Happy App Friday!
Happy New Year (and New Decade) everyone! To kick things off, we have two brand new apps: go on a rescue mission in RoGo Coder and learn some programming along the way, then practice times tables wherever you are in augmented reality. Plus, a look back at the last ten years in educational technology.
Garry Froehlich
Jellybean Tunes
RoGo Coder – Kids Can Code!
RoGo Coder teaches coding with an arcade twist. Instead of building a program and running it, the app launches right into the action. RoGo must navigate 50 platform-style levels, but instead of running and jumping across platforms using buttons, kids control RoGo’s actions through coding. RoGo follows a real-time program (one that looks more like actual programming languages than many other games) that is constantly running. Normally in these types of games you write the program once and watch to see if it works, but RoGo offers another twist: the program can be, and sometimes must be, modified in the middle of the level. It offers an arcade aspect where timing and quick thinking are important. There are some rough edges, but gameplay is smooth and it is an interesting and fun introduction to coding.
Multiplication table – AR game
Multiplication Table is a straightforward times tables practice app with augmented reality features. Kids can choose the number they want to work on, and then see math expressions within rings floating around their surroundings. They’re goal is to match the answers they are given to the expressions. They can choose to physically move through the ring, or ‘toss’ the number into the ring. It’s a different take on practicing math, and you can try the first two numbers for free.
A Decade in Review: Reflections on 10 Years in Education Technology
Edsurge asked educators to look back (and look forward) on the successes and challenges of technology in education over the past decade.
