Useful Apps & Websites: Code Avengers

Code Avengers

Code Avengers (a website and Android app) includes a free trial and paid courses in Web Development (HTML & CSS) and JavaScript. Within each course, levels are quite substantial: Every lesson includes written directions that students will need to follow in order to complete coding challenges.

While coding here doesn't necessarily motivate with cute characters or a story line, most students will find themselves intrinsically motivated through success with actual coding, though kids are bound to like collecting the program's badges and points along the way. Also, unlike with many other beginner coding platforms, students will actually write real code. Between some lessons, students also get short (sometimes relevant) game breaks, including simple shooting, typing, and clicking games.

CodeHS

CodeHS is a website (and Chrome app) that features programming lessons and puzzles to help students learn to write and use code. Users watch short videos that explain design concepts -- these are also available as slide shows -- and then complete online challenges. With a premium subscription, kids can get personalized feedback from qualified tutors or ask questions. The complete lessons mirror the topics and exercises common in a basic computer science course. Five full yearlong courses (Intro to CS in JavaScript, Intro to CS in Python, Computing Ideas, AP CS Principles, and AP CS in Java) are available, as are a number of supplemental courses, including online professional development for teachers.

There are several ways to get access: Students can sign up with an access code provided by a teacher (based on a paid school membership) or get an individual membership. Four individual packages are available for a range of prices, from free to an ultra-premium membership with access to one-on-one tutoring. Each level of membership includes increasing access to learning modules and support.

Construct 3

Construct 3 is a 2D game engine that can be used to design and create your own games, such as puzzles, platformers, role-playing games (RPGs), shooters, racing games, or even storybooks. Construct 3 also includes the Box2D physics engine for creating physics-based games. The development environment runs in a browser with both online and offline file saving, so it can be used on just about any operating system, including Chrome and Android.

When students create a new game, they'll create a background, add objects, and then give behaviors to objects. Then they can add custom logic through events (conditions and actions) to make the game go. Plenty of tutorials help them get started. There's no language to learn when designing games through Construct 3; it's all drag-and-drop, along with clicking and a little typing. In addition, there's a tile map editor and an object editor, so students can create the look of their game right in Construct 3, though they can also use images created outside the interface. Objects can then be arranged on layers, which can all move independently of each other, allowing for a sense of depth. Special effect options are available, such as particle and lighting effects.

Completed games can be published on the web (HTML5), Steam, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, Windows UWP, Facebook, or Xbox One. Games can take input from the mouse, keyboard, or even a game controller, along with multi-touch on mobile touchscreens.

Grasshopper

Grasshopper is an app for learning to code with JavaScript that's available for both Android and iOS users. It was created by one of Google's experimental projects teams. New users can choose to start as complete beginners or to skip ahead a bit if they have some experience. Once they start, students work with blocks of JavaScript code (instead of graphical blocks like many other learn-to-code apps) to complete challenges.

The app is divided into four courses: What Is Code? (the one you can skip if you have some experience), Fundamentals (where you learn about things like variables, arrays, and loops), and two different sections called Animations. Challenges are clearly laid out with examples and hints. Moving through the levels, students take short quizzes to reinforce knowledge and understanding of how code works.

Hack 'n' Slash

Double Fine's Hack 'n' Slash is a commercial game that does a wonderful job of being educational. Think of it as similar to the older top-down Legend of Zelda games, except instead of a sword to combat enemies, the protagonist and her faithful sprite Niva use a USB stick to plug into and hack various objects in the game world. The player can manipulate variables: For example, players can switch a monster object to friendly from unfriendly, so it no longer attacks the player.

As with the Zelda games, Hack 'n' Slash slowly introduces players to new skills and abilities through the introduction of new magic items. One of them sets the rate of regeneration of health during a day, while another lets players change how quickly the day/night cycle changes. Combining these two helps make the player feel sort of like Neo in The Matrix, changing the game world itself to give the protagonist "superpowers." Other magic items expose the programmed behavior of objects in the game, allowing players to manipulate them in more and more complex ways, culminating in a memorable boss fight that threatens the existence of the game itself!

Codea

Codea is a coding platform for the iPad using the Lua programming language. Students familiar with programming can pick it up and pretty quickly start writing their own programs, like games or other graphics, for the iPad. Those new to programming can alter sample programs to become more familiar with programming. Starting with a boilerplate that includes the two required functions -- setup and draw -- that serve as the hooks into the Lua program, kids then fill in the specifics of the program. Codea is visual, so as students type in the command, for example, COLOR, a pop-up appears for them to choose their color from the color wheel. Students will then see the code for the color they chose.

Top Headlines

No stories found.
Sentinel Assam
www.sentinelassam.com