At the latest WWDC keynote, Apple unveiled a new iPad app for kids called 'Swift Playgrounds' that helps them to learn its Swift programming language. To simplify the activity, Apple teaches kids to code in the form of a game.
With Swift Playgrounds, kids are introduced to a character named 'Byte' and are tasked with creating snippets of code so that gems can be collected. When coding, the programming language can be seen on the left side of the screen, while the interactive in-game world is displayed on the right. Initially, kids begin by dragging and dropping pieces of code, but as they progress, they are able to manually input their own lines.
As a companion to Swift Playgrounds, Apple recently launched in-store coding courses specifically for kids called 'Apple Camp.'
Gamified Programming Apps
Apple's 'Swift Playgrounds' Teaches Kids to Code Through Play
Trend Themes
1. Gamification of Learning - The use of gamified learning techniques in education technology provides an exciting opportunity to increase engagement and retention in students.
2. Programming for Children - Creating apps and tools that teach programming to children is a prime area for innovation as the shortage of programmers in the industry continues to grow.
3. Interactive Learning Environments - Developing interactive learning environments, like Apple's Swift Playgrounds, that provide immediate feedback to students has the potential to greatly enhance the learning process.
Industry Implications
1. Edtech - The EdTech industry can leverage gamification tactics and interactive learning environments to improve student engagement and outcomes.
2. Tech Education - Tech education organizations, such as coding bootcamps and after-school programs, can use gamified programming apps to teach fundamental programming skills to children and young adults.
3. App Development - Developing new gamified programming apps and tools is a growing area of innovation as demand for programming skills continues to rise across industries.