Purpose

Experiment mode helps students move beyond simply playing a game. It gives them a way to explore how game logic affects outcomes by making changes and seeing what happens next.

This creates a practical entry point into pre-coding, cause and effect, and problem solving. Instead of learning these ideas in the abstract, students work with a game they already know and can directly observe.

Controls:

• Focus Header: The Numer Row 1 Key
• Focus Game Area: The Numer Row 2 Key
• Focus Code Panel: The Numer Row 3 Key

What Makes It Different

Experiment mode is not about writing traditional code. It is about helping students understand that the way a game behaves comes from rules, conditions, and choices that can be changed.

That shift matters. Students begin to see that they are not just using a system. They can explore it, influence it, and better understand why it behaves the way it does.

Code is displayed in-game, as it happens. There are two views:

• Learn Mode: Shows the full code action, including the When condition and Then event. Since these take up more space, instead of repeating the same code actions in the code panel, each one is tallied as it happens.
• Live Mode: Shows the code When condition, populating each code action as it happens. Repeat code actions are listed in the code panel.

Concepts Supported in Experiment Mode

• Cause and effect
• Logical relationships
• Prediction and testing
• Ownership and agency
• Early coding concepts
• Structured problem solving

Why It Matters for Students

For many students, especially those using assistive technology, it is powerful to move from simply responding to a system toward actively shaping it. Experiment mode encourages curiosity and gives students a reason to ask questions such as what changed, why it changed, and what might happen if they try something different.

This can build confidence, deepen engagement, and support a stronger understanding of how technology works.

Why It Matters for Teachers

Experiment mode gives teachers a practical way to introduce pre-coding ideas without requiring a full programming environment. It also provides a bridge between gameplay and structured thinking.

Because the student is working with familiar game elements, the learning is more concrete. Teachers can talk about rules, outcomes, patterns, and logic in a setting that already feels accessible and motivating.

A Different Kind of Coding Entry Point

Many students are first introduced to coding through tools that still feel abstract. Experiment mode takes a different approach. It starts with the game, connects changes to outcomes, and helps students build understanding from there.

That makes it a strong fit for introducing foundational concepts that can later support broader coding and technology learning.