I chose to play Rodocodo on Hour of Code.
My screen recorder is acting up, so you only get screenshots instead of clips, sorry.
Please excuse the quality of the photos also; my originals didn’t wanna be transported into this media, so I had to make copies.
Part 1: Ages 4-7
Level 1: Sequencing-Movement
Levels 1-4 are all about forward movement. The red tiles, with the footprints on them make the sprite move one block forward.
Level 5: Sequencing-Rotation
Levels 5-8 are all about rotation, or turning left and right. The orange tiles (with the ‘right’ arrow) turn the sprite 90° to the right, and the blue tiles (with the ‘left’ arrow) turn the sprite 90° to the left.
Level 9: Sequencing-Pick Up
Levels 9-12 are all about collecting coins. The yellow tiles, with the hand picking up a coin, make the sprite pick up a coin when the sprite is standing on the block the coin is on.
Level 13: Debugging-Buggy Code
Levels 13-16 are all about finding a mistake in the provided code and fixing it so the sprite collects all the coins and lands on the finish tile. No new ‘code tile’s come with this step.
Level 17: Loops-Patterns
![a sprite sits on a playing field i am too tired to describe. there are three coins and four portals. the solution at the bottom is [two red 'code tiles' with footprints on them, then a yellow 'code tile' with a hand picking up a coin on it, followed by another two red 'code tiles'] all in a 'loop' white tile, set to loop these actions thrice.](http://edusites.uregina.ca/ashleykormos/wp-content/uploads/sites/1484/2023/12/level-1.17-300x185.png)
Levels 17-20 are all about setting up repeating sequences. The white tiles, which you can ’embed’ other tiles in has a looped arrow and a number selector. The white tile will loop/repeat the sequence you ’embed’ as many times as you set it for.
Part 2: Ages 8-11
Level 1: Sequencing-Basics
Levels 1-4 are all about movements (forward, turn, pick up coin). There are no new tiles in this level.
Level 5: Debugging-Broken Code
Levels 5-8 are all about finding mistakes in the provided solution and fixing it so that the sprite collects all the coins and ends on the finish block. There are no new tiles in this level.
Level 9: Loops-Basic Loops
![a sprite sits five blocks (in a straight line) away from the finish block. there are coins on the second and fourth block in front of the sprite. the solution at the bottom is [two red 'code tiles' with footprints on them, followed by one yellow 'code tile' with a hand picking up a coin on it] in a white 'loop' tile set to do two repetitions, after the white tile is one red 'code tile' with footprints on it.](http://edusites.uregina.ca/ashleykormos/wp-content/uploads/sites/1484/2023/12/level-2.9-300x188.png)
Levels 9-12 are all about setting up repeating sequences and using tiles between them for success.
Level 13: Functions-Using Functions
Levels 13-16 are all about creating and using functions. Functions are basically sequences that work together to make one green function ’tile’ (it has an ‘F’ on it). You set the ‘function sequence’, then place down a green tile when you wish to use its specific sequence without using all the tiles to build the sequence each time.
Level 17: Experiment-Tinkering
![a sprite sits (five blocks forward, two locks right) away from the finish block. there is a big crate on the second block in the sprite's path. the solution at the bottom is a [red 'code tile' with footprints on it] in a white 'code tile' set to loop five times. after the white tile is an orange 'code tile' with a right arrow on it, followed by a [red 'code tile' with footprints on it] in a white 'code tile' set to loop twice.](http://edusites.uregina.ca/ashleykormos/wp-content/uploads/sites/1484/2023/12/level-2.17-300x185.png)
Levels 17-20 are all about playing around with tiles and sequences, trying to get the sprite to collect all the coins and end on the finish block; using the least amount of tiles possible. To be honest, I couldn’t get all the coins on level 20. The purple tile with the (upside down ‘U’) arrow on it turn the sprite 180°.
This little game was fun and I learned that coding is not as scary as I was expecting. It was way easier to do, I expected to struggle, but I suppose that if it’s for children, then children need to be able to work it out.
I think this is a super good way to get kids interested in learning, especially problem-solving skills and a growth mindset. When the programming you set gives unplanned results, the game shows you exactly where you went wrong and it is easy to trouble-shoot by playing around with settings. //I mean, I gave up on the twentieth level, but that’s not reflective of the game, but my timetable//. The fail-try-fail-try-fail-try-succeed model of the game is essential to building a growth mindset, especially in children, who the game is designed for.
Especially with the options for pre-reading kids. To be able to figure out what went wrong and fix it independently is the foundation of our society. This would be a fun way for kids to build on these skills, and produce a growth mindset rather then a set mindset. A growth mindset is more beneficial than a set one for life-skills, so it is preferable to teach the children a growth mindset initially rather than trying to teach a growth mindset after they’ve had a set mindset for years. Its easier to do what you want first rather than re-teaching (kinda like learning a language, the first one’s easiest).
//also alt. text’ing all these took so long//
I don’t know how important coding is to every-day life, but I will say it is interesting to know how the devices we use daily function ‘behind the scenes’.
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