Coding a Scatola Scatola

In this short instruction, I will show you how to create all the tools needed to play 'Coding in a Closed Box,' a coding activity designed and implemented inside the MUSE FabLab in Trento. The inspiration for this project arose from a meeting with an association that supports visually impaired individuals. There are few educational tools on the market to teach coding to blind people; for this reason, we developed this activity. Through three steps, blindfolded participants will be able to independently acquire and discover basic coding concepts while having fun.

Through a tactile language, we learn the basics of coding, a useful tool for nurturing participants' computational thinking.

Unlike other languages, which can be understood in different ways depending on the users, the language used in programming is unambiguous and leaves no room for interpretation, because it respects rules set in advance and shared by all.

Programming is carried out in unplugged mode, giving the opportunity to approach the world of coding without the use of technological supports.

Moreover, this activity is designed to be fully accessible even to blind people, as it is based on the sense of touch.

In general, the workshop consists of two moments:

- the learning of a new language

- the application of the same combined with problem solving skills to overcome a challenge.

The project is released under a cc by-nc license

Supplies

Eng verison:

• 3 mm mdf wood sheets
• 3 mm felt

Step 1: Laser Cutted First Table

The design as you will notice has two different color layers. The black colored layer is to be used to make the cut, while the second layer is used for engraving.

Step 2: Laser Cutted Second/third Table

The second file is to be used to make the second and third boards, which, however, will actually be a single board that will have a front and back. As with file number 1 there are also two layers here, black will be used for cutting and red will be used for engraving. The first page of the file is used to make the front of the board, once this is completed it will be necessary to flip the made board over and start the second processing. Having done this we will have both the cut and the engravings (we will need them as guidelines for gluing the felt) on both sides of the board.

Step 3: Laser Cutted Felt Second/third Table

In this file you will find only the black layer for cutting. This work will be used to make the felt walls to be glued on board number two and three.

Step 4: Laser Cutted Pawns First Table

The checkers found in the attached file once cut should be glued using hot glue following the engravings on the first board.

Step 5: Felt Assembly

Glue with hot glue on both sides of board two/three the previously cut felt following the attached pictures and the carvings on the board

Step 6: Pawns Assembly

The attached file contains drawings of the checkers that are to be used. As you can see the checkers (triangle, quadrat, circle) have a red engraving inside them. On this engraving you will need to glue the black circles so that the checkers can fit inside the holes on the second/third board.

Step 7: Rules of a Game

Through a tactile language, we learn the basics of coding, a useful tool for nurturing participants' computational thinking.

Unlike other languages, which can be understood in different ways depending on the users, the language used in programming is unambiguous and leaves no room for interpretation, because it respects rules set in advance and shared by all.

Programming is carried out in unplugged mode, giving the opportunity to approach the world of coding without the use of technological supports.

Moreover, this activity is designed to be fully accessible even to blind people, as it is based on the sense of touch.

In general, the workshop consists of two moments:

- the learning of a new language

- the application of the same combined with problem solving skills to overcome a challenge.

The attached document explains step by step how to manage the activity. The document is currently in Italian, but an English version will be published soon. 

For more information you can write to [e-mail]