KineScript: Visual Programming
By D T,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Seemingly simple coding app has hidden complexity, bugs.
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KineScript: Visual Programming
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What’s It About?
KINESCRIPT: VISUAL PROGRAMMING provides kids with an empty screen on which they can drag cartoon actors, link them to behaviors and scripted logic, and enjoy the results. The point-and-click interface rarely requires typing and sends would-be programmers sliding from screen to screen to access images, animations, sounds, and code blocks. String it all together, and the result is a simple multimedia program such as a basic game, drawing activity, or interactive point-and-click scene. Kids can choose from seven preconstructed programs, watch them in action, and then swipe right to start modifying the code blocks, which were inspired by Scratch, the kids' programming website.
Is It Any Good?
Although this app shows a lot of promise, a confusing interface and frequent bugs limit what might otherwise provide a solid tablet-based programming environment. The graphics are aimed at younger kids, but the options for stringing code together become more and more complicated with lots of nested options. It encourages experimentation and has a learn-as-you-go approach, but kids might be frustrated by the unexpected difficulty and lack of support.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how multimedia programs, such as games, are built out of many parts. What are the parts? How do they fit together?
Discuss the different code actions in games your kids play: What are the actions? Are they simple or complex?
App Details
- Device: iPad
- Subjects: Math: patterns, sequences
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: applying information, decision-making, defining problems, logic, part-whole relationships, problem solving, Creativity: combining knowledge, developing novel solutions, innovation, making new creations, producing new content, Self-Direction: achieving goals, work to achieve goals, Tech Skills: digital creation, using and applying technology
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: August 23, 2013
- Category: Education
- Topics: Robots
- Publisher: HongRyul Jun
- Version: 1.1.0
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 5.0 or later
- Last updated: October 7, 2021
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