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Ballyland Code 3: Pick Up

app icon of Ballyland Code 3: Pick Up , Wheelie between brackets and number 3
Some VoiceOver skills required
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Gestures: Finger drag, flick left/right with one finger, flick down/up with one finger, double tap, flick left with three fingers.
Download on the App Store

Start learning Computational Thinking and Programming with Ballyland Code 1: Say Hello and Ballyland Code 2: Give Rotor and continue with Ballyland Code 3.

Ballyland Code 3: Pick Up is the third Ballyland Audio Based Coding app, and the last of the 'Easy to Moderate' level apps. The app builds on the skills from the previous two Ballyland Code apps, and helps children who are blind or have low vision to learn more basic coding concepts and skills that will be applicable to any programming language.
A short, fun audio-play explains why Wheelie needs to go and pick up the frog, flower and coin. In Coding Challenge 3, you then need to use lines of code to give Wheelie the correct commands to move through the digital game grid, and pick up these targets, one after the other. In each level of this coding Challenge, the frog, flower and coin will be in a different position. You’ll get an audio award if you make Wheelie take the shortest route, so try and find out what is the best order in which to pick them all up. Audio description and great audio effects create unique accessibility for learners with visual impairment, including adults who are keen to find out what coding is about. Use in the Coding Curriculum!
Read or download the instructions for Ballyland Code 3: Pick Up from here:

Tip: For each Coding Challenge, it is strongly recommended to use a tactile game grid, targets and obstacles. The 3D printed Ballyland tactile grid and miniature Ballyland characters and 'obstacles' have been specifically designed to support learning with the coding apps. Print in 3D yourself, or ask your school or organisation. This app uses three additional, nice-to-touch 'target tiles' (frog, flower and coin) with the tactile game grid that is also used in the previous two apps.

You can purchase the package of 3D files from here.

3D printed grid tiles of frog, flower, and Ballyland coin.      screenshot Coding Challenge 3, level 1

Of course you can also create your own tactile game grid. For instance, by sticking Wikki Stix on a piece of cardboard, and using a mini toy car for Wheelie and other simple objects... like a flower, a coin and a toy frog!

girls hand holding toy car in tactile grd made of cardboard and wikki stix

Learning Outcomes:

  • Computational thinking, basic coding concepts and skills, such as breaking problem down in steps, sequencing, patterning, using basic coding commands;
  • Listening, Locating, ‘Mental Mapping’;
  • Orientation, spatial awareness and navigating a digital game grid
  • Experiential learning of VoiceOver accessibility by sighted players

Special Features

  • Suited for novice users of VoiceOver;
  • Audio Based Coding™: built-in speech, spoken coding panel, audio description, meaningful sound effects, audio and visual on-screen coding output;
  • Can be used with Ballyland 3D printable tactile grid, characters and accessories (specifically designed for the Coding apps);
  • VoiceOver accessible at start page, accessible menus in the game, built-in speech
  • “Black Curtain” option to create level playing field for all;
  • Designed with feedback from children with visual impairment, parents and teachers;
“... very excited to see how this app continues to be slightly more challenging while still easy for young students. Love it! I do like that students have a chance to learn the tech and mental mapping pieces in the first two apps and then can be encouraged to be more independent, confident and faster with Code 3.."
Diane Brauner on Perkins eLearning Technology Blog. Read the full review of Ballyland Code 3 on Paths to Technology