Moving from Code.org to MakeCode Arcade
A true moment of learning comes when a student figures out how to take their knowledge from one tool and transfer it to another. One of the most common movements a K-5 coding classroom will make is from using Code.org for tutorials to using MakeCode Arcade for projects.
An Introduction to the Tools
Code.org CS Fundamentals
Though Code.org has several options, the tool that is most similar to Arcade is the free, online block-based editor used in CS Fundamentals. For the most part, students experience this as a “maze-solver” where they write code to get a character to complete challenges that trigger success or failure.
Code.org also has configurations where students can build more creative projects. These are called Sprite Lab, Artist, and Dance Party. All of which consist of a game window, a categorized toolbox, and a coding workspace that allows users to create cartoon-ified projects without the need to understand formal text-based languages.
MakeCode Arcade
MakeCode Arcade is also a free, online block-based coding program that eliminates the need to understand formal languages. Developed by researchers at Microsoft, MakeCode can switch between blocks and text at the flick of a switch.
MakeCode Arcade has a retro pixelated aesthetic and is mostly used to make individualized arcade-style games, but it has a large library of extensions that allow users to create everything from stories to 3-D style mazes.
Tool Similarities
On first use, Sprite Lab by Code.org and Arcade by MakeCode are very hard to tell apart. The location of the game windows, tool boxes, and code workspaces are the same and they both use Blockly as the foundation for functionality.
Tool Differences
The main difference you’ll find between MakeCode Arcade and Sprite Lab is that MakeCode’s game window runs constantly on a loop (unless you stop it) and Sprite Lab only runs when the “Run” button is pressed.
Another visual difference you might notice is that Sprite Lab’s event indicators (like “when run”) show up as a small top-block that your program hangs from, while Arcade’s events (like “on start”) are container-type blocks that code lives inside.
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There are a few larger differences between MakeCode and Code.org if your students are used to an editor other than Sprite Lab, but in all cases, the layouts and operations are extremely similar.
How Arcade Can Help Students Grow
If your students have been using Code.org and are ready for more, but not quite ready for the formality and structure of Code.org’s Game Lab, MakeCode Arcade is a fantastic middle step.
Lots of Freedom
Using MakeCode, students can create nearly any game they can imagine. While we do have skillmaps that allow students to follow tutorials to create specific games, a lot of the appeal of Arcade is having the freedom to create a game from your own brain, complete with your own music, imagery, and plotlines.
Extensions
Since the blocks in MakeCode Arcade translate directly to JavaScript, it’s quite easy to add extra functionality with extensions.
MakeCode has a library of extensions that anyone can use, but if what you want doesn’t exist, you can create it yourself.
Multiplayer Online Gaming
MakeCode also has a new feature that lets users play online together in a safe and private way.
While the ability to play online together brings joy, the process of creating multiplayer games is more complex and it tends to push creators to think at a different level. The prospect of playing games online with others also inspires creators to be more persistant than they might be when creating games for their own personal portfolio.
What Do I Need to Know Before Switching?
For students who have been using Code.org’s CS Fundamentals curriculum, the initial transition to MakeCode Arcade should be relatively seamless. Students should be made aware of the various growth opportunities that come with using extensions and making shareable games, in order to help them develop a deeper understanding of how they can turn their own ideas into final projects.
From there, students benefit from switching back and forth between blocks and text as they form a mental picture of the way that blocks translate into JavaScript or Python.
Whatever makes you decide to give MakeCode a try, if you find you have issues with the transition, feel free to post on our Educator Forum at
https://forum.makecode.com/c/educators-lounge/24
