Choosing the right beginner’s coding platform
While there is a time and place for face-to-face learning, online resources and digital channels are becoming increasingly popular. In today’s digital world, with a click of a button, you can find out a fact, or in this case, develop a new skill. There are plenty of online software platforms available out there, but sometimes it's difficult to know which one is best, and the one that suits your needs. That’s why we’ve come up with a few pointers on the beginner’s platforms. We should note that each platform has a different teaching approach, with their own individual focus points, making each one unique in its features. While we can appreciate that learning to code is imperative for preparing academically, mentally, and socially, it's also nice to have a second set of information to ensure the skills being developed are optimized in efficiency and more importantly, engaging for the students. Here’s our guide to helping you and your child decide which e-learning tool is the best fit. Listed are three popular platforms highlighting the opportunities, features, and advantages that each one provides users.
Scratch
Scratch is an open-ended platform, making it accessible for young learners as well as offering tons of opportunities for complex projects for older users
The website uses a system of visual blocks that users stack together to create their programming routine
Student’s thrive when given the freedom for creativity options - with Scratch, they will be able to use the full range of coding blocks, offering something for everyone - from creating animated stories to building cool multiplayer games, their only limit being their imagination
It has the ability to import and edit your own images, allowing a fully personalized design of sprites/backgrounds to use in creations and/or games
Scratch is free to use, and while it isn’t as user friendly on tablets, it has a simpler Scratch Jr. app option that works
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Tynker
Tynker provides a revolutionary approach to learning coding by offering individually tailored learning paths for varying ages, including block coding for early learners.
With more than 50 million users around the world, they empower kids to learn coding by offering more than 1500 fun activities to engage young minds and teach them using creative and effective strategies.
Users have written over 2.6 billion lines of code using the specialized game based, self-guided courses provided on the platform so kids can work at their own pace.
Tynker offers visual language developed just for kids, as well as an added advantage of incorporating the ever popular Minecraft into lessons.
Tynker has a few free activities, then it requires a payment plan between $10-20 per month and works well on tablets.
Code.org
Partners of Amazon and other well recognized coding advocates, such as Facebook, activities kids can get excited about are incorporated into the platform, such as Disney characters in Frozen, Moana, and games such as Minecraft, and the list goes on.
Code.org has intentionally developed its lessons to build on each other ensuring computer science methodologies are consistently being reviewed and integrated.
Students move forward when they pass each level, similar to that of video games, which works well for kids who thrive off of the constant positive reinforcement of passing and moving up
Many of the coding classes are contextual, so whether you’re an NBA fan or a Mona Lisa painting advocate there are environments that have personal appeal bringing out individual interests
Code.org is free to use and works great on tablets
Interested in getting your child involved in coding? Get a seat on Kids Innovative available programs!