CS Teaching Tool: Lightbot

Lightbot can be found in two flavors: as an app downloadable from every major app store and a free web based version version using Flash. The web based version is smaller game, with far less levels, but does give the flavor of the full version. The full version can be purchased for $2.99 on your app store of choice.

So what exactly is Lightbot? On the surface level, it is a game about telling a robot to navigate a grid world and light up certain squares. The controls include simple commands: move forward, turn right, turn left, jump and activate a light. Stringing these commands together will move the bot, and the right string of commands will complete the level. As the level get more complicated, the game will require you to get more complicated by designing and calling procedures. The game thing becomes how to break a large, complex task into a number of repeatable sub tasks.

The game appeals to a wide range of ages and skill levels. When one of my daughters was four, she was able to complete The challenges start off simple with a helpful tutorials guiding the user through each command. Many problems have multiple solutions, with the optimal solution being the one with the least number of commands. Younger children will be happy to just solve the solution, while older children will challenge themselves to find an optimal solution.

Links:
http://lightbot.com/