GUVI Introduces HackerKID: A Gamified Coding Platform for Kids
A startup incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, ‘GUVI,’ has unveiled India’s inaugural ‘Gamified Coding Platform’ named ‘HackerKID.’ This innovative platform is designed to impart coding skills to children through an engaging game-based environment, announced the institute on Wednesday.
Development Process and Features
During the development phase of HackerKID, GUVI collaborated with over 1,200 children from various countries, including the Netherlands, the US, Australia, and India. The platform introduces children to ‘Block-Based Programming,’ offering them a virtual playground to tackle coding challenges. Block-based Programming simplifies software development through the intuitive drag-and-drop of coding blocks, enhancing comprehension of programming flow and computational thinking.
Beginner’s Level and Rewards System
HackerKID’s beginner’s level, the ‘Turtle Module,’ is accessible at no cost, featuring points, rewards, and badges for completing activities in block-based programming. Additionally, it boasts a leaderboard where children can showcase their creativity to fellow learners. The ‘Turtle’ module serves as preparation for the upcoming ‘International Block Coding Olympiad.’
Unique Approach and Segments
Unlike traditional text-based coding instruction, HackerKID adopts a gaming style with a ‘play-to-code’ methodology, fostering an enjoyable learning experience. The platform’s ‘Challenges’ segment empowers children to create and share problems with peers, encouraging both individual and collaborative problem-solving. Moreover, the modules align with academic curricula, facilitating seamless integration of learning and gameplay.
Skill Development and User Experience
By practicing coding on HackerKID, children develop essential skills such as problem-solving, creative thinking, persistence, communication, and collaboration. The platform’s illustrations, user experience (UX) design, and overall experience are co-developed with children, ensuring an engaging and enjoyable interface.
Future Developments
HackerKID is continuously evolving, with plans to introduce over 20 new features encompassing languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These enhancements will further enrich the learning experience and expand the platform’s capabilities, catering to a diverse range of coding enthusiasts.
In conclusion, HackerKID represents a pioneering initiative to make coding education accessible, engaging, and rewarding for children worldwide. With its innovative approach and collaborative development process, the platform is poised to empower the next generation of coders and problem solvers.
