Code Studio
© 2014 Code.org
Launched September 2014, Code Studio is a browser-based (online) learning platform to teach the basics of programming. It is a key part of the code.org initiative, launched a year earlier to try to get computer programming into every school. Free content (no registration required) includes six self-guided, online tutorials with video lectures by tech role models such as Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg plus game-based activities designed around popular games like Angry Birds, Plants vs. Zombies, and Flappy Bird. Features include a Play Lab that lets you send programs to a cell phone via a text message. The actual coding resembles MIT's Scratch -- you drag blocks that represent commands into place to see what they do. Each block snaps into place. The activities are well designed and guide you through each part of the process, step-by-step (until you've reached your "hour of code.") Code Studio works in Flash on most mainstream browsers. A good Internet connection is required. If you want to save your work you need to create an account; but it is possible to work though your "hour of code" without signing in.
Windows, Mac OSX, Chrome, Internet Site
Teaches: coding, programming