CodeGuppy

CodeGuppy pushes past one of the challenges that other educational platforms struggle with: Kids aren't locked into a "correct answer" and can write the code they want to write. Students who are inspired to add their own flair are free to do so without being penalized. This approach also forces kids to test and debug their programs, which is an essential workplace skill for anyone working with code. The drawback is that kids can choose to ignore mistakes entirely in a rush to complete a lesson; teachers may want to  require kids to share their code back for testing in order to discourage this practice.

The CodeGuppy site, which is perfectly functional, does have a minimalist feel that may not appeal to kids who are used to slicker interfaces. There's also no clear path for kids to follow other than to complete tutorials in order or grouped by theme, so they don't necessarily form a logical progression. It would be helpful for students to have optional learning paths or maps depending on their interests and skills. They would also benefit from a way to track their progress through lessons. Students who struggle with reading may also find the text-heavy tutorials difficult. Also, one of the glaring issues in CodeGuppy across the board is a lack of diversity in icons and sprites. While there are a few female icons/characters, there are almost no images with people of color or any other signs of diversity (e.g., in physical ability, religion, age, body shape, etc.). Kids will need to draw their own sprites in order to create realistic representations in their games and projects.