KidBot Start vs Geoboard, by MLC

Programming is the new literacy, and you better start early! Kidbot introduces kids to programming through a fun puzzle game. A room. Toys all over. A robot under your command. Few commands, endless possibilities. Move around. Gather the toys. Get to the basket. Kidbot uses a unique programming model, both powerful and intuitive. Instructions, conditions and jumps build on a familiar analogy with jigsaw puzzles, where the form of the piece indicates where it can fit. KidBot lets kids and even teenagers gain understanding of the basic concepts behind coding and robot building: INSTRUCTION SEQUENCING IDENTIFYING COMMON PATTERNS AS PROCEDURES CONDITIONAL EXECUTION LOOPS Safe for kids NO ADS NO NETWORK CONNECTION REQUIRED NO ACCOUNTS NO SOCIAL FEATURES The programming aspect (language) of the game is inspired by the fundamental ARM architecture. This means that the child learns how computers and programming work on a very low level, how basic loops and conditional execution are built by basic blocks. The game has a very smooth learning curve, guiding the child in with many tutorials and tips. While the tips are only in English, the game can be played without the child being able to read yet, because of the very interactive tutorials that show the kid what to do action by action. KidBot Start features 12 levels, which cover sequencing and subprograms. KidBot Full features 48 levels and adds condition operators as well as jumps and recursion.

Geoboard is a tool for exploring a variety of mathematical topics introduced in the elementary and middle grades. Learners stretch bands around the pegs to form line segments and polygons and make discoveries about perimeter, area, angles, congruence, fractions, and more. This virtual version of the manipulative is an open-ended educational tool, ideal for elementary classrooms and other learning environments. FEATURES • Create line segments and polygons by stretching bands around the Geoboard’s pegs. • Choose from 8 different band colors. • Fill individual shapes with a transparent color, or use the Fill All button to toggle all the bands between filled and unfilled. • Switch between the standard 25-peg square board, a rectangular board with 150 pegs, or a circular board with 13 pegs. The circular board enables explorations with angles, fractions, and time measurement. • Duplicate shapes then move, rotate, or flip them to explore symmetry and congruency. • Change the color of selected bands. • Display grid lines with or without numbering to more easily calculate area and identify shape locations. •Hide and reveal work with resizable covers to create your own problems and model strategies. • Use the drawing tools to annotate work and show understanding. • Add equations, expressions, and descriptions with the math text and writing tools. • Share your work by saving an image or providing a share code to others. MORE APPS For more Geoboard resources and other apps, visit:www.mathlearningcenter.org/apps LEARN MORE To learn about Bridges in Mathematics, an elementary curriculum that employs visual models such as the geoboard, please visit: www.mathlearningcenter.org/bridges/overview ABOUT US This app is brought to you by The Math Learning Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to K-12 math education since 1976. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Geoboard app was made possible by a generous donation from Dr. David Moursund. This app was crafted by Clarity Innovations. We help improve teaching and learning by creating solutions that match promising technologies with the needs of education.  Visit us at: www.clarity-innovations.com