Inspiring great teaching through Kodu
My latest article for the TES was written for their Lego hub which is aimed at primary teachers, who are in general new to teaching coding. You can read it in full here.
Files and planning for this unit can be downloaded here This unit is taught in Year 5 after pupils have been introduced to Kodu through the Kodu Basics unit. It is taught at a time when pupils are learning about Greek myths and they are studying these in their English lessons. This unit focuses on... Continue Reading →
My series of articles on the TES Subject Genius blog focus on different areas to consider when becoming Computing coordinator in your school. This guide is aimed at primary teachers and settings, where more often than not, becoming in charge of computing is something thrust upon staff, rather than a choice they make. My guide... Continue Reading →
Have a look at some of my help videos on my YouTube site. They are aimed at developing specific skills on Kodu based around the schemes of work I have developed. These include aspects to help make a maze game based around Theseus and the Minotaur, and elements like behaviours to help with Mario-inspired games.
Here are some resources for Kodu lessons that were completed over a period of four 2-hour sessions with Year 5 and 6 pupils. Pupils have a checklist for each lesson focused on a different aspect of the game and its development. Pupils develop their own skills by working through game task ideas and skills aimed at... Continue Reading →
Kodu Code Help Booklet Kodu Challenge Cards A great way to engage pupils, if you have the opportunity, is to have a ‘Kodu Day’ or a ‘Game Design Day’. Pupils are able to quickly develop their skills and over the course of a day can create a game. You may want to do this in... Continue Reading →
Chapter 9: Create an animation or mini -game to explain the events of the chapter. They could include: · Playing football with Kensuke and the orangutans · Saving baby turtles by chasing away the birds and carrying turtles to the sea Download Kodu file here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/gob1071payi2rqh/Kensuke%27s%20Kingdom%20Chapter%209%2C%20by%20%40KoduClassroom.Kodu?dl=0 Firstly, I would build my world. It would need... Continue Reading →
Download video of animation here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kxgk4d26p5devzu/Kensuke%20Chapter%201%20Introduction.avi?dl=0 Download Kodu game file here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/cyz0utpyqy4ubya/Kensuke%20Introduction%2C%20by%20%40KoduClassroom.Kodu?dl=0 Kodu is also effective as a storytelling device, not purely as a game development environment. Objects and characters in the game can have speech bubbles and can be programmed to respond when particular things are said. It is also possible to create cut... Continue Reading →
Kodu is not only for making games, which makes it suitable for use in a range of contexts across a range of subjects. It can be used for storytelling, explaining a concept or information or modelling ideas creatively. Some pupils will create beautiful worlds, whilst others may focus more on the programming, which means that... Continue Reading →
