TouchDevelop is awesome. It is another tool for students to ‘code’ on a tablet. Built using HTML5 and boy does it work.

TouchDevelop lets you create apps on iPad, iPhone, Android, PC, Mac, Windows Phone. Our touch-friendly editor makes coding fun, even on your phone or tablet!

Yesterday our class had their first opportunity to explore this new web ‘app’ using a tutorial by S Johnson which can be found here. This tutorial will walk you through the process of creating a game similar to Flappy Bird.

Here are the highlights from the activity.

Today we are making flappy bird clones using ToucDevelop on iPad. pic.twitter.com/4g7nD4wjSk

— Brian Aspinall (@mraspinall) February 21, 2014

TouchDevelop Flappy Bird tutorial on IOS is really neat. Kids are enjoying it. pic.twitter.com/PQiEgapSCY

— Brian Aspinall (@mraspinall) February 21, 2014

Learning about sprites, backgrounds and functions like 'random' using TouchDevelop pic.twitter.com/FBviCnrMju

— Brian Aspinall (@mraspinall) February 21, 2014

I see the Cartesian Plane in there. You do need math to code! pic.twitter.com/3Ew6WcGygi

— Brian Aspinall (@mraspinall) February 21, 2014

If else statements and loops. pic.twitter.com/5L6ngmc05P

— Brian Aspinall (@mraspinall) February 21, 2014

This is quite the learning space. Using TouchDevelop to make Flappy Bird clones. pic.twitter.com/2dwbTljV8x

— Brian Aspinall (@mraspinall) February 21, 2014

Very focused young coders here. Boy is it quiet. pic.twitter.com/XMlEK5q7Le

— Brian Aspinall (@mraspinall) February 21, 2014

This group changed the gravity variable, glitched the game, and got immediate high score on TouchDevelop pic.twitter.com/lZkzbsAbXh

— Brian Aspinall (@mraspinall) February 21, 2014

This activity is a great example of how to implement Computer Science into regular curriculum. We discussed variables – made connections to Science class. We discussed the Cartesian Plane and how changing X or Y makes sprites move left, right, up or down. We talked about efficiency, loops and If Else statements. The kids collaborated, problem solved and created something unique and engaging. They challenged each other to try their game and looked at bugs and glitches.

And it was the quietest Friday afternoon I can remember. Proof in the pudding.

I encourage everyone to grab a tablet and have a go at this tutorial.

https://www.touchdevelop.com/mnhna#nczy