Ballyland Code 3 vs FretBuzz Progressions

“Ballyland Code 3: Pick Up” is a fun, educational app that introduces young students to Coding and Computational thinking on an iPad, including those who are blind or visually impaired. The app is a sequel to two previous Ballyland Code apps and offers a new coding challenge. Challenge 3 again involves a digital game grid with rows and columns, in which this time you need to code Wheelie, the car from Ballyland, to move around and pick up the frog, flower and coin. These three targets will be in a different position for each level of the Challenge. Coding the shortest route to pick them all up will test computational thinking and ‘mental mapping’ skills. A great learn-to-code app for all! Visit the Sonokids website sonokids.org for more information. Specifications: • Easy/Moderate level; • Audio Based Coding™: built-in speech, accessible coding interface, audio description, fun and meaningful sound effects, audio and visual (animated) on-screen coding output, mini audio-play; • No reading skills required; • No need to type code; • Unique accessibility for learners who are blind or visually impaired; • Finger gestures: Finger drag, Flick left and right with one finger, Flick down and up with one finger, Double tap, Three finger flick left; • “Black Curtain” option so everyone plays by ear; • Designed with feedback from children, parents and teachers; • Option to use Ballyland 3D printable tactile grid, moveable characters and objects for learning support (visit the website); • Use at home and school. Learning outcomes: • Computational thinking and basic Coding concepts and skills, such as breaking problem down in steps, sequencing, using coding commands; • Listening, Locating, Memory, ‘Mental Mapping’; • Orientation, spatial awareness on touch screen; • Navigating rows and columns in a digital grid (important for math!).

FretBuzz Progressions is an application for learning and practicing common jazz chord progressions on guitar. It shows chord diagrams for ii V I, I vi ii V and Blues progressions. Blues progressions cover basic blues with two fives and turnarounds and advances to Charle Parker's Blues for Alice. The chords/diagrams listed start with basic chords/diagrams and then advance to chords/diagrams with extensions and alterations (when possible). All chords/diagrams are connected with smooth voice leading. The chord diagrams used are the common chord shapes used in jazz guitar; - Shells - Drop 3 Chords - Drop 2 Chords - Drop 2 & 4 and Drop 2 Chords. The application can play the progression and it's variation you choose along with a metronome. You can set the speed of the metronome and follow along as the playing chord/diagram is highlighted. You can tap on the chord name to hear its sound. Tapping on a chord note will play only that particular note. You can adjust the size of the chord diagrams for your device. There is also a left handed option in the settings. You can think of this application as volume II of my "FretBuzz Chords" app.