Tools for gentle introduction to coding

Swift Playgrounds (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/swift-playgrounds/id908519492?mt=8)

  • Drag simple blocks of code
  • Very gentle introduction to coding
  • Begin with controlling a video game character
  • iPad only

Scratch Jr (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scratchjr/id895485086?mt=8)

  • Drag icons that represent code blocks
  • Tablet only (iPad & Android)

Blockly (https://blockly-games.appspot.com/)

  • Similar to Swift Playgrounds in its introduction
  • Begin with controlling a video game character
  • Gentle introduction to coding
  • Exposure to basic programming syntax
  • Runs in browser
  • Tablet version in beta

Scratch (https://scratch.mit.edu/)

  • More complex desktop version
  • Exposure to basic programming syntax
  • Also runs in browser

Hopscotch (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hopscotch-learn-to-code-creatively-and-make-games/id617098629?mt=8)

  • Nice video tutorials
  • Considers a broader range of applications than the other ones
  • Slightly less gentle introduction to coding
  • Tablet only (iPad & Android)

R Datacamp (https://www.datacamp.com/courses/free-introduction-to-r)

  • Browser-based introduction to R
  • Video tutorials
  • Guided interactive coding exercises
  • Full programming syntax

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