Play Device for Teaching Software Coding Concepts

A play device for teaching software concepts, the play device comprising:

• a sensor;
• and
• a computing device, comprising:
• one or more processors;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors cause performance of a set of functions, the functions comprising:
• providing an instruction to place one or more physical objects in an area of the play device, wherein the instruction comprises an indication of a source code operator;
• determining, based on sensor data from the sensor, that a physical object has been placed in the area of the play device;
• responsive to determining that the physical object has been placed in the area of the play device, executing an operation corresponding to the source code operator;
• determining, based on executing the operation, whether the instruction is successfully followed in accordance with the source code operator;
• and
• providing an indication of (i) a result of executing the operation corresponding to the source code operator, and (ii) whether the instruction is successfully followed in accordance with the source code operator.

A system for teaching software concepts comprising:

• a play device comprising an area;
• a plurality of physical objects associated with the play device;
• and
• a computing device, comprising:
• one or more processors;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors cause performance of a set of functions, the functions comprising:
• providing an instruction associated with placing one or more physical objects in the area of the play device, wherein the instruction comprises an indication of a source code operator;
• determining, based on sensor data from a sensor of the play device, that a physical object of the plurality of physical objects has been placed in the area of the play device;
• responsive to determining that the physical object has been placed in the area of the play device, executing an operation corresponding to the source code operator;
• determining, by the computing device based on executing the operation, whether the instruction is successfully followed in accordance with the source code operator;
• and
• providing an indication of (i) a result of executing the operation corresponding to the source code operator, and (ii) whether the instruction is successfully followed in accordance with the source code operator.