Play → Test → Iterate: Coaching K–5 Game Designers

Session Introduction and Poll (7 minutes): Frame why game design grows computational thinking and creativity in K–5. Quick poll on current tools and comfort levels. Padlet Kickoff: K–5 App Map (5 minutes): Contribute to a Padlet. Attendees add the apps they use per grade and provide a one-sentence description of the learning it targets; surface patterns. CodeSpark Game Maker (7 minutes): Demonstrate mechanics, goals, rules, and simple design tools. Quick tweak activity (change win/loss or difficulty). Share two examples. Peer Feedback and Playtesting (3 minutes): Model fast feedback prompts (fun, fairness, clarity). Attendees suggest actionable changes to apply them. Share rubrics and assistive materials. Block Coding, Code.org (6 minutes): Show the bridge from puzzles to making: patterns, loops, and conditionals. Explore the learning progression through various CS fundamentals courses. OctoStudio Guided Build (10 minutes): Co‑create a tiny game: sprites, stages, scoring, simple collisions. Pause‑and‑build cycles every 90 seconds. Grade 3 Focus (4 minutes): Interactions and Broadcasting: Teach sprite communication and simple animation of student‑designed sprites. Share visuals + materials Transfer to CoSpaces/Delightex (5 minutes): Move from 2D logic to 3D scenes: events, triggers, variables; what carries over and what changes. Mini‑model of a proximity trigger plus a counter. Grades 4–5 Open Projects with Math Links (5 minutes): Connect coding to mathematics (angles, patterns, coordinates). Show how students research and rebuild a favorite studio game or invent a new one. Rubrics, Logs, and Templates + Wrap up (3 minutes): Share the game design rubric, iteration log, and planning template.

Ng, D. T. K., et al. (2024). Using CoSpaces in AR digital story creation: A thematic analysis. Computers & Education: X Reality. Patterns in learner-created CoSpaces projects across culture/STEM contexts. ISTE Computational Thinking Competencies. Official guidance for integrating CT across subjects; supports your “puzzles-to-making” bridge. MDPI (2025). Measuring Children’s CT in a Block-Based Programming Game (codeSpark). Methods for assessing CT during gameplay—useful for your iteration logs. MIT Media Lab – OctoStudio. Overview and research context from the Lifelong Kindergarten group (creativity, offline access, mobile creation). PBLWorks – Gold Standard PBL & literature review. Research-informed elements and evidence-based to frame your open-ended projects and critique cycles.

Participants can join via any modern web browser. If using tablets or phones, please install: iOS: App Store; - CodeSpark: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/codespark-coding-for-kids/id923441570 - OctoStudio: https://apps.apple.com/app/octostudio/id6461573316 - Delightex Edu: https://apps.apple.com/app/cospaces-edu/id1224622426 - Scratch Jr: https://apps.apple.com/app/scratchjr/id895485086 Google Play - CodeSpark: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.codespark.thefoos&hl=en - OctoStudio: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=edu.mit.octostudio - Delightex Edu: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=delightex.cospaces.edu - Scratch Jr: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.scratchjr.android