Kodu - Introduction to coding in 3D worlds (Digital Technologies)

Description

This workshop provides an introduction to Kodu/ Kodu Game Lab.

Kodu lets students create games through a simple visual programming language. Kodu can be used to teach creativity, problem solving, storytelling, as well as programming. Anyone can begin to use Kodu to make a game with no design or programming skills. The app is tailored for easy creation of third-person, narrative-driven games and users can also develop their creative writing skills. They can stretch their imaginations to design the visual and aural details of their worlds, while carefully planning engaging storylines, even incorporating programming tasks for other players to complete when they play the games.

It is suitable for about Year 4 students upwards, but depends on the game-literacy of the students.

Kodu :

• is a rich tool for narrative creation and storytelling
• demonstrates that programming is a creative medium
• helps children with critical thinking: breaking a complex goal into manageable steps and encouraging an iterative design process
• introduces the logic and problem solving of programming
• introduces conditions and sequences, which teaches cause and effect
• can be taught by any teacher, no previous programming expertise required
• supports cooperation, logic and creativity in addition to programming