, and is worthy of exploration. The app is free on the Apple App Store – Click here to view.
Codea (£6.99) iPad
Codea has been described as, ”…kind of like the Garage Band of coding”, and was the programme behind Cargo-Bot mentioned above. The app is built on the Lua programming language. A simple, elegant language that doesn’t rely too much on symbols — a perfect match for iPad. The app lets you create games and simulations — or just about any visual idea you have. Turn thoughts into interactive creations that make use of iPad features like Multi-Touch and the accelerometer. A great, premium app that supports the creativity of programming. This versatile app is certainly aimed at the more advanced coder/programmer and certainly could be used with the more confident pupils, encouraging their programming creativity.
The app is priced £6.99 on the Apple App Store – Click here to view.
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Hopscotch teaches children to code using simple, intuitive building blocks. Pupils can create games, animations and other programs in this colourful, interactive environment.
The app is free on the Apple App Store – Click here to view.
Created by Hopscotch (see above) this fun app helps children learn the basics of computer programming with Daisy the Dinosaur! This free, fun app has an easy drag and drop interface that children of all ages can use to animate Daisy to dance across the screen. The app encourages children to intuitively grasp the basics of objects, sequencing, loops and events by solving this app’s challenges.
The app is free on the Apple App Store – Click here to view.
The following three apps were suggested by Bryn Shelley in the comments box below. Thank you.
DynamicArtLite, iPad
You don’t need to study complex syntax of computer languages. You just drag and drop a set of blocks and connect them together. It will be a fun way to build your own programs.
It can be used for beginners to learn and practice mathematical, computational ideas and creative thinking.
The app is £1.99 on the Apple App Store – Click here to view.
Kodable, iPad
The app is £4.99* on the Apple App Store - Click here to view.
Cato’s Hike, iPad
Cato stepped through and discovered that this world unlike his own didn’t follow the same rules. Every time he tried to take a step or an action he’d find himself stuck in place. Stuck that is until he finally discovered the rules in this universe: by writing a program for himself he would be able to overcome all obstacles and learn something new along the way! A free, lite version of the game is also available, with limited progression allowed. Click here to view lite version in app store.
The app is £2.99* on the Apple App Store – Click here to view.
The app is free and available on the App Store – Click here to View.
The app is free and available on the Google Play Store – Click here to View.
Pythonista – iPad
Suggested by Ian Harcombe in the Disqus comments below, this clever app allows you to create interactive experiments and prototypes using multi-touch, animations, and sound – or just use the interactive prompt as a powerful calculator.
Pythonista is also a great tool for learning Python – The interactive prompt helps you explore the language with code completion, the entire documentation is accessible right within the app and you can get started with lots of ready-to-run examples.
Ian comments, “ I’ve connected from iPad to RaspberryPi and interacted with MinecraftPi using it”, so the potential of this app is clear to see.
The app is priced £4.99* and available from the Apple App Store by clicking here.
Music Droid – Android
The app is free* and available from the Google Play Store by clicking here.