How to learn to program by playing a video game: the best apps and games to learn to program
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Have you ever thought about learning to program by playing a video game? Gamification has arrived to address all kinds of subjects, including learning to program. There are multiple apps and games to learn to program: from basic and simple options designed for education to more advanced games to consolidate concepts. Here is a list below prepared by an essay writer and writing helper Tess Miller whose child wanted to be a programmer: the best apps and games to learn to program.CoderBunnyz
Created by a nine-year-old girl, the objective of this board game is to guide a bunny through a board until it reaches its destination and eats its carrot. To do this, you must use concepts related to the programming language that will appear on small cards. It has 13 levels of difficulty so that players can advance as they deepen their knowledge in this field. It is recommended for children from four years old and is in English.
Robot Turtles
Suitable for ages four and up, the little ones must choose their favorite turtle before starting to play this board game that combines cards and board and whose objective is to get as many jewels as possible. It features different basic programming elements to bring players closer to this discipline: they will have to choose between forward, left or right cards to move their character, avoiding obstacles to their goal.
Let's go code!
Invites to create a maze with twenty foam pieces composed of robots, gears and concepts that help to understand the programming language, so it is suitable for children from five to ten years old to learn to code in a fun way. Its use is very simple: players only have to build the maze to their liking, deciding the directions of the pieces to then move forward walking or jumping on it, also favoring their psychomotor skills.
Cargo-Bot
An application aimed at students over eight years old whose main objective is to help a robot to load boxes. To do this, the player will have to implement different programming languages to reduce the robotic arm's movements as much as possible. It is designed in the form of a puzzle and, the fewer movements are carried out, the more points will be obtained; hence it stimulates their logical capacity. It is available on the App Store.
Beebot
A bee-shaped robot is the protagonist of this open learning game. To use it, children will have to direct its movements through sequences: forward, backward, left, right...; something that can be done by pressing the keys on its surface or through an app available for iPhone. It has a memory of forty steps, which provides a multitude of opportunities when programming their movements.
The Foos
In the city of Foosville live some small animals that need help to continue their lives. The player, between 6 and 8 years old, will be responsible for offering it to them by solving challenges and puzzles with programming sequences. There are different levels: you start with the most basic and, as you get bonuses, the level will increase.
Bit by Bit
An application created by a group of parents, educators and students that uses Game Based Learning to teach programming language from the age of seven. The game is composed of different puzzles that the player must solve by creating code sequences. These resources, distributed in three worlds, will increase in difficulty as levels are passed.
Think and Learn Code
Although it was launched by Fisher Price together with a caterpillar robot designed to learn to program, it is not necessary to have the device to use the application. Its operation is simple: the mission will be to guide a character through a maze overcoming obstacles and challenges through sequences such as turning, following or stopping. It is designed for children between 3 and 6 years old.
Grasshopper
This application, available for iOS and Android, teaches programming in JavaScript language and through a small grasshopper: the user has to overcome tests and small games that will increase in difficulty and in which he has the help of this animal. In addition to them, it also includes a section in which some basic concepts such as 'array' or 'script' are explained.
RoboZZle
With graphics reminiscent of some of the most popular console titles of the 90's, it consists of programming the movements of a robot in sequences to reach all the stars that appear on the screen. It is a game with progressive difficulty that includes up to 100 different challenges.
Swift Playgrounds
Developed especially for iPad by Apple, it provides a gamified environment for learning the Swift programming language. This app is used by professionals around the world to create applications for iOS devices.
Hopscotch
With tutorials and guides and a complete programming environment, it is one of the most downloaded programming apps on the App Store. It proposes a wide variety of color blocks to combine to make the desired activities. To do this, it proposes for free many examples to learn and improve skills.
Mimo
Provides guides and tutorials to learn how to program in text-based languages such as Swift, Python, Ruby or Java. Very interesting for High School and Baccalaureate students who already have some experience with programming.
Py - Learn to Code
Allows you to learn twelve programming languages from your mobile by solving questions and problems. It also offers 10 free programming courses for all users who download it.
Kodable
Kodable is a platform that is presented to teach programming with only 20 minutes a week. It is specifically designed to take to the classroom by incorporating a model of private digital classes, in which the teacher will create his group and then invite all students to participate in it. It is available on multiple platforms (Windows, Mac, iPad, Android) and also in 'universal' web format with two plans: a free basic plan and an advanced paid plan.
SpaceChem
SpaceChem is one of those games that seem to be far removed from programming as such, but actually make use of it to solve puzzles and logic problems of all kinds. We will have a series of chemical resources and we will have to create machines, organize them or mix them in a certain way to find the final solution in each phase. Its creators, the Zachtronics studio, provide educators with a complete guide that is worth taking a look at to learn about the benefits of this program available for 9.90 euros on Steam, where it can be downloaded for Windows, Mac and Linux platforms.
Code Monkey
Code Monkey has become a well-known platform for the dose of gamification included. It is a game in which we will have to advance phase by phase, as in Angry Birds or Candy Crush, solving different problems through the creation of small programs with code and a tremendously intuitive and visual interface, very attractive to the younger audience. The difficulty increases progressively from an initiation level to more advanced modes and, like other options, it is also oriented to the classroom with a digital classroom mode. It has a few free levels and then plans for individual use, class of 30 students or full school of over 100, for prices starting at $29 per year.
Code Combat
And we end - for today - with another gamification alternative. Code Combat is a web game for learning to program that meets expectations very well. We will be at the controls of a medieval character that should be advancing through the different levels of the game, solving the problems posed. It is multiplayer, completely free and, again, is also adapted for use in the classroom (allows you to create classes). Although it can be used for beginners in programming, it is more oriented to secondary and high school, because with it we will learn advanced languages such as Python, Lua, Javascript or others that may be interesting in advanced ages or even university.
Lightbot
Originally an app for programming that has ended up being a complete success among the public. Lightbot will help you to program by simply playing and advancing through the different levels, in which you will have to order the robots to make certain movements and carry out certain orders. A simple game available in two versions, one Junior (4-8 years) and another to teach kids from 9 years old. It is paid and is available on iOS, Android, Windows and Mac platforms, and if you want you can try some levels for free in web version here.
Machineers
A construction game to create your own robots, customized and with the parts, controls and functions you want. Each of them programmable, Machineers will allow you to put into practice your programming knowledge -or learn from scratch- in a video game created in Denmark and that little by little has made a niche in the school and pre-university market. Available for Windows and macOS.
Daisy the Dinosaur
What about a platform for learning to program oriented to the youngest? Daisy the Dinosaur will put us in the hands of Daisy, a little dinosaur that will guide us through small challenges and games in order to learn the basics of programming. Created by the Hopscotch team, it is free and available for iPad.
Codea
The Codea platform is an iPad-exclusive app for programming and creating applications. So, as you read: you can create applications solely and exclusively using an Apple iPad, and this app retails for 16.99 euros. Codea is a programming environment like any other that, complemented by the official website, we can use to learn little by little a programming language and its possibilities. An example of what can be created with Codea is Cargo-Bot, a simple but elegant and complete game of 36 levels in which we will manage a robot and we will have to make it move different blocks. Here is its presentation trailer:
CodeMancer
A game that is currently being developed, and that its creators promise that it will be released throughout 2017. Codemancer is designed to be used by children between 6 and 12 years old, providing a gamified environment in which we will manage a team that moves through a fantasy world, fighting enemies through programming. A very interesting aspect is that it aims to be gender neutral to try to attract the attention of the female sex to the world of programming. You can pre-order it now for $24.99 to download when it becomes available on Windows, Mac and Android systems.
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