I don’t know about you, but when I started working for the STEAM Makerlab and the idea of learning to code came up, I was totally unsure about it. Not in the sense that coding isn’t important, because it is, but it was more that I would never be able to do it. I was never very tech-savvy, nor was I quick to pick up on tech-related endeavors, so how in the world was I going to learn how to code?
Introduce Erase All Kittens, an online story-driven game that encourages both computational thinking and acquisition of a variety of coding languages. In order to progress through the game, players need to code to build and fix levels as they play. Erase All Kittens focuses on Hyptertext Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and Javascript coding. While the demo version only utilizes the HTML coding language, more is available through the paid option.
Erase All Kittens lets you play as Arca (the child with the kitten ears) an outcast who finds solace in the explosion of kitten gifs on the Internet. It is your duty
to go and rescue all of the kitten gifs through the use of coding. This program encourages critical thinking and troubleshooting as you move forward to attempt to SAVE ALL OF THE KITTENS.
The game aims to attract both male and female users, focusing on students aged 8-14. It allows students to teach themselves to code through the very aspects of the game with minimal support needed on behalf of the teacher. So, whether you know how to code or not, your students will work their way through a deeper understanding of coding language. Gamification is a proven way to engage learners and with Erase All Kittens, students can develop knowledge of HTML while simply playing a game. I think this tool definitely could be beneficial as an introductory tool to coding. It is a fun and engaging way for students to try and problem solve their way through learning to code. It makes an otherwise potentially overwhelming subject very approachable and enjoyable.
Erase All Kittens is available as an online game, accessible via PC or Mac computers. There is a demo version available on their website.
For more information check out: https://eraseallkittens.com