Teaching and learning has changed a lot in schools over the last decade – especially in the area of digital technologies. The clunky desktop computers with cathode-ray tube monitors have been replaced with slick, liquid crystal displays. iPads are a staple of every school's digital technologies program and students are learning to code before they can read the alphabet. As every year passes, digital technology continues to form an important part of what it means to be literate in the 21st Century. Part of my role as a STEM teacher is to help students be ‘future ready’. I do this by teaching them how to code. And so, here are my Top 5 coding platforms to explore in 2021/2022.
Scratch Jr
This coding application has been part of my teaching program for years. Students create their own interactive stories and animations using coloured programming blocks. They learn to problem solve and develop multiplicative thinking strategies while having fun along the way. It’s FREE and it’s super easy to learn. There is also a desktop version called Scratch V3 for laptops. Minecraft: The Education Edition At first, I was skeptical about introducing Minecraft into my teaching and learning program. Differentiating it from the classic sandbox game was challenging, but it has turned out to be a fabulous teaching tool for middle and senior school students. It can be used on iPads and laptops and the software is specifically designed to help students develop agency and digital literacy skills. The downside is that it takes several minutes for students to log-in using a complex username and password, and it has been a very temperamental platform to update on our school servers. Tynker Coding and gamification go hand-in-hand these days. That’s why Tynker is such a great platform for teachers to use in junior school classrooms. Many of the coding games are free and don’t require a username or password. The downside to this program is that once the free coding games are complete, the platform locks and requires a user to create an account and sign-up to a Tynker subscription. This can be limiting if you’re on a budget, but it’s worth the money if you have it, as it boasts a range of clever coding activities. Kodable Another an excellent coding platform is called Kodable. For parents and educators there are 70 + lesson plans written for you covering everything from Sequence to JavaScript. For students there are tutorials and guides to get acquainted with the platform. Like Tynker though, the platform requires an account to be set-up before being able to use the software. Micro:bit Combining coding with robotics is like combining vanilla ice-cream with ice magic. It’s a no-brainer. The Micro:bit Educational Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation founded in the UK in 2016, with the aim of inspiring every student to create their best digital future. This coding platform is combined with a powerful micro-controller, bringing real-world coding to life for learners of all ability levels. The only downside is that a micro:bit can cost about $60 to $80 AUD. If you know of any other great coding platforms, let me know on Twitter. You can find me @robkellytweets. Best, Rob Kelly
