Apps for Computer Science

As part of the proposed new draft primary curriculum for ICT, there is a significant emphasis on computer science. Below I've included a selection of apps which can be used in both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. The apps included range from basic skills in coding a Beebot to more advanced skills in coding games and simulations in apps such as Hopscotch and Codea.

I've also included some other useful 'ICT' apps, which can be used to develop pupil's typing skills and Spreadsheet skills.

Coding/Programming

Beebot: FREE

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. The app has been developed with 12 levels encouraging progression. Each level is timed and the faster it is completed the more stars you get!

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/bee-bot/id500131639?mt=8&uo=4

Daisy the Dinosaur: 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. After playing Daisy, kids can choose to download a kit to program their own computer game.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/daisy-the-dinosaur/id490514278?mt=8&uo=4

Cato's Hike: A Programming & Logic Odyssey

Cato stepped through and discovered that this world unlike his own didn't follow the same rules. Every time he tried to take a step or an action he'd find himself stuck in place. Stuck that is until he finally discovered the rules in this universe: by writing a program for himself he would be able to overcome all obstacles and learn something new along the way!https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/catos-hike-programming-logic/id574335479?mt=8&uo=4

Sketch Nation: FREE

Creating a game is super simple: Just draw the in game objects, play around with the customization options and before you can say "Sketch Nation Studio," you will be enjoying your own self-created game!

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/sketch-nation-studio/id506337826?mt=8&uo=4

CargoBot: FREE

Cargo-Bot is a puzzle game where you teach a robot how to move crates. Sounds simple, right? Try it out!
Beautiful retina graphics. Fiendish puzzles. A game about programming, programmed entirely on iPad. Record your solutions and share them on YouTube. Learn more about how it was made by searching for Codea on the App Store.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/cargo-bot/id519690804?mt=8&uo=4

Move the Turtle: £1.99

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!

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/move-turtle.-programming-for/id509013878?mt=8&uo=4

Codea: £6.99

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. 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.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/codea/id439571171?mt=8&uo=4

Hopscotch: FREE

Hopscotch allows kids to create their own games and animations. Kids can unleash their creativity with this beautiful, easy-to-use visual programming language. Inspired by MIT's Scratch, the Hopscotch programming language works by dragging and dropping method blocks into scripts. When you're done with a script, simply press the play button to see your code in action! 

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/hopscotch-hd/id617098629?mt=8&uo=4

Scratch: £0.69

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.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/scratch-maze/id511957922?mt=8&uo=4

A.L.E.X: 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!

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/a.l.e.x./id597040772?mt=8&uo=4

Teachers

Introduction to Computer Programming: £1.99

If you want to learn computer programming, this is the place to start! Kevin and Bryan teach in a funny and exciting conversational style with visual explanations as they go. On occasion, they may actually tell a bad joke, sing poorly or include a ridiculous pop culture reference! But if that's ok, you will be rewarded with learning some very dry material, in a fun and exciting series of training videos.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/introduction-to-computer-programming/id466284254?mt=8&uo=4

Other Useful 'ICT' Apps

Typing

Typing Class: £1.49

Typing Class is a one touch solution to practice and improve your typing skills while you play.

Yes…This is the right app to get your typing speed and accuracy. Typing Class helps to learn fast typing with fun and makes you more productive. This terrific application comprises of games to learn typing, with loads of letters and words that challenge you to type and finish the game play.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/typing-class-for-ipad-games/id396659326?mt=8&uo=4

Monster Typer: FREE

Alien monsters have invaded your world! It is up to you and your trusty sidesick to save the world by getting rid of these menacing monsters. Wipe them off the planet with a keyboard by typing the text found on the monsters, their one and only weakness. Type away quickly before they stop you in your tracks!

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/monster-typer-free/id301362040?mt=8&uo=4

Bee Typing: FREE

Bee Typing offers an intuitive and innovative way to learn and practice their spelling skills. 

Parents can create different levels to suit different learning needs, or join in to play and have fun with their kids.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/bee-typing/id458606612?mt=8&uo=4

Ghost Typing: £2.99

Learning to master the keyboard of an iPad is made easier, with Ghost Type from demografix. An iPad typing tutor created with education in mind.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ghost-type-typing-tutor-to/id495081717?mt=8&uo=4

Spreadsheets

Numbers: £6.99

Numbers is the most innovative spreadsheet app ever designed for a mobile device. Built from the ground up for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, it lets you make compelling spreadsheets in minutes — with tables, charts, photos, and graphics — using just your fingers. Choose from over 250 easy-to-use functions. Enter data and explore results with sliders, steppers, pop-ups, and intelligent keyboards.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/numbers/id361304891?mt=8&uo=4

Exploring Virtual Cities with Recce: A platform for transforming learning

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Explain Everything: Developing drama, role play and communication in EYFS.

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Touch App Creator: Creating Powerful Web Apps for Teaching and Assessment

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Tiny Tap: Progress for All Including SEN Pupils

Tiny Tap: Using the iPad to enhance learning opportunities

and progress for all pupils including those with Special Educational Needs

Introduction:

Tiny Tap is a free app produced by Tiny Tap Ltd. It is an excellent app for creating personal games and activities for children using the iPad. It allows anyone from toddlers to their grandparents to play and create simple educational games, simply by using their own photos and recording questions. Tiny Tap makes playing and learning engaging and personal! It’s free and resources made using it can be shared to multiple devices and with the wider community of Tiny Tap users. Activities can be completely personalised and pupil or teacher led.

The basic function of the app is that by adding spoken questions to a photograph and highlighting the answer, touch-screen games can be quickly and effortlessly produced and linked to any subject imaginable. Books, games, interactive stories, photo albums and classroom activities are just some of the ways this app can be used to make an impact in the classroom.

Early Years:

The app can be used to develop vocabulary, naming and labelling skills. Examples include recognising colours, animals, items of clothing, letters, and numbers, in fact absolutely anything. A photo or screen capture image can be imported into the app easily and questions added, such as “Where is the pink car?” or “Point to the number three.” Pupils can then complete the task and a score is given at the end allowing simple assessment to take place.

The app is so easy to use that very young children can easily create their own games and quizzes, linked to any topic at all. All they have to do is ask their own questions, highlight the answers and share their game with someone else. This, in turn, promotes speaking and listening opportunities, turn-taking and social development as well as the concept that using technology can be an interactive experience.

Pupils with Special Educational Needs:

Tiny Tap can really support the delivery of individual learning programmes and

IEPs ( Individual Education Plans).The focus can be set to meet an individual target and can be used to give pupils practice and to assess progress has been made before moving on to further learning. For example, a child who has needs to understand prepositions could be presented with a Tiny Tap game which contains a picture of everyday items and the questions could be based around their understanding of prepositions for example “What is under the chair?” This can be applied quickly and easily to a countless number of objectives and would very quickly lead to a large bank of interactive and engaging activities which are pitched at the precise level a pupil’s learning and are able to demonstrate progress. The app allows personalised learning resources to be used quickly, easily, regularly and in a fun and engaging way.

The Tiny Tap is also very powerful when teaching and practising sequencing skills. Pictures can be presented out of order based on a familiar story, an event or activity or a regular routine. The concept of ordering and sequencing can be practised and assessed in a range of contexts. Once more, the impact on learning when pupils have the opportunity to create their own activities to present to others is very powerful.

Other worthwhile uses with pupils who have Special Educational Needs include identification of emotions, fine-motor co-ordination and responding to increasingly complex instructions, for instance increasing the word-level of tasks in the game such as “Where is the small grey dog?” rather than “Where is the dog?” The potential for personalised perfectly matched engaging relevant learning activities for pupils with Special Educational Needs is exciting and absolutely huge.

Literacy: Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation

The name Tiny Tap may be misleading as the power of the app as a learning tool goes much further than Key Stage 1. As a spelling tool it can provide children valuable practice with games based around spelling errors. A list of spelling choices could be shown and the question could be “Which is the correct spelling?” or “Which word is spelt wrong?” Again, the app allows a score to be given so pupils can assess their own progress and teachers can keep track too, the app could be used to give spelling tests in this way.

To develop skills in the conventions of grammar sentences can be presented as part of the game with questions relating to word classification, “Which word is an adverb?” or “Where is the Proper Noun?” It all allows opportunities for practice, assessment and collaborative work. The pupils are able to create their own challenges for each other and the app enables effective, focused peer tutoring to take place.

Maths: Answer and Create questions

Once the idea of using the app to create interactive activities with assessment features the potential is limitless. In maths children can answer basic calculation questions which can be pitched at any level. One activity which has been effective is to have a picture of a 100 square and ask pupils to add and subtract different amounts. For example “Start at 50, add 17, subtract 20 ….”   Children can, of course create their own games and in doing so also gain maths practice through ensuring their answers are correct.

Further opportunities to make effective use of Tiny Tap

The app can be used to support anyone learning new vocabulary, in any language. Simply by using pictures of familiar places and people it can help pupils who speak English as and additional language, to gain confidence and understanding. The most effective use as a learning tool is when pupils record their own questions. It can be used to support the teaching and learning of Modern Foreign Languages, Scientific vocabulary and Geographical features. Literally….ANYTHING. In effect this app shows a way in which technology can easily be used to teach, assess, and provide valuable learning opportunities in any subject and context and at any level of learning.

Changing the Pedagogy: Independent Learning in Science

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Sharing a pupil blog with parents

Context: This blog describes and gives examples of how the use of blogging in school was shared with parents.

Our classes actually started blogging before the summer holidays when they were introduced to the class blog space www.year6scps.posterous.com They posted work to the blog “live” during a moving up transition day and were also introduced to their own learning wall, which would act as a paper based “blog” in the classroom. The blog posting was done by pupils using one shared iPad to photograph, crop and post work. Throughout the summer the children collected postcards, souvenirs, cinema tickets etc to display on their learning wall display was photographed with pupil iPods and posted to each child’s personal blog space.

Home Page of the Year 6 Blog

The class blog began to evolve quickly and it became clear that we needed to communicate the role, purpose and function of the blog to parents as questions were being asked about what the blog was and what it was for. We had always aimed to use the blog as a tool to make the walls of the classroom transparent and to allow a constantly updating account of exactly what was being achieved in class and communicating this to the parents/carers was crucial. We decided to arrange a “blogshow” and to invite parents/carers to experience a demonstration and explanation of the blog and why it mattered so much.

Along with much of our work, this also allowed the pupils to work independently and to produce spoken content alongside multimedia presentations, all of which would be presented to a real audience at the blogshow. The pupils selected different elements and aspects of the class blog and prepared their own presentations. These include iMovies, Garage Band Songs, Keynote presentations and art work. In addition, the children prepared the spoken part of their presentation using cue cards and rehearsals in front of peers (who were ready to give honest feedback).

The blog had quickly evolved to meet the needs of the class. As well as each pupil having their own space there were spaces for a weekly song choice, reading book management ( with google docs), Guest Marker feedback along with specific areas for science and maths. These are some elements of the blog the children chose to give presentations on:

What is a blog?


E-safety and blogging

Using the learning wall

Standards of work

How to post work

Using QR codes

Guest marker

Using the iPods


Every pupil spoke confidently about how blogging fitted in with their learning. The audio/visual content was displayed directly from the blog, showing the audience exactly how to navigate the content of the blog. The event was very well attended by parents/carers and feedback indicated strongly that the blogshow explained clearly to the parents how blogging was being used to enhance learning. The number of regular parent comments on the blog has been high and the feedback has been valuable to the children. The blogshow demonstrated that a pupil blog is a work in progress, a tool to generate feedback and suggestions for improvement. It is the feedback that has made the blog so powerful in its impact on learning.

Parents/carers attending the Year 6 'Blogshow'