CodeSpark Academy Review
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CodeSpark Academy Review

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In today’s world, being able to use and understand computers and digital technology is more important than ever before.

It’s also likely that it’s only going to get more essential as technology continues to advance.

This means that learning to code is a great thing that kids can do to help them get ahead in life and maybe even find a well-paying job in the ever-growing tech industry.

They may or may not be learning how to do it at school, but there are also all kinds of private initiatives that can help kids to learn.

One of them is CodeSpark Academy, and it’s getting a growing amount of attention.

In this review, we’ll go over CodeSpark Academy in detail, so you can decide whether it’s right for your child.

What Is CodeSpark Academy?

In short, CodeSpark Academy is a game-based app that aims to teach young kids (ages 5-9) the principles of coding in a fun, engaging way.

Kids will solve coding puzzles, play mini-games and create their own games and stories as well.

While it doesn’t include code as such, this is a good thing as that would be likely to alienate kids of this age.

Instead, it teaches the principles behind coding, so that this can be applied throughout life.

It includes a range of cartoon characters called the Foos to help keep the kids’ attention through the drag and drop puzzles.

It’s available on web browsers as well as iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire devices too.

What Age Is CodeSpark Academy Recommended For?

While it’s officially recommended for kids aged 5-9, kids older than this would be able to get something out of it too, even if the experience is more specifically designed for younger kids.

That said, if they’re older, they’ll probably be ready for more complex and sophisticated coding apps like Scratch.

What Does CodeSpark Academy Cost?

That depends on how you pay – choosing an annual plan is a fair bit cheaper than paying monthly overall, but it does mean paying the whole amount up front. 33% Off codeSpark Annual Plan [coupon here]!

You can start out with a free 30 day trial by clicking on this link.

You’ll be able to try it out for 30 days to see if you like it before you commit to spending any actual money.

If you do decide to buy a subscription, do be aware that they renew automatically unless you cancel it.

However, the subscriptions are generally cheaper than a lot of their competitors, some of which can even be about double the price.

If you want to gift CodeSpark Academy to someone else, you can also buy a gift plan.

These come in 6 months, 12 months, and lifetime packages, and they do not automatically renew.

How Does CodeSpark Academy Work?

CodeSpark Academy operates in a cartoon world populated by a group of colorful characters called Foos (in fact the full name of the app is CodeSpark Academy with the Foos).

Kids can make their own personal Foo, customize its appearance, and then name it whatever they like.

After they’ve done that, then they’re ready to get started.

From the main menu children can select to do puzzles (which will earn them points, badges and teach key lessons), play mini-games, or create their own story and game.

It’s these puzzles that make up the main part of the game, and are the ideal place to get started with it.

They are the way that children will be introduced to the basics of coding, as well as how they’ll learn to get to grips with the app’s controls and interface.

Different stages focus on different fundamental coding concepts (e.g., events, sequencing, conditionals, loops and so on).

A stage comprises several levels, all of which require the child to solve puzzles or tasks to advance.

This usually takes the form of a goal that the child is trying to achieve while at the same time having to avoid or deal with obstacles that might prevent them from achieving it.

They can solve them by dragging and dropping different commands from a toolbar – they have to put them in the right order.

The puzzles are easy to begin with and get progressively harder as the child advances through them.

One great feature is that they won’t just be expected to solve the problem, they’ll also be rewarded for solving it as efficiently as possible.

The fewer lines of code they need to get the solution, the better.

This is good because it mimics how real coding works – there are always multiple ways to solve a problem, and thinking creatively can lead to better efficiency.

The app does a good job of teaching them this lesson.

A good example of this is the level called Lunch Crunch. In this level, kids will learn how to effectively use conditionals.

The aim of this game is to serve the correct meals to the correct customers.

To begin with, all they’ll be able to do is serve the meals manually to each individual customer, which is quite inefficient.

After a while, however, they’ll be able to use if/then operators, and this opens up more possibilities.

They can now write a piece of code that will be able to handle various different situations with one command.

For example “IF someone orders spaghetti with sauce THEN make spaghetti and sauce” or “IF someone orders spaghetti THEN just make spaghetti”.

Therefore it’s a fun, simple, and easy to understand representation of what happens in actual coding.

This mastery method approach, where kids have to successfully complete one level before moving on to another, is ideal for making sure they learn all the important stuff from the ground up.

It also helps to ensure that they actually think through the whole process from the get-go, rather than just trying random answers until they get it right.

Mini-Games

The puzzle levels form the centerpiece of the app, but they’re not all there is to it.

There are also educational mini-games for kids to play.

These also focus on specific concepts related to coding and make it fun for kids to learn about them.

These mini-games feature levels of increasing difficulty that can often go up to or beyond 30, meaning that kids can get a lot of practice out of each one of them.

Creative Maker

Another great thing about this coding app is that it doesn’t only give kids the option to complete the challenges that the app sets them – they can also create things of their own.

Completing the game’s challenges will earn kids various different commands, props, characters, and so on.

They can then use these to create challenges of their own making.

Not only is this great for encouraging kids to persist with the puzzles even when they become difficult, but it’s a brilliant resource in its own right.

It gives them an incentive to use their creativity differently and apply what they’ve learned in more of an open sandbox environment.

They can really make anything they can imagine, which is sure to be a great draw for curious, creative kids.

That being said, it’s slightly trickier than the puzzles and mini-games since it requires a more confident grasp of sequencing and logical thinking.

Kids at the younger end of the age range might struggle with these more creative parts unless they have some parental help.

In any case, there are a couple of different directions that kids can go in.

Create A Game

Kids can use the app to create games.

Starting with a blank workspace, they can add all sorts of details (ramps, spikes, blocks, other obstacles) to create a map that the player then has to navigate to reach a goal.

They can then save and play this game.

If they want to, they can even share it online so that others can play the game they designed.

They can also play games designed by others – there’s quite a variety of these, and lots are really fun.

Kids might need a bit of help with some finer details but overall, they’ll love the freedom that this feature offers.

Create A Story

It’s not just games, though – kids can create stories too.

This is similar in some ways to the game designer, but includes more of a focus on story.

They can make narratives using cartoons and some of the same kinds of props from the game maker.

After setting the scene however they like, they then introduce the cartoon characters and set their paths and create events involving them.

They can involve all kinds of actions and interactions with the characters, writing in their own dialogue too if they like.

This is another really fun way for kids to use what they’ve learned while expressing their creativity.

It’s also a bit easier than the game designer, so it should present fewer problems for younger kids.

How Does It Look, Feel, And Play?

As we’ve mentioned above, the cartoon design is bright and colorful, making it ideal for kids.

The overall look and feel of the app is one of a well-made, well-animated game.

One extra great thing about it is that none of its instructions are given in writing.

Instead, real-time demonstrations appear on-screen, along with spoken instructions.

This is great for kids who might still be learning to read, have learning difficulties, or don’t speak English as a first language.

Final Thoughts

Overall, CodeSpark Academy is a wonderful tool for getting kids introduced to coding fundamentals.

As more and more parents are seeking to help their kids get a head start on learning to code, all kinds of tools to help do this are proliferating, but this is one of the best available.

Start out with a free 30 day trial by clicking on this link.

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