Learn How To Code With Star Wars: The Force Awakens Characters by Kaila Hale-Stern

http://gizmodo.com/learn-how-to-code-with-star-wars-the-force-awakens-cha-1741510958

Code.org, a non-profit that seeks to make coding more accessible, has launched a Star Wars-branded kid JavaScript program that stars Rey and BB-8.

The first tutorial covers JavaScript basics and uses drag-and-drop blocks and an interactive interface where you can watch your code selections play out in real time. The BB-8 drone acts out commands, while Rey provides guidance and Star Wars themes play in the background.

As you advance, pop-up video from engineers who worked on The Force Awakens effects explain more about how the wide world of coding works. It’s meant to provide about an hour’s worth of lessons. An additional forthcoming program promises support in languages beside English as well as availability on smartphone and tablet platforms.

Star Wars: Building a Galaxy with Code is recommended for ages 11+ and definitely seems like a fun way to give kids their first taste of coding. Of course, it has no age limitation. If your first foray into JavaScript is motivated by the desire to send BB-8 on a scrap metal collection adventure, I’m right there with you.

[Code.org Star Wars]

The Guardian: Doctor Who's new web game aims to teach children programming skills

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/20/doctor-who-web-game-bbc-programming-coding

Latest attempt to make coding fun for kids involves rescuing a Dalek and exploring the unscreened world of Sontar.

Doctor Who’s latest adventure sees him teaming up with a Dalek and trying to save the universe, but also teaching children some early computer programming skills.

This isn’t a TV show, however: it’s a game due to launch on Wednesday 22 October on the broadcaster’s CBBC website. The Doctor and the Dalek includes voice narration from current Doctor Peter Capaldi, and a new story by Phil Ford, who has written for the TV show.

The free web game is aimed at 6-12 year-olds, and involves freeing a battered Dalek from a ship of Cybermen, then building it back up to full strength through puzzles based on the programming elements of the new English computing curriculum.

Children will be combining instructions to accomplish a given goal, using variables to alter behaviour, exploring repetition and loops, and using their logical reasoning skills in order to rebuild the Dalek.

More at: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/20/doctor-who-web-game-bbc-programming-coding

Gamification Examples

CourseHero: Improving the Teacher-Student Interactions Online

 

Course Hero is an online learning platform for students and a portal for educators to distribute their educational resources. The site collects and organizes study materials that have been uploaded by educators and student users to form a vast learning repository. The Education Gamification platform provides materials such as syllabi, problem sets, and practice exams are combined with class notes, flash cards, and study guides that have been uploaded. In addition, Course Hero offers access to tutors, digital flashcards, and video lectures. 

GoalBook: Brings student teams together around their individual Learning Plans

Goalbook is an online platform that helps teachers, parents and students collaboratively track progress. Blending qualities of social networking and Individualized Education Program (IEP) tracking software, the program makes it simple for students and teachers to set goals and for all involved parties to watch everything unfold.

Brainscape: Turns Confidence Based Repetition into a Game

Brainscape is a mobile and wed-based education platform that is designed to help students study smart. The program uses adaptive algorithms to create flashcards, whose presentation pattern can change in response to what students know and what they seem to be struggling with, focusing attention on the more difficult topics.

ClassDojo: Turns Class into a Game of Rewards and Instant Feedback

ClassDojo is a classroom management tool to help teachers improve behavior in their classrooms quickly and easily. It improves specific student behaviors and helps engagement by issuing awards and recording real-time feedback.

Socrative 101: In-Class mobile interaction between Teacher and Student

Socrative 101 makes it easier to engage students through a response system that offers educational exercises and games over a laptop or mobile device.