The EdTech Roundup
Connect:
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Editorials & Press
  • Ed Tech Sites
  • Lesson Plans
    • Elementary
    • Secondary
  • Former Weekly Podcast
  • About Me
  • Contact

Puzzlets: Combine Hands-on Play with Interactive Gaming for STEAM Skills Practice

6/20/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Activities related to computational thinking, coding, and other problem-solving skills are becoming more and more expected in today’s classroom environments.  Indiana, for example, has just launched a new set of standards that includes computer science skills along with traditional science skills for grades K-8.  While there are many ways to address this skills and standards in K-12 classrooms, one of my new favorites is Puzzlets, an experience that combines hands-on manipulatives with digital apps to create an engaging, thoughtful, and all around rich learning activity.  Let’s check it out!

To begin with, it’s important to note that this review involves two separate aspects.  You have the Puzzlets Play Tray, where you can add in plastic tiles that will control what your character in the app does, and you have the Cork the Volcano App, which works in tandem with the Play Tray to create the interactive experience.  

To better illustrate this, here’s a demo of the Play Tray and Cork the Volcano App in action together:
​


As you can see, the tiles that you add into the Play Tray control what options you have available in the Cork the Volcano App (which comes free with the $99.99 Play Tray).  If you’re familiar with the introductory Code.org curriculum, or the app Scratch, to me this seems like a semi-combination of the two, except the Scratch part has been moved to the real world in the form of the Play Tray.

In short, the app is centered around a main storyline in which you are trying to rescue your island by collecting water droplets (similar to coins) and collecting puzzle pieces to cork the volcano in order to put out the evil fires that have spread throughout the island.  You will work through a series of increasingly difficult levels, learning about the properties of new tiles, and solving problems along the way.

Picture

If you’re interested in reading more about why computational thinking/programming is an important skillset for students, even at the elementary level, I’d recommend checking out this post from ISTE (which compares the pros and the cons) or this collection of quotes from Code.org.  

My personal opinion is that computational thinking skills and programming skills help students learn how to solve problems, explore issues from multiple perspectives, learn that failure is a perfectly acceptable step on the road to achievement, and realize that real world problems can often be solved by a variety of solutions.  

So, with this bias of mine laid out, I absolutely love Puzzlets.  It’s the perfect combination of hands-on manipulatives, digital interaction, problem solving, critical thinking, planning and visualization, and so many other great skills.
​
Picture

When you first start a level in the app, you have to look at the level’s layout, think about what you want your character to do, and set up those tiles in your Play Tray.  But that’s not the end of things (which I love).  The program doesn’t just run however you’ve set it up in your tray, you still have to control your character on the screen by choosing when you’ll switch to the next tile by tapping the icon in the bottom right corner.
​
Picture

And even then, there’s still more!  In addition to choosing when you’re switching between your tiles, you also have to be careful of your timing with the “enemies” on the screen, sometimes you have to tap other things on the screen as well, and so it becomes a very interactive, challenging, and immersive problem-solving experience.
​
Picture

The app also gives you a reason to go back and play earlier levels over again to try and collect more water droplets.  When you first start out, you’ll be presented with a tutorial that guides you through the basics of what each tile can be used for (i.e. move left, move right, jump, etc.).  However, while you can finish all the introductory levels by using those tiles, you won’t be able to collect all the water droplets and earn full points.  

I think this adds a really nice incentive for either experimenting with other tiles (which have explanations in the instruction book if needed), or for coming back to those levels after you’ve become more familiar with the game experience.
​
Picture

Another great feature is that when the student signs into the app, they’ll enter their parent’s email (so it’s not collecting student personal data), and the app can email out progress and hints to the parents. I think this is an awesome way to get parents involved in how the students are doing so that they can give hints to their kids if they’re stuck on a particular level or challenge.

Picture

I also really like that in addition to the basic programming commands (i.e. move left, move right, stop), you can get pretty complicated with the tiles by programming loops (do this twice, do this three times), and by using different character’s special powers to complete certain challenges.  When you get to the harder and more complicated levels, this allows for a large variety of different possibilities when coming up with solutions.

Picture

On top of all that, Cork the Volcano comes with a very friendly and easy to follow teaching guide for anyone who is starting out with the app.  Additionally, the team has setup a standards alignment guide to show how using the app aligns with the ISTE, Common Core, and P21 standards.  

It’s great to see how far the team has gone in creating a resource that is not only accessible, but standards-aligned, and supported by numerous classroom resources.  They even have an 8-week curriculum pack that teachers can use which includes a whole variety of digital and real-world activities.

Picture

Overall, I am a huge fan of Puzzlets, and I’m really glad to hear that there are more apps, and brand new Puzzlets tile packs on the way.  I think this Play Tray and app combination is an awesome way to combine hands-on manipulatives with digital learning in a way that focuses on computational thinking and problem solving to create an interactive and engaging learning experience.  The app is designed for ages 6 and older, and I really think that it could be enjoyed in any K-8 classroom, and probably a decent amount of high school classrooms as well.  

If you’re looking for a new and engaging approach to helping students become more familiar with computational thinking and programming skills, I absolutely recommend checking out the Puzzlets Play Tray and Cork the Volcano.  Not only is the experience incredibly fun and enjoyable, but students will also be able to practice a whole host of computational thinking and problem solving skills.
 
Picture

The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I was not compensated for writing this review.
I received a review Play Tray unit which will be donated upon completion of this review.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Reviews

    Here you can find the Round Up's collection of in-depth reviews on the latest programs, apps, websites, and more.

    Make sure to click the review's title or the Read More link for the complete review!


    Picture

    Featured

    Picture
    Check out our featured review | ClassroomAPP: A Complete, K-12 Digital Platform for Online and In-Person Classrooms

    Teach.com

    Picture

      Subscribe

    Subscribe

    Connect


    Awards

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    July 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013

           
​Except where noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License
Picture

Copyright 2020 | Mike Karlin, Ph.D.