Coding education can be tough sometimes. This is not to say that coding in general is a difficult activity, but learning to code can be a challenge based on the method through which programming is being taught. Gamification of coding education has transformed the process, making it much easier for everyone. Visual programming languages allow learners to easily drag and drop code blocks and interlock them together to form a program that performs a specific purpose, typically a mission or a game. What could be more fun than that?
About 36 million kids have taken part in Hour of Code activities. Designed by programming education providers worldwide, these activities help kids take their first steps into the programming world and make better use of technology.
Programming can be used to teach many values and enhance a person’s mindset. It improves problem-solving and thinking skills. In recent years, the challenge has been to attract more people, especially younger kids, to coding programs. This challenge has been addressed by the development of a variety of coding games. These games teach coding concepts through fun, gamified delivery tools that increase a child’s focus and keeps them interested and curious about what is to come.
While there are plenty of coding games around, we have compiled a list of some of the most famous ones.
Lightbot is a programming puzzle game developed by a university student. The idea is to make your robot light up the blue tiles on a grid. You can only do so by programming your robot with the proper instructions. Lightbot can teach you a lot of programming concepts like procedures and loops. Your kids will also learn valuable testing and debugging skills.
Kodable is another coding game that consists of about 100 levels presented in the form of mazes. You must exit each maze to accomplish the mission. It teaches young kids programming concepts like conditions, loops, functions, and debugging. Kodable avoids using text code, making it easy for younger children to join in. The game’s color 2D graphics attracts kids’ attention so it is an appealing option.
Cargo-Bot is a game that was programmed on iPads. It consists of a moving crane that is programmed to move boxes around a factory. The missions progress from easy to hard and they are accessible to younger children.
Robogarden tops the previous games with 3D graphics and worlds that have been designed with different themes including a volcanic island, a golden mountain adventure, an ice world, and a birthday party. You can easily learn many programming concepts while playing the missions in RoboGarden. What really differentiates RoboGarden from the other platforms are the NGSS and the K-12 curriculum mapping, where learning outcomes from different subjects that students take at school are integrated into the missions. Kids don’t only learn programming in a visual language. They also learn about physical concepts, earth and life sciences, art, and more. They transition easily from coding with blocks to using scripting languages like Python and JavaScript. In other words, RoboGarden is a platform for all age groups. Whether RoboGarden is used for young kids or for adults who want to shift their careers or learn programming from scratch, it provides the perfect formula.
