Introducing Coding through Game Based Apps in Early Childhood Classrooms

A number of coding apps have been developed for early childhood classrooms. Most are “game based” apps which provide opportunities for students to engage in programming using visual programming language to create command sequences to solve a problem.

These apps are often heavily scaffolded, gradually increasing in complexity and gradually introducing key coding concepts such as :

• logical command sequences, 
• branching ( decisions based on conditions) and 
• looping (repeating patterns). 

Examples of apps in this category include Kodable, Beebot App and Daisy the Dinosaur.

While these apps promote success through incremental learning they do not necessarily allow for much creativity because the solutions are generally pre-determined. In some instances, however, there is the potential to develop more efficient or “elegant” solutions.

Participating in these experiences is engaging and fun for young learners. They provide students with a sense of achievement and encourage the development of problem solving skills, and important learning dispositions such as risk taking, task persistence and self efficacy.

Engaging in these elementary game based coding apps also provides a useful bridge to more sophisticated and open ended computer programming applications such as Pyonkee and Scratch Jr which combine the use of drag and drop visual coding blocks with the potential to create more open ended and creative digital products eg animations.

In subsequent posts we will include reviews of the apps mentioned in this post and recommended for introductory early years coding learning experiences.

Coding for Early Stage 1

Sam Patterson at Edutopia has posted a very useful article on Coding for Kindergarteners using tablet devices.

Many of our CEDP schools have tablet devices and this article provides links to a range of practical tips for teachers to implement coding in the classroom.  Sam recommends that students work in small groups, so schools who only have shared iPad sets will be able to integrate the ideas in this article very easily.

Coding Apps on tablets can be good entry points for students to understand sequencing, problem solving and develop higher order thinking skills.  Many of the available Apps are free and introduce coding in a fun way with visual programming cues which also help develop students vocabulary around coding.

A key part of the article lists the elements of programming that supports pre-readers.  Read more here:

Beebots Downunder

In 2007 teachers in Parramatta Diocese engaged in a collaborative learning project to introduce students in K-2 to control technologies and programming  using a programmable floor toy called the Beebot. 

So what is a bee-bot? 

A Bee-bot is a bright and colourful programmablefloor robot, suitable for students in Early Stage 1 and Stage 1. It enables young children to learn through play about control and directional language and provides a perfect "hands on" introduction to robotics. The Bee-bot is just the right size for little hands and is easy to use. The students simply program the toy to move forwards, backwards, turn left or right by pressing the large arrow buttons on its back. It moves accurately in 15cm steps and can store and recall up to 40 steps. Bee-Bot confirms moves and commands with flashing eyes and signals the end of his programmed journey with "BEEP BEEP" sounds.

The progress of the project was documented in a blog called BEEBOTS DOWNUNDER. The project continued to be shared also as part of the "Successful Language Learners" program (2010 -2011) in linguistically diverse communities in Western Sydney. 

Since then the blog has  been taken down However, the teaching and learning resources are still available for those teachers engaging in the re-establishment of our Parramatta Diocesan PL STEM program, which seeks to engage teachers with coding and control technologies in our schools - developing a continuum of learning from K-12.

Click here to download the Beebots Downunder Teaching Resources or view the Slideshare presentation.

Meet The Bee Bots from nsprainger