Common Sense Media Review
By Amanda Bindel
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Challenging puzzler teaches kids to think like programmers.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Cargo-Bot
What's It About?
Kids write programs to control a robotic arm, having the robot move crates into the configuration shown on the top of the screen. Kids can work through a six-level tutorial first to get familiar with the controls and features (even the tutorial is challenging!). They can then move on to the five levels of play -- easy, medium, hard, crazy, and impossible -- with six puzzles each. The goal is not only to get the crates moved, but also to move them in as few programming steps as possible. A misstep crashes the crane into a wall, destroying it, but kids get unlimited changes to solve each puzzle and can replay them for a higher score.
Is It Any Good?
CARGO-BOT's challenge is addictive for all ages! Kids learn programming concepts as they figure out the most direct way to reach their goal of getting the crates in place. The beauty is that the game itself was developed using Codea, a programming language specifically designed for the iPad, so kids can see an example of what is possible -- and what they themselves can create -- using programming logic. With Cargo-Bot, kids learn a range of programming skills in a fun, challenging game.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Once kids have mastered the concepts, encourage them to write their own programs using tools available on the iPad, like Codea, or online, like Scratch.
Talk to kids about the importance of striving for the three-star scores and discuss their thoughts about when a lower score is acceptable.
App Details
- Device : iPad
- Subjects : Science : engineering , Math : functions
- Skills : Tech Skills : using and applying technology , Thinking & Reasoning : logic , solving puzzles , thinking critically
- Pricing structure : Free
- Release date : May 8, 2012
- Genre : Educational Games
- Publisher : Two Lives Left
- Version : 1.2
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 8.0 or later
- Last updated : September 9, 2021
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