Programming

Loopy Games aims to help pupils design and create their own game using methodology that reflects the processes followed in the UK Games Industry. Developed in consultation and collaboration with Kuato Studios and the Video Games Ambassadors, this workshop brings industry expertise into the classroom.

“Apps have been changing the way people communicate, work and play. Traditional businesses, from media to retail, have been seeing their business models disrupted by start-ups that amass millions of users within the space of a few months with minimal marketing budgets.” (Vision Mobile, 2014) Apps have become an important part of our digital world today and the industry attracts developers and designers from across all age groups, from teenagers to 65+. 

We all play games; it’s one of the most popular leisure activities in the UK. Whether it’s playing video games or board games or even physical games; participating in them can help spark curiosity and develop important critical thinking & problem solving skills as well as address whatever issues the designer originally intended. This workshop aims to teach pupils key concepts of games design. Developed in collaboration with Disney and Playniac the Digital Schoolhouse brings knowledge from the games industry into the classroom.

What makes a maze crazy? This workshop will inspire pupils to rise to the challenge to discover the answer for themselves. Developed at the Townley Grammar Digital Schoolhouse, this workshop provides pupils with an excellent foundation for programming and development. Pupils begin the day by working through the facts related to computers and using these as a starting point for discussion.

Code Combat is a multiplayer game to help people learn to program. Through solving puzzles and defeating ogres players progress through the game levels to learn increasingly complex programming concepts.

The orginal Code Kingdoms game reffered to in this pack is no longer active, however all principles used throughout this unit can be applied to other graphics-based learning environments. The Code Kingdoms developer is still active and can be used via:

Surprise Stories brings together the programmes of study for English and Computing in a way that is sure to leave the class giggling. The workshop inspires and encourages creativity and brings together creative writing along with key programming concepts.

Storytelling is something that captures the hearts and minds of all children. This workshop uses that to engage pupils in a day that not only inspires them to write their own story but to do so in a way that furthers their own learning and development in programming.  

This enrichment day is covers both the Computing and English programmes of study at Key Stage 2, and many of the learning outcomes (particularly 1 – 5) are taken from the Upper Key Stage 2 Programme of Study for English.