Overview:
Kodable’s hint system is designed to help students navigate challenging mazes with minimal teacher intervention, promoting independence while enhancing learning. Here’s a breakdown of how the system works and how it can benefit your classroom.
How the Hint System Works
Step-by-Step Guidance: The hint system offers clear, step-by-step solutions for students when they encounter difficult coding challenges. Students receive immediate, in-game help from their coding companion, fuzzBuzz.
Immediate Assistance: Students can access hints directly within the game whenever they need help, allowing them to keep progressing without waiting for teacher assistance.
Simple and Intuitive: The hint system is designed to be easy for students to understand, helping them know exactly when and how to use it to overcome challenges.
About FuzzBuzz
FuzzBuzz is the Kodable helper fuzz, and leader of our adaptive hint system! FuzzBuzz appears in a mini tutorial when a new concept is introduced in the game to demonstrate how it works.
FuzzBuzz also delivers hints throughout all levels! When the HINT button lights up yellow, it means she has a tip ready to share (if the player needs a little help).
A learner can click the HINT sign to reveal the hint.
Hint Structure Overview
Our hint system is designed to balance guidance and independent problem-solving. Hints adapt to a student’s progress in solving a maze, providing tailored support.
After the first hint, there’s a 15-second cool-down, increasing by 5 seconds with each additional hint, up to 60 seconds.
By balancing support with opportunities for independent thinking, the system promotes perseverance and critical thinking, ensuring that students receive help when they need it, but are also challenged to work through solutions on their own.
Hints During Challenges
During the challenge portion of the mission, no hints will be available for students. This section is designed to assess how well students can independently solve mazes using the coding skills they have developed throughout their lessons. Without the hint system, students are encouraged to rely on their knowledge and problem-solving abilities. However, if a student needs additional practice, they will have the option to enter free play mode. In this mode, they can continue to practice their skills before attempting the challenge again, ensuring they are better prepared for assessment.
TEST IT Button
Learners can use the yellow TEST IT button underneath the play button to test out their program at any time and get immediate feedback.
Clicking the TEST IT button will show a “ghost” path, which is a temporary path of arrows showing where the fuzz would roll if they pressed PLAY. If the ghost path reaches the end of the maze and turns into check marks, that is the indicator that the program will work!
If the ghost path stops at some point in the maze and does not get to the end, encourage learners to look closely at their code and see if they can find the bug. Learners can change commands and click the TEST IT button as many times as needed!