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Google Introduces Kids to Coding Through Blockly Games Project
Google has developed a group of online games to help engage children in their first efforts at programming.
Google has developed a collection of online Blockly Games designed to help engage children in their first efforts at programming.
"As part of the generation of new programming environments that provide a more accessible introduction to coding, Blockly Games allows users to create and run programs by arranging blocks with a simple click, drag, and drop," says Google's Jennifer Vaden Barth.
She says the Blockly Games website requires little or no typing, which makes it easier for young programmers to learn core coding principles in an intuitive way. "By minimizing the use of syntax, users are able to focus on the logic and concepts used by computer scientists, progressing at their own pace as they venture through mazes and more advanced arenas," Barth says.
In addition, Blockly has been translated for use in several languages, including German, Vietnamese, and Russian. The Blockly Games website features a wide range of educational games that teach programming, including Puzzle, which introduces Blockly's shapes and shows how they snap together; Maze, which introduces loops and conditionals, and Bird, which dives more deeply into conditionals.
From eWeek
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