PLN #14

Code Combat

I found another coding app as I continue to my quest to find the perfect coding program for students. They all seem to focus on visual programming with blocks where the students don't actually write or see the code, but understand how coding works and go together. CodeCombat would be good for older students that doesn't focus on cute cartoons like Scratch, Code or Tynker. CC works on a gaming platform which is different from the other apps for learning code. What sets CC apart from the other apps, is that it doesn't rely on step-building and progression, but rather throwing the students into the fire and learning as they try to win the game. This app focuses on game play to learn coding, the students have to master the code so that they can be good in the game. The game play is based on fighting knights and ogres, so the RPG can be enticing for some students but not all. The app also allows the users to create their own levels and games that they can share with other users of CC. The teacher can create and select courses like in Code and Tynker, and access curriculum guides and lesson plans.

In a nutshell, the students have to master the code to manipulate their character. They provided an example "Want a knight to run down a hallway and taunt an ogre? Write a little JavaScript or Python that directs the character where to move and what to do. Want to roll a cannon across an open field and lob a bomb onto a patrolling enemy? Program the coordinates and launch your missile by calling the correct function. Each puzzle-like level challenges players to win the level by typing in code and running it to see what happens." CC users will have to learn all types of programming to be proficient enough to be successful in this app. I think it is a great concept; the students have the opportunity to really apply themselves, get creative and engage in problem solving.

As I mentioned before, I think this would be great for advance student coders and/or for high school because this requires high-order thinking. I am not saying younger students wouldn't be able to handle this, but I think it would be best suit students in high school. 

Week 14 Blog 4/20-4/27

Week 14 Blog
4.20-4.27

Tonight was the last of the presentations. Meg presented on ClassDojo and she showecased some features on  Dojo that I did not know about. I use Dojo with my high school students and they love it. They range from freshman to Seniors, and I can attest that even the seniors get into the rewards and points system that this BMS provides. The avatars can be customized and the students enjoy personalizing them to fit their personalities. It is a great app to keep track for attendance and other behaviors. The app allows the teacher to generate reports and it is fairly easy to use. If the teacher does decide to use it, they have to ensure it is done every day or cannot forget to give students their points. They will remind you. I like to keep it up on the SmartBoard and have the students add the points when they earn them. It's funny that even the oldest senior gets a kick when the receive points. If any teacher is having doubts using this with high school students, I say go for it. I have and have had great success with it.

PLN #13

Tynker

As I continue to look for apps on coding, I've been finding that are several apps out there, each having their own twist to coding. Tynker starts the user with simple programming logic like Scratch and Code.org and builds on progression as the user can get into more complex coding. The concept is the same as Scratch/Code; the user has to drag and build blocks of visual code. The puzzles are themed like Code but what separates Tynker from Code is that in Tynker, the user has to complete the levels to unlock the next level. In code.org, the user has the freedom to jump around and doesn't have to finish a level to move on to the next. Just like Code, Tynkera allows the user to develop apps and games for devices. What separates Tynker is that the app allows users to create programs for robots, create flight paths for drone and learn Javascript and Python. Definitely something I am going to look into with my students.

Week 13 Blog 4/13 - 4/20

4/13/4/20

This weeks presentation was from Tes and it was on HTML. It was a great refresher because I haven't wrote code in HTML in over 9 years. Tes definitely knew what she was doing and what she was talking about. We were able to create a quick page using HTML. It is amazing that only a few years ago, programs like Wix and CafePress did not exist and websites had to be created by writing code. Now, with the advent of these sites, one can create a published page in a matter of hours. It was still nice to go back to the grass roots and create something from scratch. Attached is a picture of my HTML code.

PLN #12

PLN 12

Crescerance
After being introduced to Scratch, I've been looking around for apps that revolve around coding or app-builders for mobile devices. I found Crescerance in a Google search and it looks like it can be used to create apps. They recommend writing the content in a text editor or even in Google docs and designing the graphics in a program like Photoshop. It appears that Crescerance allows the user to bring everything together. Crescerance allows the user to upload the content and test the app out and upload to make the app live.

Week 12 Blog

4/6 - 4/13

This week I had to present on coding and Mike presented on Socrative. Socrative was a tool I was not familiar with and provided some great options for the class. The interface of Socrative looks much cleaner and professional looking than Kahoot. Kahoot has more of a game-show feel to it and although it is great for reviews, I feel as if the students will take the quizzes generated on Socrative more serious. I like the vace that Socrative has so many more options and the ease of creating quizzes. I will definitely be using Socrative in lieu of Kahoot to create quizzes for the classroom.

Presenting online was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Once I got used to all the tools on the Webex interface, I felt comfortable and it became second nature. Dr. Sponder gave some good feedback during the presentation and I am glad we got to experience presenting online. It is something I would like to do in the future and it is something we can definitely put on our resumés. It was a great learning experience and I would like to do it again.

Week 11 Blog

Blog#11
3/30 -4/6

Today's presentation was on a variety of Google apps presented by Don. Don recommended Team Shake a few weeks back and I was able to use the app for my volleyball team. The interface is user-friendly and is fairly easy to use. I was able to create a roster of my players and the app creates the team with a shake of the device. A great tool to create teams on the fly versus trying to figure teams out during practice. Also, I am going to use the Print Friendly extension to print articles and get rid of a similar extension I added to Chrome that was not as easy to use. I am excited to try the other apps that Don presented on and I did not realize that Google had so many extensions available especially ones that can be used in the classroom.T