Blocks-based Programming:
Toolboxes for Many Occasions
Josh Sheldon & Paul Medlock-Walton
@MITStepLab, @GameBloxDev, @MITAppInventor, @joshsheldon
Today’s Roadmap
• Introduction • StarLogo Nova • TaleBlazer • GameBlox • MIT App Inventor • Wrap & Questions
ONE EARLY ANCESTOR, MANY NICHES TODAY
� From BLOX (Glinert, 1986)
� To Today, July 2015 � Scratch � Alice � Greenfoot � Pencil Code � App Lab � App Inventor, TaleBlazer, StarLogo Nova, GameBlox � and, many more…
"Simplified tree" by Madprime - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Simplified_tree.png#/media/File:Simplified_tree.png
HOW WE WILL EXPLORE EACH EXAMPLE
� Overview
� Niche(s)
� Demonstration: Use, Modify, Create (Leave creating to you)
� Notable CS Affordances
� Resources
Lee et al., (2011). Computational Thinking for Youth in Practice. ACM Inroads.
Today’s Roadmap
• Introduction • StarLogo Nova • TaleBlazer • GameBlox • MIT App Inventor • Wrap & Questions
StarLogo Nova: Overview
� Notable Features � Agent Based Scripting � 3-D World � Investigation of
Scientific Models
� History � Descendant of Logo, StarLogo versions � Went “live” circa 2014
StarLogo Nova: Niches
� Agent-based modeling � Multiple breeds � Each breed can have scripts � Each individual of a breed runs scripts independently
� 3-D Game creation � EASY � Motivating � For everyone?
StarLogo Nova: Notable CS Affordances
� Some Object Oriented Principles
� Parallel execution
� Abstraction (procedures)
� Event driven programming
StarLogo Nova: Resources
� IPWIT: ~15 Hours of Instruction � Resources:
� http://www.slnova.org/resources/ipwit-2014/ � http://www.slnova.org/resources/skill-cards/
� PD: https://ipwit2015.eventbrite.com (PD: 1-day intro)
� Project GUTS � Resources: http://www.projectguts.org/ � PD: https://goo.gl/mHcGvO
� Imagination Toolbox � PD: https://it2015.eventbrite.com (One-week, in-depth)
Today’s Roadmap
• Introduction • StarLogo Nova • TaleBlazer • GameBlox • MIT App Inventor • Wrap & Questions
CSTA 2015 TaleBlazer:
Engaging Youth in Computa/onal Thinking, Crea/ve Design &
Community through Authoring Loca/on-‐Based Augmented Reality Games
How do we cra* powerful experiences in real places? How do these experiences foster deep learning? How do you author these types of games?
Photo: PolarBearsInterna/onal.org Photo: Red BuGe Botanical Garden
One approach loca:on-‐based educa:on…augmented reality (AR) “Loca/on-‐aware digital overlay of informa/on in a real-‐world context”
Learning/ Content
Games/ Sims
Real World Context
Typically played on smart phone or other mobile
computer (GPS) in large-‐scale real world loca:on
TaleBlazer’s Two Goals
PLAY GAMES • Games are played by visitors/users/students • Goals are to learn content, explore a physical space, foster collabora:on – E.g., Field trip to Zoo, visitors to living history museum
MAKE GAMES • Users design and implement AR games • Learn design process, coding, content
– Currently in several a*er-‐school/summer programs
iCSI Informal Community Science Inves:gators
3-‐year NSF funded partnership between: Missouri Botanical Garden; MIT; Columbus Zoo (OH), San Diego Zoo, Red Bu_e Botanical Gardens (UT) 1. Engage informal visitors playing AR games 2. Tweens/teens making AR games (summer camps) – Leverage AR games to promote STEM knowledge/engagement (including technology design/authoring), showcase research, foster community engagement (ci:zen science), develop 21st cent. skills.
>> Successful camps, looking to extend model.<<
Funded by NSF ISE Grant # 1223407
Successes & Challenges
• High engagement • Youth ownership • Non-‐tradi:onal CS on-‐ramp
• Collabora:ve • Engages community • Interdisciplinary
– Lots of try
• New genre • Non-‐trivial on-‐ramp • Mobile tech not 100% ubiquitous
• Outdoors (indoor coming soon!)
• Interdisciplinary – Lots of juggle
Thanks!
Judy Perry, MIT STEP Lab <[email protected]> h_p://TaleBlazer.org h_p://educa:on.mit.edu • Many thanks to Eric Klopfer (Director, MIT STEP Lab), Lisa Stump & the
TaleBlazer development team (MIT), Josh Sheldon (MIT/STEP); Renata Pomponi & Drew Buckley (Mass Audubon); Rhys Simmons and his team (OSV); Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
• Funded in part by NSF Grants # 0833663, #1223407; and the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium.
Today’s Roadmap
• Introduction • StarLogo Nova • TaleBlazer • GameBlox • MIT App Inventor • Wrap & Questions
A block language for designing games https://gameblox.org Paul Medl0ck-Walton [email protected]
Features for making games
• Physics engine ▫ Gravity, velocity, collision detection
• Program behavior for classes • Count up and down timers • Multiple stages • Camera view
CS Affordances
• Components used as variables • Type checking • Typed and multi-dimensional lists • Dynamic creation of components • Data tables • Threading • Event driven
A block language for designing games https://gameblox.org Paul Medl0ck-Walton [email protected]
Today’s Roadmap
• Introduction • StarLogo Nova • TaleBlazer • GameBlox • MIT App Inventor • Wrap & Questions
MIT App Inventor: Overview
� Notable Features � Create native Android
Apps � Use device affordances � Share with others � Gallery – Remix (NEW)
� History � V1 (Classic) Started at Google in 2008-2009 � Moved to MIT in 2011-12 � V2 went live Dec. 2013
MIT App Inventor: Niches
� Mobile App Creation � For the real devices of 21st Century � Take advantage of device affordances � Each individual of a breed runs scripts independently
� Authentic System Deployment � Can query against online APIs and Fusion tables � Motivating � For everyone
MIT App Inventor: Notable CS Affordances
� Event driven Programming
� High level abstracted components
� Components have features of OOP
MIT App Inventor: Resources
� AppInventor.org � http://appinventor.org/
� Educators Community (Contribute your resources) � http://educators.appinventor.mit.edu/
� Resource Sheet
� PD: � EdX - Mobile Computing with App Inventor – CS Principles (Oct
‘15) � Mobile CSP - http://mobile-csp.org/participate
Today’s Roadmap
• Introduction • StarLogo Nova • TaleBlazer • GameBlox • MIT App Inventor • Wrap & Questions
VL/HCC 2015 workshop in Atlanta, GA on Thu., Oct. 22, 2015 Blocks and Beyond: Lessons and DirecQons for First Programming Environments h_p://cs.wellesley.edu/~blocks-‐and-‐beyond/ Submission Deadline: July 24!!!
Blocks and Beyond Workshop