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OctoStudio
Mostly intuitive, interactive coding app sparks imagination
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OctoStudio
Pros: Make the most of coding on a mobile device by tapping, tilting, shaking, and even pairing multiple devices via bluetooth.
Cons: Though it’s simple to share projects from one device to another, managing a whole classroom of devices could be cumbersome.
Bottom Line: Fun mobile coding tool encourages children to learn organically through curiosity and exploration.
OctoStudio is a good fit for elementary teachers with access to iPads or Android tablets. Once OctoStudio is loaded onto a device, it’s ready to use. There are no student accounts and the devices don’t need to be connected to the internet. Help students get started by exploring the sample projects. These projects are very simple, but by trying them out, students can see how the code works, then start to modify the code to make the projects more complex.
There is a printable reference guide on the OctoStudio website that teachers can download and print for students who prefer a guidebook. However, the app is relatively intuitive and students are encouraged to learn from tinkering, not direct instruction. Encourage students to share their projects and teach each other how to improve their code. The OctoStudio YouTube channel and Facebook page have short tutorials and cool ideas. These are especially helpful for learning how to use unique features like “beam” bluetooth blocks and writing more complex code.
Teachers should know that there’s an option to record voice notes, and that students can input text for the code to say aloud. The app also allows students to upload their own images from their device, and take photos.
OctoStudio is a free coding app for children. OctoStudio was created by the Lifelong Kindergarten group at MIT Media Lab, the same group that invented the popular coding platform Scratch. OctoStudio works on tablets and phones (Apple and Android). Like in Scratch, students use block coding to create simple animations and games. OctoStudio is designed specifically for mobile devices and utilizes the unique capabilities of a handheld device.
You can start with a character and backdrop, and decide when the character or item(s) move, change colors, make sounds, and more. You can interact with the app by shaking, tilting, and tapping the device. You can also create code that makes the device vibrate, buzz, turn on the flashlight, and play sound effects and recordings. If you have OctoStudio on more than one device, “beam” blocks use bluetooth to create interactions between multiple devices. There is little guidance built in for when students get stuck along the way.
Other than the sharing features, OctoStudio works without internet connection. You can share your program with others as an OctoStudio file, or export to a video or animated GIF. You can share files to nearby devices or upload to a file-sharing platform like Google Drive. All projects are stored on the device; there is no built-in cloud storage. OctoStudio is available in over 20 languages, is ad-free, and claims not to collect any user data. There is a screen reader option that works when VoiceOver is turned on for iOS or TalkBack is turned on for Androids.
OctoStudio really leans into the unique features of mobile devices to engage children in tinkering with code. With OctoStudio they can create relatively intuitive, interactive games and experiences. While the blocks have a lot of customization options, the block-only coding is still limiting. It would be cool if users could toggle between the block interface and lines of code to push the parameters and learn more about programming language in the process.
OctoStudio doesn’t explicitly teach users how to code; it isn’t a curriculum. This app may be a great introduction to coding or a supplemental tool in a coding class. If you need a platform where students have accounts and you can easily track their progress, original Scratch is a better fit. However, if you’re looking to spark joy and imagination while introducing students to a valuable skill, OctoStudio is a great choice.
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