Beat the block/text coding problem with Python in Pieces

2Simple

2Simple Software develop creative educational software to support teaching and learning across the primary curriculum and beyond. They have been working with primary schools for more than 20 years.

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Teaching and learning to code can be a daunting prospect for many, and transitioning from block coding to text-based coding can often be a barrier to learning coding languages like Python. Python in Pieces aims to bridge that gap and has been designed to seamlessly transition students from block code, commonly used at Primary school, to the text-based coding that is required at Secondary school level and beyond.

Winner of the 2020 ERA award for Secondary product, Python in Pieces is an interactive coding environment with the ability to easily translate from block-code to Python in both directions. This distinctive feature allows students to develop a better understanding of text-based coding by using familiar block-code, enabling them to explore new concepts and ideas. With Python in Pieces, students can also switch views between text, block, split-view and design view.

“I really love this software. The innovative concept of having the blocks on one side of the window and the related Python code on the other is a fab idea... [Having] both in view at the same time, really allows students (and teachers who are new to Python) to see how the blocks relate to the code and work on which ever one they are more comfortable with. I haven't found this way of working in any other software. The creative coding challenges really bring coding to life!” - Kay Sawbridge, Faculty Leader Computing and IT, Caroline Chisholm School 

With the ability to include backgrounds and objects, Python in Pieces allows students to create and code visually rich environments, which they can apply to the creation of their own programmes and games. This functionality ensures the experience of learning Python is engaging and creative.

Complete with activities and resources, Python in Pieces by 2Simple allows students to learn the coding language of Python whilst enabling both specialist and non-specialist teachers to teach the computing curriculum with confidence. The guided lessons allow students to manage their own learning and teacher solution guides enable teachers to support student learning at every step. Designed around the curriculum with clear progression built in, Python in Pieces is also perfect for developing the coding capability of Year 6 students. 

Cloud-based with separate teacher and student interfaces, Python in Pieces is well suited to home and distance learning. Each task is marked by the program itself in real time, giving students instant feedback and the data and reporting available to teachers allows you to review and monitor progress of the whole class or individuals. The teacher interface also gives users access to all the relevant activities and answers, thus potentially giving non-expert staff a means of teaching themselves coding as a useful CPD exercise.

Students can also share their creations with the wider Python in Pieces community in the platform’s latest development, the Community Showcase area. By uploading their code to the community showcase other users can view and rate their coding creations. Complete with searching and filters, users can use the community showcase for inspiration or use it as a reference for a particular aspect of Python that they need help with. All uploads to the community showcase are checked and approved by the teacher and by the Python in Pieces team before being made live.

With every Python in Pieces licence, you’ll get:

  • Free home access for all learners
  • 3 levels with 6 lessons activities in each, all mapped to the curriculum with self-marking functionality 
  • Split screen view with ability to flip between block-based coding and Python in both directions
  • Free code area
  • Detailed teacher guides
  • Data to monitor student progression
  • Compatibility with the micro:bit
  • Separate teacher and student interface
  • NEW: Community showcase, to share work and creations with other Python in Pieces users

To celebrate the launch of the new community showcase within Python in Pieces and with Computer Science Education Week approaching, we’re inviting schools to take part in our first coding competition with an extended free trial of Python in Pieces. Launching on 1st December and running until 15th January, the Python in Pieces coding competition makes for a great activity for Computer Science Education Week (7th – 11th December) or as a project for the Christmas break.

 

Find out more about the competition and extended free trial to Python in Pieces in time for Computer Science Education Week.

 Looking for more resources to support your teaching and learning? Check out the best education technology resources on our sister platform EdTech Impact.

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