CodeQuest vs Musical Cane Game

CodeQuest is an interactive game designed to teach coding logic to preschool and early elementary students. Students learn new skills as they navigate a series of grids that increase in difficulty as the game progresses. CodeQuest was created for use by blind, visually impaired, and sighted students alike, making it ideal for use by an entire class! CodeQuest is easy to learn. Players help an astronaut return to his ship by devising a series of commands to guide him. The solution with the least number of steps earns the highest possible score. The grids get increasingly complex as the game progresses. This allows for the introduction of concepts like sequencing and looping. In addition to all the game fun and coding concepts, students also benefit from the computational thinking used throughout CodeQuest. This includes the ability to: develop a solution to a problem; to recognize patterns and trends; and to identify the best among multiple possible solutions to a problem. Tactile graphic design files of the grids are available for download. Go to www.aph.org and search “CodeQuest” to find them. You will also find design files of three tactile grid boards and several manipulatives including the astronaut, rocket ship, alien, and arrow tiles that can be laser-cut or 3D-printed. Features: * Fun and easy to use for young students. * Fully compatible with VoiceOver. * Integrates fundamental coding concepts such as sequencing and looping into game play. * Allows students to work on orientation concepts including up, down, left, and right. * Motivates students to practice problem solving, planning, and computational thinking skills. * Great for visually impaired students to learn access technology through game play. * Great for blind students to practice tactile graphic reading skills.

The musical cane game allows students to practice cane skills in a fun manner. The app has been designed primarily for use by mobility instructors interacting with students who are learning how to use the cane within the context of a mobility lesson, but the app can also be a useful and fun way to practice cane skills for individuals as well. The app interoperates with a bluetooth sensor module that attaches to a mobility cane and sensor the cane's movements. We have developed a custom attachment mechanism that allows the sensor to be quickly attached and detached from standard mobility canes. The movements of the cane are streamed wirelessly to the app, and the app responds when swept in a full arc. Game modes include counting, sound effects, and playing music from a customizable playlist. Individual student profiles are supported to allow customization to multiple users. To obtain the appropriate Bluetooth sensor and easy attachment system for a mobility cane, please contact us at clewapp@gmail.com.