What are Coding KLIX?

Coding KLIX are tactile, snap-together components used in the Coding with Oscar system to help children learn coding without screens. These physical blocks allow kids to build coding sequences by assembling them in real life, making coding concepts more accessible through hands-on play. This screen-free, interactive approach combines building and coding, which makes learning both engaging and intuitive for younger users. The blocks are designed to fit into story-based coding challenges, encouraging creativity and problem-solving.

Benefits of coding without screens

Coding without screens has several benefits, particularly for young children:
  1. Tactile Learning: Hands-on interaction with coding blocks promotes kinesthetic learning, making abstract coding concepts easier to understand.
  2. Reduced Screen Time: It encourages healthy learning habits by minimizing time spent in front of devices.
  3. Focus on Problem-Solving: Kids engage in coding tasks through play and creativity, enhancing problem-solving skills without distractions.
  4. Collaboration: It encourages group play, where children can work together to build coding solutions.
This approach fosters critical thinking in a fun, engaging way.

Screen-Free Benefits for collaboration

Coding with Oscar can be advantageous for collaboration, especially due to its physical and interactive nature. Here are some reasons why it may be better suited for collaborative learning:
  1. Tactile Engagement: The hands-on aspect allows multiple children to manipulate the coding gadgets together, promoting teamwork as they figure out coding challenges or build projects.
  2. Group Projects: The integration with building materials like LEGO encourages collaborative projects, where children can work together to create and program their designs.
  3. Shared Problem-Solving: The interactive storytelling elements can facilitate discussions and brainstorming among children as they plan and execute their coding tasks.
  4. Physical Presence: Being physically present with the coding pieces fosters communication and cooperation, making it easier for kids to share ideas and assist each other.
  5. Peer Teaching: Children can learn from one another as they explore the coding concepts, allowing more experienced kids to guide those who are newer to the material.
In contrast, while online screen tools like ScratchJr or Osmo Coding can also support collaboration, they primarily function within a digital environment, which may not encourage the same level of physical interaction. Overall, Coding with Oscar’s design lends itself well to all forms of collaborative learning experiences.

What's the Difference Between Gen1 and gen2 Oscar?

Coding with Oscar is an evolving product. Our first generation technology (Gen1) was launched in handheld format and provided a comprehensive set of coding functionality. Our second generation technology (Gen2) improves on the quality of the audio, introducing improved sounds and tunes, voice KLIX for users and voice prompting/feedback to users (rather than just tones), and expands on the number of coding lines for more complex coding exercises suited to advanced or older kids.

The Gen1 handheld can be readily built into models using construction bricks such as Lego. It is supported by all five storybooks, including expansion to use servo motors in construction projects. The primary benefits of the handheld model are engagement through fun project building, essential for younger students starting out with coding.

Our initial Gen2 "Build-It" product introduces circuit construction, allowing students to also progress into electronics as required by the curriculum in later primary/elementary schooling. The construction theme is the building of a computer, fostering DigiTech understandings at a more fundamental principals level. Motors and Servos are controlled via a dedicated port. A handheld version is also in development (as featured in the videos), which will also feature extended robotics capabilities.

Comparison of Coding with Oscar to Scratch Jr and Osmo?

Coding with Oscar, ScratchJr and Osmo serve similar educational purposes but differ in their approaches and target experiences.
  • Engagement Style: Coding with Oscar offers a tactile, hands-on experience that fosters physical interaction for both coding and play, while ScratchJr emphasizes digital creativity and Osmo combines digital gameplay with physical coding.
  • Learning Methodology: Oscar focuses on structured learning through storytelling and integration with building projects, whereas ScratchJr emphasizes creative expression and Osmo combines problem-solving with interactive challenges.
  • Collaboration: Coding with Oscar excels in collaborative settings, encouraging teamwork through physical manipulation and group projects. ScratchJr allows for some collaboration but is more digital in nature, while Osmo promotes teamwork in a gameplay context but may not facilitate the same level of physical interaction.
  • Open-Ended Exploration: Oscar supports varied creative outcomes through building and coding, while ScratchJr and Osmo offer more guided experiences focused on specific tasks or challenges.
Overall, Coding with Oscar stands out for its collaborative potential and hands-on engagement, making it a strong choice for group learning experiences, while ScratchJr and Osmo provide valuable but different approaches to teaching coding.

Can Adults use Coding with Oscar?

Yes, adults can definitely use Coding with Oscar! While it's primarily designed for children, the tactile coding blocks and challenges offer a great way for adults to explore coding concepts in a more interactive, screen-free manner. It can be particularly useful for educators, parents, or anyone interested in understanding basic programming logic. Additionally, it’s a fun, hands-on way for adults to engage in learning or teaching coding fundamentals, especially in a collaborative or mentoring environment.

How Does Coding with Oscar use AI?

Don't worry, this isn't SkyNet! Coding with Oscar only uses conventional (first and second generation) Artificial Intelligence (AI); and only in ways to enhance interactivity and the learning experience. In simple terms, AI is computer code that can evaluate and adapt its responses based on its understanding of a situation, continuously improving as it gains new information. 
  • Voice Overs: AI-driven neural network technology is used to generate fluid, realistic speech for reading out aloud storybook adventures, providing instructions, and offering feedback to users. Voice feedback is adaptive.
  • Coding Logic: AI interprets the sequence of KLIX instruction pieces and prepares them for execution. It assesses user intent and determines how each KLIX piece interacts with others before and after it, allowing a single instruction to adapt to different contexts. This allows user code to always "do something", rather than reporting errors which can be disappointing for younger students.
  • Code Scoring: AI evaluates the complexity, creativity, and interactivity of the code. It makes subjective assessments to rate the score and checks whether the new code is distinct from previous attempts, prompting fresh exploration and creativity.
Adaptive AI is used for example to characterise ambient light levels, so the light sensing KLIX responds equally well in light and darker usage environments. Predictive AI is used in our Gen 2 modules, for example, to change the way the [Say ABC] KLIX reacts depending on which KLIX comes after it; for example the response is different if its a button or a motor. The coding module is completely standalone, and not connected to external networks, services or external Agents. 

And, yes... some of the comparative information on this webpage was provided by Generative AI, querying ChatGPT (but, don't worry - all was fact checked!). As an educator, you have our permission to experiment with online AI tools to build on the stories and projects we publish to uplift the reading age, or to add to the Oscar story library.