Karen Vitek's List: Coding Apps

"This is Part 2 of my rundown on Coding with Your Kids on an iPad. Part 1 highlighted iPad apps that teach younger children the concepts behind programming. The following apps take these concepts further and introduce different elements to learning how to code. These apps are suitable for children aged 10-18 (or beyond!)."

Hour of Code: Code.org's tutorial using Blockly and Angry Birds
Learn the basic concepts of Computer Science with drag and drop programming. This is a game-like, self-directed tutorial starring video lectures by Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Angry Birds and Plants vs. Zombies. Learn repeat-loops, conditionals, and basic algorithms. Available in 20 languages

"Light-bot for Hour of Code is meant to introduce kids who have no experience whatsoever programming, and is all-ages friendly! That means anyone anywhere from K to 12 can play, have fun and learn real programming logic!"

"TouchDevelop lets you create apps on iPad, iPhone, Android, PC, Mac, Windows Phone. Our touch-friendly editor makes coding fun, even on your phone or tablet!
"

"Get kids hooked on programming within minutes!

Light-bot is a programming puzzle game: a puzzle game that uses game mechanics that are firmly rooted in programming concepts.

Light-bot lets players gain a practical understanding of basic control-flow concepts like procedures, loops, and conditionals, just by guiding a robot with commands to light up tiles and solve levels.

Teachers worldwide are choosing Light-bot first out of other games and software when introducing their students to programming.

Light-bot features 40 levels and 20 challenge stars to collect and is a must-have for puzzle enthusiasts of any age."

$2.99 (Lite version free)

"GamePress is a game creation app that allows anyone to make the games of their imaginations with no programming or graphic design. Whether you have a story to tell, a topic to teach, or just want to play a game, GamePress allows you to create, share, and play right on your iPad. GamePress is fun, creative, and entertaining."

Free

"A.L.E.X. is a fun puzzle game and a great way to train your brain. A.L.E.X. helps you think and plan logically as you program your robot A.L.E.X. with a sequence of commands to get through each level from start to finish.

I named A.L.E.X. after my nephew, and created a game I would want him to play. The lower levels of the games are suitable for children as young as six and the game is enjoyable for adults too!"

Free

"Make and Play games on your iPad. It's simple, fast and intuitive to attach actions to objects with simple tools and drag-and-drop. No coding. No mess. Just sharable, playable games all your own creation - in minutes.

Game Coder does the coding for you. You just do the fun creative stuff:"

Free

"Kodable is a free educational iPad game offering a kid-friendly introduction to programming concepts and problem solving. For kids ages 5 and up, and tools for grownups too!"

Free

"Learn the basics of computer programming with Daisy the Dinosaur! This free, fun app has an easy drag and drop interface that kids of all ages can use to animate Daisy to dance across the screen. Kids will intuitively grasp the basics of objects, sequencing, loops and events by solving this app's challenges."

Free

"Kids can learn to code using Hopscotch!
Using this beautiful, intuitive programming language, kids can unleash their creativity and build their own games, animations and programs. "

Free

"Move The Turtle is an educational application for iPhone and iPad that teaches children the basics of creating computer programs, using intuitive graphic commands.

Do you remember the Logo programming language? A friendly Turtle will introduce your child step by step to the basic concepts of programming in a colourful graphic environment. Who knows, maybe your child will be the next outstanding programmer! "

$2.99

"LOGO was created in 1967 for educational use, is a computer programming language with functional programming capability.

This version of LOGO is an interpreted language, but isn't a lite version.
Functional programming with global and local variables is implemented."

$2.99

"Codea lets you create games and simulations - or just about any visual idea you have. Turn your thoughts into interactive creations that make use of iPad features like Multi-Touch and the accelerometer.

We think Codea is the most beautiful code editor you'll use, and it's easy. Codea is designed to let you touch your code. Want to change a number? Just tap and drag it. How about a color, or an image? Tapping will bring up visual editors that let you choose exactly what you want."

$9.99

"Presenting Cargo-Bot. The first game programmed entirely on iPad® using Codea™

Cargo-Bot is a puzzle game where you teach a robot how to move crates. Sounds simple, right? Try it out!"

Free

"Essentially, 'Cato's Hike' is a universal game for the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch to teach kids and young children basic programming skills. The younger ones will obviously enjoy solving levels using simpler coding techniques but the hope is the older ones will pick up more advanced concepts like loops and branching as well as even more advanced concepts like a basic stack or memory! There is enough in here to keep everyone from children to parents engaged! More challenges are upcoming however so stay tuned! "

$4.99 (free lite version)

"The new Bee-Bot App from TTS Group has been developed based on our well-loved, award-winning Bee-Bot floor robot. The app makes use of Bee-Bot's keypad functionality and enables children to improve their skills in directional language and programming through sequences of forwards, backwards, left and right 90 degree turns."

Free

"A fun educational Numeracy game which encourages directional language, sequencing and problem solving. The Bee-Bot app teaches children how to direct and move their Bee-Bot character by giving it a set of sequential commands that they programme in, by pressing the keypad buttons. "

.99

"KineScript is a visual programming language that children can learn a code and share it. It's easy to make a scene with built-in sprite characters, stage images and sounds library. "

$1.99 (Free lite version)

"This Scratch Maze app contains a number of video tutorials which will guide you through creating your own maze game in the popular programming environment Scratch."

***This is a tutorial - not an app to teach coding.

.99