Hello everyone! Today, we’re going to talk about a cool tool called Pencil Code that helps you learn how to code. It’s a fun and easy way to start coding, and the best part is, it’s completely free!
Pencil Code is a tool that lets you create projects using coding blocks. If you’ve ever used Scratch, you’ll find Pencil Code quite similar. You drag and drop blocks into a workspace, change their settings, and then run your code to see what happens. This makes it perfect for beginners who are just starting to learn how to code.
One of the coolest things about Pencil Code is that you can start with block coding and then switch to text coding when you’re ready. This means you can choose the style that suits you best. Some people like using blocks, while others prefer typing out the code. It’s great for classrooms because everyone can work at their own pace.
Pencil Code has a do-it-yourself feel. It offers lots of projects to inspire you, but it doesn’t have a set curriculum or a login system for students. Teachers will need to explore the resources and pick the best projects for their students. There’s a teacher’s manual and a printable PDF book with projects that you can use to learn coding the traditional way.
Pencil Code encourages creativity by letting you explore and modify projects. You can make shapes, pictures, and even music. For example, there’s a project where you can program a Queen song into a game! You can also create text-based games, like a Choose Your Own Adventure game, where you can add new sections and fix any errors in your code.
While Pencil Code is a great tool, you might run into some challenges. Sometimes, the debug feature might not give you all the help you need, so you might need assistance from a teacher or a friend. But this can also be a great opportunity to work together and share your creations. You can log in to save and share your projects, which encourages teamwork.
Overall, Pencil Code is a fantastic starting point for learning real coding. It uses CoffeeScript, which is similar to JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. While it might not have a fully structured experience, many people love its open-source nature and the freedom it offers. It’s a tool that can help you dive into the world of coding and explore your creativity.
Thanks for learning about Pencil Code with us! For more educational tools, you can visit commonsense.org/education. Happy coding!
Use Pencil Code to create a simple animation. Start by dragging and dropping blocks to make a character move across the screen. Experiment with different movements and speeds. Once you’re comfortable, try switching to text coding to see how the blocks translate into code.
Design a digital greeting card using Pencil Code. Use blocks to add colorful shapes and text. You can even add a short animation or music to make your card more exciting. Share your card with a classmate and see what they create!
Create a simple text-based game where players make choices that affect the story. Use Pencil Code to write the story and add decision points. Test your game with friends and ask them for feedback. Can you add more choices or endings?
Explore a music project on Pencil Code and try remixing it. Change the notes, tempo, or instruments to create your own version of a song. Share your remix with the class and explain what changes you made and why.
Work with a partner to create a project in Pencil Code. Decide on a theme, such as a short story or a simple game, and divide the tasks. Use the collaboration feature to combine your work and present your project to the class.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hello everyone! I am Bianca, and this is Tanner. We are your Common Sense editors here every Tuesday to walk through a different tool that you can use in your classroom. You can always check us out at commonsense.org/education.
Today, Tanner has a tool to walk through. What do you have for us?
Yeah, we’re going to talk about coding today. We recently reviewed a tool called Pencil Code. This received a four-star review from us and is suitable for grades 2 through 12. Most importantly, it is completely free and has always been. This tool has been around for quite some time and is a block-based coding tool, which many of you may be familiar with. It’s similar to Scratch, where you drag and drop blocks into a workspace, tweak their qualities and parameters, and then run the code to see the results. It’s a tried-and-true system for teaching coding, especially to beginners.
A particularly neat feature of Pencil Code is that it starts you off in a block-based format, but you can switch to text-based coding as well. This is great for classrooms with mixed ability levels, as some students may prefer using blocks while others may want to use regular text-based code.
However, a drawback of Pencil Code compared to other tools is that it has a DIY vibe. While it is functional and offers a variety of projects for inspiration, it is not as well-structured as some other programs. For teachers, you’ll need to sort through the resources and pick what works best for your purposes. There isn’t a structured login system for students or an automated curriculum; instead, you’ll need to refer to the teacher’s manual, which is a PDF, to find suitable projects for your students.
The materials provided are good, but you will need to do some hunting to put together what you need. There is a teacher’s manual available, and one of the creators of Pencil Code has also put together a printable PDF book that you can use. This book has a more traditional approach, similar to how coding was taught in the past, with projects that you can print out and work through.
Pencil Code has an open-source ethos, where all projects are available for users to explore and modify. It encourages creativity, with projects focused on making shapes, pictures, and even music. For example, there’s a project where a Queen song is programmed into a game.
There are also text-based games, like a Choose Your Own Adventure style game, where students can easily add new sections and debug their code. However, students may encounter error messages, and while there is a debug feature, it may not always provide sufficient help. This means that students will likely need assistance from a teacher or a knowledgeable peer.
So, Tanner, do you think a teacher could use this tool without any prior experience?
Yes, it can be challenging. Students may run into issues while trying to create their projects, and they will need help to troubleshoot. For motivated students, this can lead to great collaborative opportunities, as they can share their creations and work together. You can log in to save and share projects, which encourages peer support.
Overall, Pencil Code is a great starting point with a wealth of content and opportunities focused on real coding. It uses CoffeeScript, which is similar to JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. While it’s very DIY and open-source, it lacks a fully structured experience. Many educators appreciate this tool, and we rate it in the four-star range, noting that your experience may vary. It’s a functional coding tool.
Awesome, thanks, Tanner! You can check us out at commonsense.org/education for more tools like this one. Thanks for joining us!
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This version maintains the essence of the original content while removing any informal language and ensuring clarity.
Coding – The process of writing instructions for a computer to follow. – Example sentence: In our computer class, we are learning coding to create our own video games.
Pencil – A tool used to write or draw, often used to plan or sketch ideas before coding. – Example sentence: Before starting to code, I used a pencil to sketch my game design on paper.
Blocks – Visual elements used in block-based coding to create programs by stacking them together. – Example sentence: We used blocks in Scratch to make our animated stories come to life.
Projects – Tasks or assignments that involve creating something using coding skills. – Example sentence: Our final projects in computer class involved designing a simple website using HTML and CSS.
Creativity – The ability to use imagination to create new ideas, especially in coding to solve problems or make unique programs. – Example sentence: Coding allows us to use our creativity to build fun and interactive apps.
Learn – To gain knowledge or skills in a subject, such as coding, through study or experience. – Example sentence: We learn new coding techniques every week to improve our programming skills.
Text – Written words or characters that can be used in coding to display messages or information. – Example sentence: I added text to my program to show the player’s score on the screen.
Teacher – A person who helps students understand and learn new concepts, like coding. – Example sentence: Our teacher showed us how to debug our code when it didn’t work as expected.
Tools – Software or applications that help in writing and testing code. – Example sentence: We used different tools like code editors and debuggers to write and test our programs.
Teamwork – Working together with others to achieve a common goal, often used in coding projects. – Example sentence: Teamwork was important when we collaborated to build a group project in our coding class.
