At Code.org we’re all about finding lots of different ways for students to interact with computational thinking. That’s why we’re excited about Project Bloks, a collaboration between Google, Paulo Blikstein (Director of the Transformative Learning Technologies Lab, Stanford University) and IDEO. Project Bloks is creating an open hardware platform through which developers, designers, and researchers can make new “tangible programming” experiences—hands-on tools for helping kids learn computer science.
Coding doesn’t have to happen on a computer screen. Why not make it physical for kids who are just learning to do it?
The project is still in development, but the demo kits produced so far showcase the potential of the research. These kits have been integrated with LEGO® Education WeDo 2.0 and Mirobot devices, and also work with Code.org puzzles!
Pulling focus away from the tools typically used in coding—a keyboard, a screen—and toward tangible activities could eventually make computer science education more accessible, too. Project Bloks will be an open platform for interactive design; it’s not hard to envision a group of developers and educators using it to make CS lessons for kids with disabilities.
The project and demo kit will be at the Google booth at education conference ISTE in Denver, US, going on right now! If you’re there, stop by and check it out!
For everyone else: if you’re interested in participating in Project Bloks’ research, learn more and sign up here.
