Tech Tuesday: Hopscotch- Coding for Tweens

Welcome back to Tech Tuesday! I love trying out different graphical coding platforms and my latest coding adventure has been with the coding app, Hopscotch. I've discussed using Scratch Jr. before (another coding app), but Hopscotch is a different program for youth that is geared towards older children, specifically 8-12 year olds, otherwise known as tweens.

Image from blog.gethopscotch.com

Hopscotch can be downloaded for free here for the Apple iPad. This app has won plenty of noted awards, such as the 2013 Parent's Choice Award for mobile apps and a 2014 KAPi Award winner for Best Educational Technology. So why is Hopscotch so awesome?

As Tech Crunch puts it, "Hopscotch’s special sauce is to be mobile device focused. Its graphical programming language has been specifically designed for use on the iPad". The app focuses on making coding easier by using graphical elements that kids can drag and drop to build programs. The program is basically just like Scratch and Scratch Jr. in concept and functionality, but Hopscotch is just for iPads. Common Sense Media has reviewed the app positively, pointing out that,"Kids get the support they need to create programs and build confidence before they encounter the intricacies of coding". You can watch a short YouTube video here demonstrating how to build in the app.

I personally love the fun graphics in Hopscotch and think that the cute creatures and cheery, bright colors in the app will be especially appealing to those kids who are not as interested in the more industrial look of other graphical coding programs. Another favorite feature of Hopscotch is the ability to program actions to be activated by different events on the iPad, like shaking the iPad. An example of how this could work is that a child could program a bear to jump up and down whenever the iPad is shaken! The open-ended nature of the app is wonderful and allows children to develop their creativity and problem-solving skills while also practicing their tech skills and even fine motor skills for those children not adept at using a touch screen.

Image from educade.org

This app is another great stepping stone to building greater digital literacy and a wonderful in-between program for kids wanting to move on to more complicated programming platforms or even to a real programming language such as Python. As PC Mag says, " ...even though Hopscotch isn't "real" programming and the programs themselves can't run outside the iPad, kids wind up learning programming concepts such as conditions, loops, branching, and variables.".

Interested in trying out Hopscotch but don't have an iPad or in need of some extra help? Stop by the library and use one of our iPads or ask for the Emerging Technologies Librarian, Nicole (that's me!).

Image from gethopscotch.com

Kids in grades 3-6, if you love exploring with technology, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming Creation Station programs that will begin in 2015. In February and April the library will be hosting Creation Station programs after school that will be tech-focused, creative and super fun!

Squishy Circuits : Learning About Electricity Through Play

Hey readers! Miss Nicole here to update you on the rad happenings at the library! Today I held a "Squishy Circuits" program for 3rd-6th grade students as part of our Creation Station series of programs. Our Creation Stations focus on making and learning, and are funded through grant money we have received from The Stocker Foundation. I recruited a special volunteer helper for the afternoon, Mr. John. He is a personal friend who is an electrical engineer and I couldn't pass up having a real life electrical engineer come help the kids learn about electricity! If you think making play dough creatures is a good time, imagine the fun you can have when you add lights and motors.

Squishy Circuits is a project from the Playful Learning Lab at the University of St. Thomas. The goal of the project is to design tools and activities which allow kids of all ages to create circuits and explore electronics using play dough. Engineering students at the University of St. Thomas came up with easy to make recipes for conductive and insulating dough that make it fun to create sculptural pieces that you can than make into electric circuits. This allows you to adorn the dough with LED lights and moving parts. You can watch the founder of Squishy Circuits, AnnMarie Thomas, give a TED talk about the project on the website by clicking here. You can also find the dough recipes and various helpful videos for playing with Squishy Circuits at home on the site.

For the hour long library program, I ordered one kit from the Squishy Circuits store and also purchased some materials from Radio Shack. We began the program by asking the children some basic questions about electricity and went over some terms such as "circuit" and "conductivity". I also covered safety precautions and demonstrated a basic circuit. John demonstrated a light-up dough smiley face!
 
After our demonstrations, I let the kids loose to work at tables together creating basic circuits. After they successfully tested their basic circuit, I allowed them the remainder of the time to let their imaginations lead. Check out some of our Squishy Circuits! It was fun to watch the kids experiment and learn what worked and what would short circuit.

I sent the participants home with recipes to make their own conductive and insulative dough at home. Everyone said they had fun and some were even asking if I'd be doing another Squishy Circuits program in the future!

For more Squishy Circuits resources check out these websites:

 Makezine.com Squishy Circuits Project
 

Image from makezine.com

The Tinkering Studio Squishy Circuits

UCLA Beam Squishy Circuits Lesson Plan  (I used this PDF to help put together my own lesson plan and had the kids complete the included worksheet in the program.)

Sylvia's Super Awesome Maker Show- Squishy Circuits

Sparkfun.com Squishy Circuits


What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get to making your own Squishy Circuits! And of course, don't forget there are plenty of interesting books to check out here at the library if you would like to learn more about how electricity works and explore the science behind your Squishy Circuits.