Code Combat

Subject: Digital Technologies

Year Level: 7/8

Strand: Digital Technologies Process and Production Skills

Content Descriptor:

Implement and modify programs with user interfaces involving branching, iteration and functions in a general-purpose programming language (ACTDIP030)

Links to the Resource:

Teacher Information:

http://codecombat.com/teachers

Resource:

http://codecombat.com/play

General Capabilities: Literacy, Information and Communication Technology, Critical and Creative Thinking

 

pic 1 pic 2

Description of Resource:

Code Combat is a resource found on the Hour of Code website (https://code.org/learn), which aims to introduce students to coding. Code Combat uses the platform of gaming to teach students how to write code, part of the 7/8 content descriptor (ACTDIP030) requiring students to use programming language. Students can start at a beginners level and progress at their own pace. Similar to Mathletics, this game allows teachers to monitor student progress which can assist teachers in targeting areas that students struggle with.

The game involves students providing instructions, in code, to a character who must manoeuvre their way past guards to collect gems. All instructions given to the character must be written using the correct code, which the game scaffolds by providing a bank of options. As you progress in the game, code learnt during the beginners levels is replaced by more difficult code.

Using this Resource:

For teachers with little to no experience with coding or teaching code, this resource provides teacher information on how to effectively use the game. There are options to try the game for free and to also sign up for further content.

This resource is a great way to introduce and allow students to practise coding and the concepts needed to code. Although this resource can monitor student progress, it provides students with limited experience and cannot accurately assess students learning.

 

Innovation Game: PotBiz = Powerhouse Museum

Innovation Game: PotBiz = Powerhouse Museum
Game credits
Game concept, script, and scoring: Rob Renew
Design and animation: Richard Byers and Camela Cheng
Programming: Andrew Lawrence and Mike Sheetal
Producer: Seb Chan

Subject: Digital Technologies

Year Level: 7-8

Strand: Design and Technologies Knowledge and Understanding

Sub strand: Design and Technologies processes and production skills

Content descriptor:
Critique needs or opportunities for designing and investigate, analyse and select from a range of materials, components, tools, equipment and processes to develop design ideas.

Link to the resource:
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/innovationgame/game.html

Cross curriculum priorities: Sustainability

General capabilities:
Literacy
Critical and creative thinking

Links to other learning areas:
Mathematics- budgeting and material costs etc.
Science- soil quality and sunlight etc.

A classroom activity using this resource:
This game can be used to as an introduction to a hands on rich task. The game will elicit critical and creative thinking developing prior knowledge. Schools often have Design and Technology days where each class is to design and create a product to sell. The rich task would be to design and produce pot plants, choosing all appropriate materials, components, tools and equipment as a class. The students would have to calculate a selling price.

How to use this resource:
Potbiz can be accessed on a PC computer or Ipad. Enter the link into the URL and press play. The game can be played as a once off or continued. Students can also experiment with different designs to analyse and create the best design.