iPad Coding

According to Sylvia Martinez and Gary Stager in "Invent to Learn," "Three categories of [school computer] usage were outlined in Robert Taylor’s seminal book on the subject, The Computer in School: Tutor, Tool, Tutee (Taylor, 1980)." The first two computer uses predominate in schools. To use a computer as a "tutee," however, students must PROGRAM or CODE the computer. While Scratch software (free) is my favorite programming environment to use with students, Scratch still relies on Adobe Flash so it doesn't function completely on iOS devices like iPads. The following apps are designed specifically for coding on iPads.

iPad Coding Apps

1. Hopscotch: Coding for kids, a visual programming language (free for grade 3+ students)

2. AppCraft (free)

   1. Kodable (free for K-2 students)

   2. Daisy the Dinosaur (free for primary students)

   3. GamePress (free)

   4. Codea ($10 - CargoBot was made with Codea)

   5. Light-bot ($3 - coding concept focused game, also available for Android & as browser-based Flash game)

Excellent playlist of 10 YouTube videos about iPad app coding by Paul Hamilton (@PaulHamilton8)

Hopscotch Resources

• 1. FREE ePUB eBook: "Hopscotch Challenges" (more info - last udpated 30 Nov 2013)

  2. Overview of Hopscotch on Educade (includes video tutorial & block category descriptions)

  3. Preparing for STEM Lessons on Coding with Hopscotch for iPad (by @wfryer - 10 Nov 2013)

1. Hopscotch Lesson Plan by Paul Hamilton

   1. Hopscotch in the Maths Classroom (by @johnstillitano - 5 Nov 2013)

2. Official Hopscotch Blog

• 1. Hopscotch for Young Learners (by @techsavvygirl - 30 Nov 2013

  2. 3 Video Tutorials by @PaulHamilton8: Lesson 1 Moving character, Lesson 2 Leaving a trail, Lesson 3 Adding Another Object

This amazing interview (7 min, 39 sec) with Paige, a 4th grader, highlights the ways students can develop computational thinking and other digital literacy skills by using Hopscotch. An alternate version of this video, including just the first 90 seconds, is also available.