0–10 min Welcome & Inspiration – Introduce MakeCode Arcade, showcase examples of student-created games across subject areas. Interactive demo; participants play sample games; use polling to identify content areas of interest.
10–15 min Core Coding Concepts – Quick tutorial on loops, arrays, conditionals, and Boolean logic in MakeCode. Live coding demo projected on screen; participants code along.
15–45 min Make and Take: Build Your Game! – Attendees create their own curricular-themed game using provided templates or start from scratch. Hands-on creation; peer collaboration; real-time troubleshooting and coaching.
45–55 min Showcase & Share – Participants test and play each other’s games, sharing how coding connects to curriculum. Peer-to-peer interaction; quick presentations or gallery walk.
55–60 min Reflection & Next Steps – Discuss classroom integration, differentiation, and extension ideas. Share resource links and community hubs.
After this session, participants will be able to:
Integrate MakeCode Arcade into lessons that teach both coding concepts and core academic standards.
Facilitate creative, cross-curricular game design projects that promote computational thinking and problem-solving.
Support students in using games as a medium for storytelling and knowledge demonstration.
Apply game design principles to enhance engagement, differentiation, and authentic assessment.
Adapt MakeCode Arcade projects for a variety of subjects, grade levels, and classroom setups.
Brennan, K., & Resnick, M. (2012). New frameworks for studying and assessing the development of computational thinking.
Papert, S. (1980). Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas.
Gee, J. P. (2003). What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy.
Grover, S., & Pea, R. (2013). Computational Thinking in K–12: A Review of the State of the Field.
Resnick, M. (2017). Lifelong Kindergarten: Cultivating Creativity through Projects, Passion, Peers, and Play.
Microsoft MakeCode Arcade (makecode.com/arcade) – Free coding environment for creating retro-style games.
Back
Trips and Tours