Classroom Coding: Learning fun, learning coding without a computer!
Coder Bunnyz hops to the top!
(This is NOT a paid endorsement. I just found this product--actually through LinkedIn-- and am excited to share it with you!)
Not every teacher is fortunate enough to have a classroom set of computers to use whenever they want. But, even if you do have your own cart, not every student naturally gravitates towards coding. Welcome Coder Bunnyz! If you want to be amazed by the simplicity with which students are self-taught the complexities of coding (even conditional statements, among other things!) in a board game format, you have to get a copy of Coder Bunyz. (Visit www.CoderBunnyz.com.)
I won't take the time to share the national attention this game, created by an 8-year old, is getting. You can search videos online including features on the news, blog entries and even a Power Talk - "Ted-style" Women in Tech Festival 2017 video. I want to share my real life classroom experience this last week.
I ordered my copy of Coder Bunnyz and received it in just a few days. It looks very fun on the outside, is quality built and the parts that do have to be punched out (markers, etc.) were easy to separate. I spent part of that evening reviewing the game format and the rules so I would be prepared to help students. I immediately decided to give it a try the next day (end of year activities!). There are LOTS of variations for beginners to advanced student coders. Personally, I believe this game could be a foundational introduction for students as young as first grade.
The next day I brought it to class. With just a few introductory comments to one of my high achieving student leaders, I gave her 30 minute to read the rules and familiarize herself with the game play. Then throughout the day, I sent groups of three back to her to try the game. It took about 15-20 minutes per game, though the first game took a bit more than 30 minutes. All I did was send students back to the "game table." In total, 13 students had a chance to play one game throughout the day. I intentionally had mixed groups of achievement levels, language learners and those with attention challenges. Most of the time it was pretty quiet. I actually was concerned that students might be bored. I was completely wrong--they were engaged!
After each game I asked students to rate the game on a scale from 1 to 5, "1 'This is a childish game and I wish I didn't have to play it,' to 5, 'This is one of the best games ever and I want to play it again.'" Out of ALL the students, 1 rated it a 4, 1 rated it a 4.5 and all the others rated it a 5 including an emerging language learner and a student with challenges focusing. This game was a hit!
It was SO popular, that I know I will have to acquire multiple sets. (Each game can have up to four people play. By the way, mixed coding-ability students can also play together as the challenge level can be customized for each player!). As a teacher there is no way I could get away with having some play this game and some not. Everyone wants to play! I'm hoping to find the funding to buy 7 more sets for next year so this can be part of our weekly class time coding exercises.
Do I sound overly enthusiastic for this game? Yes, I know. Please remember, this is an unpaid endorsement. In one day, with almost no guidance by me, my kids were hooked on Coder Bunnyz. Maybe you would like to do it like I did--get one copy and try it out. I was hooked and so were my students! www.CoderBunnyz.com
(If you search "Coder Bunnyz" and/or "CoderBunnyz" you'll find a lot more information about the gameplay, the background story about the amazing young girl who created it, and the numerous and growing awards and recognitions Coder Bunnyz is receiving.)
I could not agree more with Lorin W.! [Also not a paid endorsement ]. It is amazingly easy to begin playing once the game is setup. Our son Joshua is diagnosed with high functioning ASD/Aspergers, and as Lorin related about her students, within minutes were were playing multiple rounds of the game--he loved it! (he gave it "3 thumbs up!"). With over 2 decades of experience training and technically supporting customers, making things easy to understand,is essential to their success and self-confidence with technology-based products. The same is true with Coder-Bunnys and Samaira's brand-name follow-up game, "CoderMindz (which teaches kids about coding with Artificial Intelligence or "AI"). Both games gently ease into the basic ideas and fundamentals of coding with fun gameplay. Then, as the player's understanding increases, they move on to the next level. No computers or tablets are needed to play, learn and have fun! Finally, a note about "coding". Samaira's goal is "1 billion kids coding! " (as of 2015 the UN estimated there was a total of 1.9 billion kids on earth). While lofty this sounds to our adult cynical minds, we tend to over-complicate technical things, (when was the first time we saw a 2 year old pick up a mobile device and almost immediately understand how to use it?) You don't need to be a computer "guru" to understand the CodeBunnyz and CodeMindz board games. They are easily learned and played while subtlily teaching basic concepts of coding. (Such as: IF I "hop" up to a fence too high to hop over, THEN I must hop either left or right to go around it. We don't need to focus on this being an IF, THEN statement. Just have fun playing the game!). The games are acceptable for ages 4 to 104 years of age, so adults may be surprised at how much they can learn too!
So humbling!