As part of my current ICT module, we had a look at ‘control technologies’ to be used in schools. We had a look at programmes like Flowol which were interesting but we then looked at using Kodu, Lego Mindstorms and Robosapiens. Kodu caught my eye as I think it is something children will really respond to as the children are able to produce their own computer game, and even play it using Xbox controllers.
Kodu is free to download and use (download at: http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/kodu/). It is “a new visual programming language made specifically for creating games. It is designed to be accessible for children and enjoyable for anyone”.
When Pete first mentioned that we would be going in to school with our choice (mine being Kodu) and teaching Year Fives, I thought he was crazy! I had a play around on Kodu, getting myself used to the programme, and although I found it easy, I was worried that it might be difficult for the children. I found lesson planning difficult as it was hard to know how far the children would be able to go with the game, and so I made plans for a short lesson but allowed for plenty of time for the children to experiment.
I needn’t have worried – in the first school I worked with a boy and a girl and they were fantastic! They loved the idea of the game and by asking them what games they play at home, and telling them that they were going to be able to make their own action game, they were really excited.
I was surprised with their answers to what games they played at homes – Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty were their favourite games – maybe I was naïve to think that they wouldn’t play these sorts of games. In fact, speaking with my course mates, it seems most of the children they were working with played these games too. Because of this, they were keen to shoot, blow things up and “pimp cars”!
Luckily you are able to shoot and blow things up in the game – but not in a necessarily destructive way – the scenes are not graphic – if something is shot it simply disappears!
The programme works by creating a ‘world’ – with the children being able to choose the landscape, the trees, mountains, rivers etc. They then add a ‘Kodu’ – the character they play with – who they can also customise.
They can then begin to programme their Kodu – this works with a simple ‘when’ and ‘do’ system. As you can see in the picture, you simply click on the + sign next to ‘when’ and select from the options – for example, ‘see’ ‘apple’, and then do – ‘eat’. When in play mode, the Kodu will then see and eat the apple.
The games gives countless options and the children had fun creating strange actions for the Kodu to perform. We eventually ended up with a pink land, with blue trees. The Kodu could blow up rocks by hitting in to them and kick footballs in to trees to knock them over.
Working with the first couple of children, I realised that the best way for them to learn to use Kodu was to use it and play around and just ask when they needed help – although, for the most part, they were able to figure things out for themselves.
The second session was with one boy, and he worked well on his own – he create a similar game but we decided on a back story behind it and managed to set up scores – when he ate an apple he received a point, and when he had ten points he won the game.
The third session was with two Year Three children – now I was really starting to think Pete was crazy – I knew the Year Fives had picked this up well but I really wasn’t sure how Year Threes would cope – however, they seemed to pick it up easier than the Year Fives!
I was working with a very confident girl and a very imaginative boy – who at one point wanted the Kodu to eat a chicken dinner when he won – “Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!!” – sadly this option isn’t available – maybe this could be in the update?!
The children worked on their own and created an amazing game, with hills and rivers, where the Kodu had to reach a castle to rescue his ‘girlfriend’ and profess his love to her via a speech bubble, on the way collecting stars, coins and apples and avoiding the deep water.
I was impressed – beyond impressed – and am grateful to Pete and the schools involved for giving me the opportunity to try out such an interesting idea. As a free download, this is an ideal school resource, although perhaps in small groups rather than whole class sessions at a time, unless in higher age groups.
I really recommend Kodu and hope you check out the link above for more information!
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