Tips and guides

Accessible Ballyland Coding App

Accessible Ballyland Coding App is designed to teach computational thinking and coding to young students who are blind or visually impaired.

Ballyland Code 2: Give Rotor is a fully accessible iPad game designed to teach young students computational thinking and coding.

Ballyland Code 2: Give Rotor builds on the coding concepts and skills that young students have developed with Ballyland Code 1: Say Hello. The app is educational and fun for all students – those with vision, with low vision and with no vision. A fun audio story explains why Wheelie needs to bring Ballicopter a new rotor. The new Challenge is to code Wheelie’s movement in the digital game grid. In each level of this Challenge 2, the target and obstacles are in a different spot in the digital game grid, making ‘mental mapping’ and coding the shortest code slightly more difficult than Challenge 1.

Screenshot of Challenge 2, Level 1

Features include:

  • The app is still at an Easy to Moderate skills level.
  • Inclusive Learning – Use in the Coding Curriculum and for Maths;
  • Develops foundational skills such as Computational thinking, Sequencing, Listening, Locating, Grid, Orientation and ‘Mental Mapping’ skills;
  • Audio Based Coding™ with built-in speech, audio description, accessible coding interface and fun audio/visual on-screen coding output;
  • “Black Curtain” option to create level playing field for all students, regardless of level of vision;
  • Optional learning support from specifically designed 3D printable tactile resources
  • Designed with feedback from children with vision impairment, parents and teachers.

 

3D print files are also available for this app.

For more information about this and other Ballyland apps, visit the Sonokids Website at www.sonokids.org.