Apps & Education: Let's code !

screenshot Py/ iTunes

http://itunes.apple.com/

 "Py is an awesome way of introducing people to programming."

Ruzica Piskac, Computer science professor at Yale

Py‘s mission? Teaching students to code in bite-sized, gamified chunks delivered via mobile and iPad app.

This app is the brainchild of two friends and college computer science majors who found themselves repeatedly asked for advice on how to learn to code.

“Lots of people asked us how should we learn to program or what resources should we use.” 

Co-founder Derek Lo, via TechCrunch

“We would give people different resources and we would find out they wouldn’t really complete anything. And they would find it too hard or not fun. Or they couldn’t find the time. So that’s how this idea came about - we sort of thought why don’t we create something for the phone where somebody can learn these kind of hard things anywhere and then make it also very fun.”

The content has been created and reviewed by people at Google, Facebook, Yale, and NASA.

screenshot Py/ iTunes

http://itunes.apple.com/

Learn how to build apps, make websites or analyze data with Py's fun bite-sized lessons.

“We would give people different resources and we would find out they wouldn’t really complete anything. And they would find it too hard or not fun. Or they couldn’t find the time. So that’s how this idea came about - we sort of thought why don’t we create something for the phone where somebody can learn these kind of hard things anywhere and then make it also very fun.”

Co-founder Derek Lo, via TechCrunch

screenshot Py/ iTunes

http://itunes.apple.com/

•  Features:

- Interactive: Run code, write programs, ace quizzes.

- Personalized to students, Py figures out what they're weak in and reviews it to keep you sharp.

- Progressing: Earning points. Completing challenges. Level up. Learn more.

- Streaking: Getting rewarded for hard work. Learning on consecutive days to go on a streak!

screenshot Py/ iTunes

http://itunes.apple.com/

Note : Teachers & students:

• Subscription options:

The app offers a subscription with a free trial period of 1 month. At the end of the trial period, full price of the subscription will be charged each month thereafter.

Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active subscription period.

• How to manage subscriptions:

Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period.

Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period at the price of the original subscription.

You can manage auto-renew of your subscription in your iTunes account settings.

You may cancel a subscription during its free trial period via the subscription setting through your iTunes account. 

This must be done 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. 

More infomation: 

Visit http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4098 

You may turn off the auto-renewal of your subscription via your Account Settings. However, you are not able to cancel the current subscription during its active period.

• Price : $9.99 a month. You will be charged in your local currency at the prevailing exchange rate as defined by iTunes.

Full terms of use can be found at https://www.py-app.com/terms.html

Computer class

credits: woodleywonderworks

https://www.flickr.com/photos/

Education: 

There’s a growing talent gap in programming and traditional education is starting to offer students new curriculum: computer programming. Young people is starting to create apps and computer programming activities.

So, will computer programming languages like PHP, Ruby and JavaScript soon be as commonplace in classrooms as languages, history chemistry? 

Sure! Some countries have already computer programming classes and other like Portugal are including new computer programming in school curriculum.

Coding - known as computer science - is a huge part of the present education. Computer science education and its constituent fields like back-end development and front-end web design should be available in all schools. We the teachers agree.

May be some schools and teachers will pay for this app that teaches to programming but a great number of students can't do the same.

Py can be an useful tool to teachers and students. However I believe in free and open education for all.

So, I can't agree with the terms of use. Only the trial is free, don't forget. 

Of course if schools can afford, I suggest teachers will use this app for teaching coding in the class .

Can anyone learn to code? “I think the answer to that is yes,” says Lo, a little hesitantly. “Maybe if you can’t read yet that makes things a little more challenging… [But] even a kid who can read, I think that they can learn to code, yes.”

via TechCrunch

Note:  The educational resources and digital tools published on this blog are my own choice. I don't do endorsements or advertising.~

G-Souto

11.07.2017

Copyright © 2017G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

Apps & Education : Let's coding ! by G-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Coding at school : Piecefall, a game by students

Piecefall game

https://store.playstation.com/

The first fully published PlayStation 4 student game has been released on the PlayStation Store on Wednesday, July 15th.

PieceFall the puzzle game will mark the very first game to be published and developed by a team of students for the PS4. 

screenshot: Piecefall

http://s3.amazonaws.com/

This was possible by the Playstation First initiative, which gives students a chance to get their games out there to the masses.

“Game studios like PieceFall creator Steel Minions don’t come much younger and fresher than this! In fact, the developers are all students on Sheffield Hallam University’s games degrees and don’t graduate until November 2015."

PlayStation Blog 

Steel Minions Game Studio, created in 2010 at Sheffield Hallam University to provide students with a merit-based "work simulation" studio environment.

Aims:

Students are chosen to work in the studio based on merit. And game projects are an integral part of their degree portfolio.

screenshot: Piecefall
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/

The game:

Piecefall is a Tetris-inspired 3D puzzle game where abstract floating islands destroyed by a storm have to be rebuilt piece by piece on a horizontal plane .

Four islands, each with twelve puzzles to be solved, allow students/players to gather points to unlock the ultimate level of the Zen Island by rebuilding the ancient spiritual monuments. 

As a reward and with enough points the ultimate level of the Zen Island is unlocked.

A game created and developed by students. Wow! I'm feel proud!

"The 3D visuals bring a sense of Minecraft, while the soft textures give off a tranquil calmness during gameplay."

PieceFall will mark the very first game to be published and developed by a team of students for the PS4. This was made possible by the Playstation First initiative, which gives students a chance to get their games out there to the masses.

@jacobmph & @WolfVulfy

How & when to get it?

Available on PlayStation 4 from 15th July, the studio’s new game PieceFall is an agile 3D puzzle game set in a world of abstract floating islands. 

The islands were destroyed by a storm, and it’s the player’s task to return the islands to their former tranquility by rebuilding the land piece by piece.

Price:  £0.99 ; $1.54

Education:

Oh! It’s really great to see young developers, in this case students, being given the chance to show the world what they have to offer, and it’s even better when what’s on offer is a very promising title.

Children and young adolescents are learning coding skills in schools curriculum.

Coding in school:

Teaching coding skills to students is seen as a long-term solution to the “skills gap” between the number of technology jobs and people qualified to fill them.

The new curriculum teaches students computer science, information technology and digital literacy.

Teaching them how to code, how to create their own programs and not just how to work on computer as the old school curriculum. But how a computer works and how to make it work for them.

There are apps, games already created by students. Piecefall is one of the last creations. And by English students.

Computing curriculum at school is already working in different European countries. Also in Australia, United States and other countries for sure.

Level : Elementary education; Secondary education, other.

Curriculum: You will decide as a teacher. The game opens huge possibilities as an educational digital resource.

screenshot: Piecefall

http://s3.amazonaws.com/

"It should come as no surprise that all five members of the final team have already secured jobs at LittleBigPlanet 3 developer Sumo Digital in Sheffield and Elite3D in Valencia." Wow!

PieceFall has been praised and hailed for being the first game ever to be released on a Playstation platform all done by students, which is part of  Playstation First Initiative. 

I think the game does look pretty solid, and from the video it does look quite nice.

screenshot: Piecefall
https://blog.eu.playstation.com/

Educators:

"PieceFall is sold as a puzzle game, but it is much more than just that. It’s an experience that tells a story of repair. Every time the island is put back together, it grows, as do the structures that were previously on the island. From building windmills, to a statue of an Egyptian god, it is all entered around re-building these sculptures. Combine this with the beautiful art style, and the relaxing music, it works as a relaxing little diversion."

Why not learning by gaming? You know how students love games in school curriculum. They learn much better.

Of course, it will be a good resource for Vocational students. They will be encouraged to follow their dream and be a game designer. Why not at Sheffield Hallam University?

"The visuals in PieceFall are charming with bright but soothing colours and peaceful landscapes. Although the soundtrack is very limited and can begin to grate on you if you’re stuck on a particular puzzle, the euphonious music helps evoke a sense of tranquility."

Indie Marathon

screenshot: Piecefall

https://blog.eu.playstation.com/

Better than this? If you want yo use it in your classroom, it will be a strangely hypnotic puzzle mechanic that will have an immediate appeal to Tetris students-fans. 

PiececeFall provides an intricate new take on the classic concept by flipping the puzzle onto a horizontal plane. Are your students ready to accept this challenge, and restore harmony to the islands?

PieceFall is brought to us from Steel Minions, a studio that is based in the Sheffield Hallam University, and is created by college students. Knowing that, it will encourage your students in coding lessons.

"This is the first fully published PS4 student game, paving the way for the next wave of PlayStation developers now in education, and is a real testament to what is possible when you follow your dreams."

PlayStation Blog

G-Souto

25.08.2015
Copyright © 2015G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

Coding at school : Piecefall, game by students by G-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Note: Thanks to Prof. Jacobs Habgood Department of Computing Sheffield Hallam University and Josh Pears, one of the English students.